The Civil War: A Turning Point In American History

“The Civil War devastated the South, leaving cities destroyed, its wealth depleted, illness rampant, and people hungry and jobless,” (RPO). Yet The Civil War marked a turning point in American History, that would forever change the United States. There were numerous key events that led to warfare between the North and the South. “The leaders of the South were convinced that the welfare of their states was in jeopardy. In short order, they began to secede from the Union. South Carolina withdrew first and was soon joined by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, and Georgia and then later by Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee” (AWB). The secession of the Southern states caused tension to rise between the North and the South. …show more content…
Sectionalism was causing a rift in the nation and was tearing the North and South apart. Soon after, the Confederation and the Union had another conflict when they had completely opposing views regarding the topic of the troops that had been sent into the Confederate territory by the Union’s Major Robert Anderson on December 20, 1860. “The governor of South Carolina, Francis Pickens, demanded that the federal troops leave Confederate territory; Anderson refused and barricaded his troops” (AWB). The South was enraged and demanded the withdrawal of these troops. “When their demands were not met and before the provisions could be delivered, the Confederates began a bombardment of the fort that marked the beginning of the Civil War” (AWB). On April 15, 1861, the United States officially declared war on the Confederation. This war would have many lasting and immediate impacts that would shape the country and set it on the path to