The Civil War: The Second American Revolution

The Civil War transpired in 1861 to 1865. Historian James Beard argued whether or not the Civil War can be considered the second American Revolution. As a man named Jimmy Dick once said, “[Revolution] is a process of change that sweeps all before it as it transforms everything in its path.” Although some may disagree on the Civil War being the second American Revolution, the fact is that the Civil war was the first war to occur after the industrial revolution, it abolished slavery, and created major changes in the government used to run on. It is evident that the Civil War can be considered as the second Revolutionary War.
When Abraham Lincoln was elected as president in 1860, there was much apprehension, especially in the South. As a result …show more content…
The Civil War was among the first to do a lot of things, such as being the first war to happen after the Industrial Revolution. After the revolution was finished, the transformation of how the world functioned was forever altered. Weapons were built, transportation was easier, household duties were less time consuming, and a lot more. “Never before had mass armies confronted each other on the battlefield with the deadly weapons, created by the industrial revolution.” Since the Civil War was the first war to take place after the industrial revolution, many new things were happening and being used that haven’t been used before. It had a choice of being beneficial or detrimental to the armies. Owing to the fact that the technology used in the war was still new and possibly still being developed, it would seem likely that many of the soldiers that took part in the war would be overwhelmed with the advanced war tactics and implements. “Neither the soldiers nor their officers were prepared for the way technology had transformed warfare. The Civil War was the first major conflict in which the railroad transported troops and supplies and first to see railroad junctions such as Atlanta and Petersburg become major military.” The construction of the transcontinental railroad allowed easier access for troops across the country. It also enabled easier transport of necessities, such as tools, food, …show more content…
The North and the South (Union and the Confederacy) started to lose focus of their wants. “The war, as Frederick Douglass recognized as early as 1862, merged ‘the cause of the slaves and the cause of the country.’ ‘Liberty and Union,’ he continued, ‘have become identical” Gradually, the war was fought for both slaves and the country. There wasn’t much separating the two anymore, they’ve merged and morphed into almost the exact same thing.
Before the Civil War, women were not allowed to work. They expected only to take care of household duties, the children, etc. However, with the war also came the need for more jobs. “For many northern women, the conflict opened new doors of opportunity. Women took advantage of the wartime labor shortage to move into jobs in factories and into certain largely male professions, particularly nursing.” Women were allowed to prove their worth and their capability of actually performing a job.
Even though the Civil War had its detriments, it did have its advantages. It altered the entire operation of how the government was run on and the economy. “Congress adopted policies that promoted economic growth and permanently altered the nation’s financial system.” During and after the Civil War, the same rules that applied beforehand wouldn’t be effective now. There were new laws being made, the economy was growing larger than it has ever been, and new things were happening