The Civil War is the central event in America's historical consciousness. While the Revolution of 1776-1783 created the United States, the Civil War of 1861-1865 determined what kind of nation it would be. The war resolved two fundamental questions left unresolved by the revolution: whether the United States was to be a dissolvable confederation of sovereign states or an indivisible nation with a sovereign national government; and whether this nation, born of a declaration that all men were created with an equal right to liberty, would continue to exist as the largest slaveholding country in the world.
The world places such a heavy emphasis on the Civil War because it was a monumental moment in history. Instead of battling a country over seas, the super power country of America contained conflict within its own borders. This "war between the states" ended with a Union victory and abolition of slavery. Ultimately, this outcome largely shaped our country's history and will continue to be studied for centuries to come
 |
| Painting of a Union Soldier and Confederate Soldier standing toe-to-toe |
No comments:
Post a Comment