by James Harvey

Created on: October 03, 2010   Last Updated: January 28, 2012

The American Civil War was the bloodiest war to be fought up to that time.  It was a most unusual war, for America was in effect, at war with itself.

What was considered more unusual-especially for that period in history was the reason why the Civil War was fought:  The issue of Slavery.  Slavery was a demonic institution in which millions of human beings were being kept under the enslavement or control of other fellow humans simply because of the color of their skin.

In 19th-century America, Slavery was considered a valuable commodity, particularly among southern Whites, who viewed slaves as chattel, or property, that could easily bought and sold at high prices.  So it was very much a part of the American industry of the time, since much of the manual labor in this country was done by slaves.

On the other hand, most northerners, who were not bound by the rules of the slave-dominated South, had strong reservations about upholding and supporting an institution that made profit of humans being exploited by other humans.  And they made their feelings very vocal, which at times could get ugly and violent in its nature.

Those feelings and sentiments for and against Slavery clearly manifested itself on March 12, 1861, when both North and South engaged in a civil conflict that last 4 violent, bloody years, that needlessly cost tens of thousands of lives over an institution that should have never existed in the first place.

It caused much national tension, causing 11 states to secede or break free, to form their own independent Confederate States.  So, here were Americans shooting down and killing other fellow Americans, who were supposed to be each others' allies in warring against enemy nations.  Instead, they were each others' mortal enemies.  They were in the American battlefield killing each other-fellow Americans.

What effect did the Civil War have on Slavery?  A tremendous impact did it have, bringing an end of this diabolical institution of humans enslaving other humans.  In November 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation was publicly read by President Abraham Lincoln, which declared that slaves should be freed and in effect  have the right to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness just like any other White American.  After all, Black slaves fought  just as valiantly in the War and as boldly as  White soldiers, if not more so.  Most African American soldiers fought in the Union Army, which was in the north; some in the Confederate States fought in the Confederate Army.

At first, Slavery was ended only in the Confederate States, but by December 1865, the institution was abolished entirely.

The Civil War indeed changed Slavery and America's concept of it forever.  It also changed most White America's perception of Blacks and what they supposed could or could not do simply because of the color of their skin.

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