2.3. Reconstruction: North and South Reconstruction as one of the most intense and controversial periods in American history began during the Civil War and lasted until 1877. It was the first American experiment as a democratic nation, trying to resolve burning issues which had caused the Civil War in the first place, most of all social status of former slaves and citizens' right after reuniting the nation. Also, big problem was political and racial justice. After resolving the question of slavery, the newly gained freedom of African Americans meant new constitution of the law. ''To some Americans the Civil War had been more truly a social revolution than the War of Independence, for it reduced the once-dominant power of the South's planter elite in national politics and elevated the power of the northern's
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Conclusion
The Civil War caused deaths of 620 000 Americans and injuries of more than 1 000 000 citizens. Apart from the victims, it proved to be the costliest war ever fought on the American ground territorilly as well, with the southern territory devastated. The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments were results of the War and gained freedom to more than 4 000 000 slaves. Even so, the freedmen were still only legaly free. They had no property and white race did not accept them as their equals, which disapproves the fact that the War and its outcome meant the beginning of America as democratic nation.
Today, 150 years later, America still sees the effects of the War. There are still tensions between the North and the South, especially in the election times. Could the Civil War have been avoided? Probably yes, but it was a conflict caused by many factors, from slave rebellions to centralization of political power across the country. Had some other, peaceful solution to slavery instead of secession been found or had a Republican Lincoln not won the elections, the War could maybe have been prevented, but it is impossible to predict the course of the
Conclusion
The Civil War caused deaths of 620 000 Americans and injuries of more than 1 000 000 citizens. Apart from the victims, it proved to be the costliest war ever fought on the American ground territorilly as well, with the southern territory devastated. The 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments were results of the War and gained freedom to more than 4 000 000 slaves. Even so, the freedmen were still only legaly free. They had no property and white race did not accept them as their equals, which disapproves the fact that the War and its outcome meant the beginning of America as democratic nation.
Today, 150 years later, America still sees the effects of the War. There are still tensions between the North and the South, especially in the election times. Could the Civil War have been avoided? Probably yes, but it was a conflict caused by many factors, from slave rebellions to centralization of political power across the country. Had some other, peaceful solution to slavery instead of secession been found or had a Republican Lincoln not won the elections, the War could maybe have been prevented, but it is impossible to predict the course of the