Conclusion
The Civil War, which had taken control of the U.S. for four years, finally came to a close in 1865. The South was constantly losing battle after battle, and, on April 9, 1865, Robert E. Lee (the main Southern general) surrendered to the North at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. He thought it was best to end the war, especially since the Confederates would inevitably lose the war regardless of how long they kept fighting. They didn't have the North's weapons or ability to communicate, and many of their soldiers were starving. It was good to the end the war not only so that the country would be united as one again, but also so that the violence would end. In the Civil War, almost two percent of the population died (which in today's terms would be about 6 million people, the same number of Jews killed in World War II by about 70 concentration camps in a span of 10 years). More died in this war than in any other American conflict. So, it was also emotionally helpful to stop the brutal fighting.
Although the war was now officially over, the North was still at odds with the South. The people of the South were especially depressed; they had lost the war, broken apart the country, had many of their towns burned, and now didn't even have slavery to unite them. Abraham Lincoln had planned to help reconstruct the South, but this could not happen as he was abruptly assassinated. So, as the South struggled to make ends meet with their economy, the North initially didn't help them. The South eventually did reconstruct itself, but it never was as it was before the war. The great plantations with balconies, large columns, and acres and acres of land were nonexistent. The North reigned supreme as far as economy went. The old aristocratic system of the South was also broken up, and this paved the way for a more democratic nation. Although arguably the most important thing that happened during the war was that the slaves were freed, African Americans were thought of as anything but equals by most. They would eventually go through the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, and become much more equal to those of other races. Though some today still don't think of them as equals, the mass majority do, which never would have happened had the slaves not been freed. After the war, there were thousands and thousands of people looking for jobs. Not only the freed slaves, but also soldiers coming out of war. This was timely as industry was just taking off, and they needed many workers to keep the factories going. There were also more long-term effects of the Civil War, such as federal income tax. The first income tax was enacted during the Civil War to support its funds. There was also much technology discovered during the war, some that is vital to war today. Transcontinental railroads also came out of the Civil War, as more and more railroads were placed around the country after the North discovered how useful they were.
In the end, the Civil War was one of the most brutal things that has ever happened to this country. It tore our nation in two. When it came to a close, though, it united America together again. It abolished slavery, the most inhuman practice the United States has ever known, and created the democracy that we still have today. It changed our country forever, for the better.
Although the war was now officially over, the North was still at odds with the South. The people of the South were especially depressed; they had lost the war, broken apart the country, had many of their towns burned, and now didn't even have slavery to unite them. Abraham Lincoln had planned to help reconstruct the South, but this could not happen as he was abruptly assassinated. So, as the South struggled to make ends meet with their economy, the North initially didn't help them. The South eventually did reconstruct itself, but it never was as it was before the war. The great plantations with balconies, large columns, and acres and acres of land were nonexistent. The North reigned supreme as far as economy went. The old aristocratic system of the South was also broken up, and this paved the way for a more democratic nation. Although arguably the most important thing that happened during the war was that the slaves were freed, African Americans were thought of as anything but equals by most. They would eventually go through the Civil Rights movement in the 1960s, and become much more equal to those of other races. Though some today still don't think of them as equals, the mass majority do, which never would have happened had the slaves not been freed. After the war, there were thousands and thousands of people looking for jobs. Not only the freed slaves, but also soldiers coming out of war. This was timely as industry was just taking off, and they needed many workers to keep the factories going. There were also more long-term effects of the Civil War, such as federal income tax. The first income tax was enacted during the Civil War to support its funds. There was also much technology discovered during the war, some that is vital to war today. Transcontinental railroads also came out of the Civil War, as more and more railroads were placed around the country after the North discovered how useful they were.
In the end, the Civil War was one of the most brutal things that has ever happened to this country. It tore our nation in two. When it came to a close, though, it united America together again. It abolished slavery, the most inhuman practice the United States has ever known, and created the democracy that we still have today. It changed our country forever, for the better.