Civil war and American Reconstruction Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Civil war and American Reconstruction - Essay Example This research will begin with the statement that the Civil War was brought about by the insistence of the South state on maintaining the institution of slavery, something that the states that made up the Union were against. Yet another contentious issue that led to the Civil War was the move toward cessation by the Confederate states, a move that was declared illegal by the U.S. government.   The Republican Party's and Abraham Lincoln’s victory in the election was not welcomed by the Southern states, a moved that led them to declare their orientation toward cessation. While the Union states were industrially developed and anti-slavery, the Southern states mainly thrived on agriculture and considered slaves a vital part of their production resources. The slaves offered rich farmers cheap labor, something that they needed to ensure that their farms maintained high outputs. The Southern states managed to stay for long in the war given they had an advantage over their counterpar ts in fighting in the interior and had a wealth of experience at war. Many historians agree that the reconstruction took place between 1865 and 1877. The reconstruction was characterized by the move by the U.S. government and Northern states to reunite the country following the civil war.   It was also characterized by the fight by African Americans to enjoy the freedoms that they previously did not enjoy such as the freedom to vote, freedom against discrimination, and their recognition as U.S. citizens.