Chapters 18 To 19

The Civil War... | The Abolitionist Movement / Written by Butch Leake (Narrated by Gary Davis) Copyright 2023

The American Civil War was a conflict that lasted from 1861 to 1865, and it was fought between two factions: the Union and the Confederacy. The Union represented the United States of America, and the Confederacy represented the Southern states that had seceded from the Union over issues of slavery and states' rights.

Leading up to the Civil War, tensions between the North and South had been rising for many years. The issue of slavery was a central point of contention, with the North favoring abolition and the South arguing for its continued existence. These tensions came to a head with the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, which prompted several Southern states to secede from the Union.

The first major battle of the Civil War was fought on April 12, 1861, at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This battle was a Confederate victory and marked the beginning of the four-year conflict. Some of the key figures in the early years of the war included Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee, who would go on to become two of the most famous generals in American history.

The Civil War was marked by several significant battles and campaigns. In July 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg was fought in Pennsylvania and is often seen as a turning point in the war. This battle resulted in a Union victory, and it is estimated that over 50,000 men were killed, wounded, or missing. Another significant campaign was the Union's capture of Atlanta in September 1864, which dealt a major blow to the Confederacy's war efforts.

The war ended with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. In total, it is estimated that over 620,000 Americans lost their lives during the conflict.

The American Civil War had far-reaching implications for the country's social and political landscape. One of the most significant outcomes was the abolition of slavery, which was made official with the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865. The war also led to significant changes in the relationship between the federal government and the states, with the Union emerging as a more centralized and powerful entity. Today, the Civil War remains a defining moment in American history, with its legacy still felt across the country.

The Abolitionist...

The abolitionist movement of the 19th century was a social and political effort aimed at ending slavery in the United States. It involved a variety of individuals, organizations and strategies.

Key figures in the abolitionist movement included Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, William Lloyd Garrison, and John Brown. These individuals were leaders who advocated for the immediate emancipation of all enslaved people, making them symbols of the movement's struggle for freedom.

Organizations were also instrumental in the abolitionist movement, such as the American Anti-Slavery Society, the Underground Railroad, and Abolitionist essays, like Uncle Tom's Cabin, aimed to shed light on the horrors of slavery and rally support for ending it. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published in 1852 and became an instant success, inspiring many to become abolitionists.

The abolitionist movement employed various strategies to end slavery, including legal challenges, civil disobedience, and political agitation. They protested, boycotted, and even resorted to violence to force the hands of the government and the slaveowners in power.

Milestones in the abolitionist movement included the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which aimed to preserve the balance of free and slave states in the United States, the Dred Scott decision in 1857, which denied Black people any citizenship rights, and The Emancipation Proclamation signed in 1863 - which officially freed slaves in the Confederate States.

The abolitionist movement helped pave the way for the eventual end of slavery in the United States, which was achieved with the ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865. Despite fierce opposition and difficult challenges, abolitionists helped lay the foundation for a society where all individuals are free, equal, and have unalienable rights.