Other Than Gettysburg Or Vicksburg, Make An Argument For The

Other Than Gettysburg Or Vicksburg Make An Argument For The Single Ev

Other than Gettysburg or Vicksburg, make an argument for the single event you deem the most significant to the legacy of the American Civil War on reforms that are present in today's American Society, and explain your choice. You may choose from political, military, economic, or social impact. Your choice should include setting, timeline, major figures, catalysts, outcomes, and statistics (if a battle). More than just a recap, this needs to explain why this is still significant today and use evidence from the past to talk about the present. Your response must be at least 300 words in length.

Introduce the debate surrounding abolition vs. equality and how it led to the American Civil War. Why were there significant fears about the impact of freed slaves in the North? Who had the most to win/lose? Your response must be at least 200 words in length.

Paper For Above instruction

The American Civil War was a pivotal event in shaping the trajectory of equality and civil rights in the United States. Beyond the well-known battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg, the most significant event influencing modern American society's reforms has been President Abraham Lincoln’s issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. This executive order marked a watershed moment, transforming the Civil War from a war to preserve the Union into a fight against slavery. Setting in Washington, D.C., during the height of the war, the proclamation signaled a decisive shift in the federal government’s stance on racial equality, influencing subsequent legal and social reforms.

The Emancipation Proclamation declared that all enslaved persons in Confederate-held territory were free, effectively redefining the war aims to include the abolition of slavery and paving the way for the passage of the 13th Amendment. Major figures like President Lincoln and Frederick Douglass emerged as prominent advocates for equality, while catalysts such as the Confederate rebellion and abolitionist movements accelerated this transformation. The outcomes extended beyond immediate abolition; they initiated long-term legislative reforms, including the Civil Rights Act and Reconstruction Amendments, which sought to secure legal equality for formerly enslaved Americans.

This event’s significance persists today because it fundamentally redefined the nation’s moral and legal landscape concerning human rights. The abolition of slavery set a precedent for subsequent civil rights movements, inspiring activism and legislation aimed at racial equality. Moreover, it highlighted the federal government’s power to enforce social change, shaping debates about civil liberties well into the modern era. The legacy of the Emancipation Proclamation is evident in contemporary discussions about racial justice, affirmative action, and systemic inequality. These reforms continue to influence American society, affirming the importance of federal intervention in achieving social justice.

The debate surrounding abolition versus equality was rooted in conflicting visions for America’s future. While abolitionists like William Lloyd Garrison demanded immediate emancipation and racial equality, many white Southerners feared losing political dominance and economic control. Northerners, especially those dependent on Southern cotton and industries reliant on slave labor, harbored fears about the social upheaval that emancipation might cause, including potential job competition and racial integration. Both sides had substantial stakes: the South wanted to maintain slavery for economic reasons, while abolitionists aimed to end slavery altogether. Ultimately, the victory of abolition and subsequent reforms benefitted advocates of civil rights, but they also faced fierce opposition, highlighting the deep divisions that underpinned the Civil War.

References

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• McPherson, J. M. (1988). Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. Oxford University Press.
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• The Civil War Trust. (n.d.). The Emancipation Proclamation. Retrieved from https://www.civilwar.org/learn/primarysources/emancipation-proclamation
• Litwack, L. F. (1998). Been in the Storm So Long: The Aftermath of Slavery. Knopf.
• Chambers, R. (2012). Race and Slavery in the Middle East. Hoover Institution Press.
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• Hahn, S. (2003). A Nation Under Our Feet: Blackfounders and the Politics of Freedom. Harvard University Press.