why was the civil war & reconstruction era important

The Civil War and Reconstruction shaped the United States to the country we know today, ending slavery and reworked governmental authority. This era claimed the lives of 620,000 people, the deadliest war in American history.

historical significance

The Civil War wasn’t just any conflict, it was set to determine the future of the entire nation. According to the American Battlefield Trust, the war “preserved the United States as one nation and ended the institution of slavery that had divided the country from its beginning.” Following the war, Reconstruction took place. Between 1865-1877, the goal was to blend formerly enslaved people into everyday life while also focusing on rebuilding federal relationships to states. significant changes in this time period include:

  • the passing of the 13th, 14th, and 15th amendment

  • changing legal freedoms and rights

  • laying the foundation of civil rights with the addition of the amendments

photo from The Atlantic

Aftermath of Civil War

photo from The New York Public Library

Bombardment of Fort Sumter, April 13, 1861

cause and consequence

The root cause for the civil war starting was from conflicting views on morals, economics, and how the country should be run. There was conflicting opinions on whether the federal government could ban slavery in new states. Abraham Lincoln then got elected in 1860, and his platform was against slavery expanding to future territory. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas seceded from the nation, and Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee seceded after the civil war began. Confederate troops then marched to Fort Sumter and attacked, and the battle began. The consequences of this war were major. Some Immediate consequences include:

  • 620,000+ deaths

  • destruction of property

  • new amendments were added

  • Voting rights for black Americans were added

  • Reconstruction begins