AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (1861-1865)

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR (1861-1865)

The American Civil War lasting from 1861 to 1865 was a civil war in the United States fought between states supporting the federal union (“the Union” or “the North”) and southern states that voted to secede and form the Confederate States of America (“the Confederacy” or “the South”). The central cause of the war was the status of slavery.

Reasons/Causes for the American Civil War

1. Economic Causes:

• Slavery: The fundamental economic cause was the differing stance on slavery between the northern and southern states. The northern states, becoming more industrialized, sought to abolish slavery, while the southern states depended heavily on it for their agricultural economy.
• North-South Divide: The economies of the North and South had diverged. The North moved towards industrialization, whereas the South remained agrarian, relying on slave labor to maintain their plantations.

1. Political Causes:

• Poor Federalism: Ever since the U.S. Constitution was drafted, there were debates over state versus federal power. Southern states believed that the federal government was encroaching on their rights, particularly regarding slavery.
• Federal Rivalries: As new states were added to the union, the question of whether they would be slave or free states fueled tensions between North and South.
• Election of Abraham Lincoln: Lincoln, an anti-slavery candidate, was seen as a direct threat to the institution of slavery in the South. His election triggered the secession of southern states, which ultimately led to war.

1. Other Causes:

• Bleeding Kansas (1854): The Kansas-Nebraska Act made slavery legal in new territories, but this decision caused violent conflict between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups in Kansas.
• Harper’s Ferry Raid (1859): John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry, intended to start an armed slave revolt, deepened the divide between North and South, making conflict inevitable.

Phases of the American Civil War

1. 1. Missouri Agreement (1820): The Missouri Compromise tried to maintain a balance between slave and free states. Missouri was admitted as a slave state, but slavery was prohibited in the remainder of the Louisiana Purchase territory north of the 36°30′ parallel.
   2. Backdoor Antislavery Activities: Abolitionist publications like “The Liberator” by Garrison declared a moral crusade against slavery. Books like Uncle Tom’s Cabin aroused emotional responses against slavery.
   3. Violation of the Missouri Agreement (1854): The Kansas-Nebraska Act, which repealed the Missouri Compromise, made slavery legal in new territories, sparking violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, known as “Bleeding Kansas.”

• Confederate States of America (1860): Seven southern states seceded from the Union, forming the Confederacy after Abraham Lincoln’s election. Lincoln was a strong supporter of slavery abolition, and this fueled southern states’ secession.

• Role of Abraham Lincoln:

• Blocking External Support: Lincoln diplomatically worked to prevent foreign nations, especially Britain, from supporting the Confederacy.
• Diverting the Issue: He reframed the Civil War as a fight for unification and not just a battle against slavery.
• Imposing Internal Emergency: Lincoln restricted certain civil rights and utilized volunteers to spread the cause.
• 13th Amendment Act (1865): Lincoln led the passage of the 13th Amendment, which abolished slavery in the USA.

Impact of the War

• On the USA:
  • Slavery Abolished: The 13th Amendment officially ended slavery in all U.S. states.
  • Federal Centralization: The Civil War solidified the power of the federal government over states, laying the foundation for U.S. global power in the 20th century.
  • Universal Citizenship: Citizenship was granted to all born or naturalized in the U.S., including former slaves.
  • Equality: Legal protections were established to prevent disenfranchisement based on race or former servitude.

• On the World:
  • Ban on Global Slave Trade: Post-war, the U.S. used its moral authority to influence global efforts in banning the slave trade.
  • Global Human Rights: With the end of slavery, the U.S. became a leader in the global promotion of human rights.

• On India:
  • Increased Demand for Indian Cotton: With the decline in U.S. cotton exports during the war, Britain turned to India for raw cotton, boosting India’s economy.
  • High Cost of Domestic Cotton: Indian weavers faced rising costs due to high export demands, causing local supply shortages.
  • Credit Availability to Ryots: British efforts to secure more raw cotton from India led to increased credit availability to Indian farmers (ryots).

Conclusion

The Civil War played a pivotal role in advancing human rights and equality, shaping both the U.S. and global stances on slavery. It also significantly influenced economic conditions in India during the cotton crisis. The war had far-reaching consequences on global human rights and slavery abolition efforts.