The Benefits Of The Civil War

“War means fighting, and fighting means killing.” These famous words from Nathan Bedford Forrest couldn’t be more accurate. The Civil War had a lot of fighting and as a result, many deaths. This long four-year war was very costly, however, without this war, the United States would not be the same. The Civil War was worth the expense because of the slavery, secession, and the favor of the North.

The Civil War was worth the costs because it freed the slaves. Slavery was a slowly growing problem that contributed to the Civil War. The South was very dependent on slaves. The slavery problem first started in 1808 when the United States made it illegal to import slaves. This enraged the South. Slaves started to be kidnapped by the South even

The South’s cash was invested in their land, slaves, and cotton. Even though most southerners did not own a slave, they still wanted state rights. They formed the Confederate States of America. The South elected a new president for the South before Lincoln was inaugurated. Some states that bordered the North and South did not want to pick sides. Bordering states such as Kentucky and Tennessee were crucial to both sides during the war. Eventually it was brother verses brother in states like Kentucky. Missouri and Kentucky ended up siding with the union. Virginia seceded from the Union. West Virginia broke away from Virginia and stayed with the Union because they did not need slavery. Maryland was a problem because it surrounded Washington D.C. In the end, 240,000 people sided with the union while 100,000 sided with the Confederates. The Union seemed to be at an

The North new that it was going to be a long war, but it would benefit them in the long run. The South didn’t have to win; they just didn’t have to lose. The Union knew that they had to conquer the South or the founders of the nation would have failed. The Union was in high favor to win the war. They were more advanced and had more resources. They had over 43 naval ships while the South lacked effective transportation. 110,000 factories were in the North while the South only had 110,000 factory workers. The North’s population was 22 million people, almost three times the South’s population. The Union’s strategy was to use blockades and the Anaconda strategy. The Confederates mainly chose defense or offense. The First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, seemed like an easy Union win. Even though the Union seemed to be on the brink of winning, they eventually get defeated. Inflation increases 80% in the North and 9000% in the South. The Battle at Antietam was a huge moment for the North. It was a battle fought to a draw that was one of the bloodiest days in American history. Lee retreats and Lincoln views this as a victory. On January 1st, 1863, Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation that frees all slaves in the South. The turning point in the war was the re-election of Lincoln as president. On April 9th, 1865, the Confederate army surrendered after four years of enduring the Civil War giving the North a