Cause and Effect of the Civil War

The Confederacy and the Union, both had differing views on the freedom of slaves in the United States. These basic differences would cause the Civil War which many consider to be one of the most influential wars in American history. This war is also the deadliest in terms of American casualties. Many believe that this war formed the foundation of the beliefs and values of the United States.

The Civil War occurred as a result of tensions regarding the presence of slavery in the United States, particularly in the southern states. The northern states believed that the southern states should not profit from the use of human beings as slave labor on their plantations. The northern states were very vocal about their displeasure with slavery and wanted to cease current slave practices and prevent any additional states from adopting slavery.

The southern states were highly opposed to many of the grievances expressed by the northern states and abolitionists. In fact, the southern states were upset that the northern states would not adhere to the Fugitive Slave Act, which required the return of escaped slaves to their owners.

With the election of Abraham Lincoln, who was very much against slavery, the southern states were further enraged by certain Lincoln’s views. Thus, the southern states decided to succeed from the Union.

Understanding which states were part of the confederacy is very important to understand which states took this action. The Confederate States of America was formed by these southern states:

• South Carolina
• Mississippi
• Florida
• Alabama
• Georgia
• Louisiana
• Texas
• Virginia
• Arkansas
• Tennessee
• North Carolina

End of the Civil War

Although both the Union and the Confederacy fought a very long war, ultimately the Union would be the victor of the Civil War. In the end, the northern states simply had more manpower, better resources and more allies than the southern states. The northern states had more manpower as a result of the many freed blacks that were willing to fight in the war after the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.

The southern states decided not to utilize their large population to assist in winning the war, as this move would have undermined the belief in the south that the slaves were inferior and only suited for a life of servitude.

Likewise, the northern states had better resources than the south. In general, the northern region of the Union was far more industrialized, which is very advantageous when fighting a war. The ability to move supplies and troops around efficiently greatly affected the efficiency of the Union army. They were better able to supply their troops with the necessary supplies and goods when they were most needed.

In addition, because of industrialization, the northern states were better able to move their troops to locations which needed more backup. There are many historians that believe that the Civil War was largely loaded in the favor of the Union and that the Confederacy had no real chance of winning the war.

Historical Significance of the Civil War

When people think about which states were part of the confederacy today, many can’t help but consider how the Civil War has greatly impacted relations in the United States.

The winning of the Civil War marked an end to certain conditions such as slavery on a public level in the United States. However, it is very important to note that the Emancipation Proclamation and the Thirteenth Amendment only served to officially free slaves and made it illegal to institute slavery in America. The enforcement of these polices for some people were strictly voluntary.

Also, attitudes regarding the worth of individuals that are different than others did not change merely because of a win of the Civil War. American history shows that the battle for equal rights, particularly in the southern states, raged on long after the Civil War. However, it cannot be disputed that the Civil War has played a significant part in the history of the United States.