Industrial America
Background
The United States was living in an era of vast growth During the mid-19th century however an inherent economic difference existed between two regions of the country which is the northern and southern region. Manufacturing and industry was established well in the North and agriculture consisted of small-scale farming while the economy of the South depended on the system of large-scale farming which depends on the labor of black slaves. When the attitude of not favoring slavery in the North expanded, the southerners began to fear for their economy--run on slavery.
The United States was living in an era of vast growth During the mid-19th century however an inherent economic difference existed between two regions of the country which is the northern and southern region. Manufacturing and industry was established well in the North and agriculture consisted of small-scale farming while the economy of the South depended on the system of large-scale farming which depends on the labor of black slaves. When the attitude of not favoring slavery in the North expanded, the southerners began to fear for their economy--run on slavery.
March 1861, it was the election of president Abraham Lincoln that led to the secession of the South from the North. Abraham was an abolitionist so when he took office the South eventually split, forming the Confederates of the United States. 11 Southern states that seceded from The Union included: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, & Tennessee. Each state declared their break from the Union expressing their reasons for secession mainly for the issue of slavery. The document of secession from Georgia and Mississippi point out how slavery accounts for a huge portion of the Southern economy and some states had beliefs that slavery should be expanded.
April 12, 1861 – May 9, 1865
The Civil War was a bloody war also referred to as “The War Between the States” fought between the Union (the North) and the Confederates (the South). The Confederates were the 11 states that left the Union to protect the institution of slavery and became the the Confederate States of America. The Union was the remaining part of the United States. After four bloody years of conflict, the last major Confederate army surrendered to the United States in April of 1865. The war ended with the North winning and the creation of the Emancipation Proclamation which abolished slavery nationwide in the United States of America.
The Civil War was a bloody war also referred to as “The War Between the States” fought between the Union (the North) and the Confederates (the South). The Confederates were the 11 states that left the Union to protect the institution of slavery and became the the Confederate States of America. The Union was the remaining part of the United States. After four bloody years of conflict, the last major Confederate army surrendered to the United States in April of 1865. The war ended with the North winning and the creation of the Emancipation Proclamation which abolished slavery nationwide in the United States of America.
“That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free; and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.”
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The Emancipation Proclamation
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How Innovations of the Industrial Era Changed the Civil War
How the North was able to win
As the war progressed, the Unions industry in railroads, factories, and manpower caused a great disadvantage for the Confederacy because the North was much more industrialized and discovering technological advances at a faster pace than the South. At the start of the Civil War, the North had a population of 22 million people while the South had 9 million people (4 million of those were considered slaves). Factors like money, more factories, more horses, more railroad systems, and more food helped make the United States more powerful than the Confederate States.
How the North was able to win
As the war progressed, the Unions industry in railroads, factories, and manpower caused a great disadvantage for the Confederacy because the North was much more industrialized and discovering technological advances at a faster pace than the South. At the start of the Civil War, the North had a population of 22 million people while the South had 9 million people (4 million of those were considered slaves). Factors like money, more factories, more horses, more railroad systems, and more food helped make the United States more powerful than the Confederate States.
The Railroad
Railroads impacted the Civil War on a great scale because the North had a larger extension of routes than the South. Railroads making a scene in the Industrial Revolution of America helped make transportation efficient and timely. It didn't require horses or wagons. This new technology that was predominant to the Union created an advantage to move troops and supplies from one place to another.
Railroads impacted the Civil War on a great scale because the North had a larger extension of routes than the South. Railroads making a scene in the Industrial Revolution of America helped make transportation efficient and timely. It didn't require horses or wagons. This new technology that was predominant to the Union created an advantage to move troops and supplies from one place to another.
The Telegraph
Invented by Samuel Morse in 1844, the telegraph revolutionized long distance communication. This technological innovation transformed the Civil War because Abraham Lincoln was the first president who was able to use the telegraph and communicate with officers on the battlefield and deliver orders to his men quicker. Meanwhile the South and their Confederate army lacked technological innovations and industrialization abilities to create a large network of communication.
American Industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, was able to set up 4,000 miles of telegraph wire used by the Union Army which therefore allowed an exchange of messages to and from the battlefield.
Invented by Samuel Morse in 1844, the telegraph revolutionized long distance communication. This technological innovation transformed the Civil War because Abraham Lincoln was the first president who was able to use the telegraph and communicate with officers on the battlefield and deliver orders to his men quicker. Meanwhile the South and their Confederate army lacked technological innovations and industrialization abilities to create a large network of communication.
American Industrialist and philanthropist, Andrew Carnegie, was able to set up 4,000 miles of telegraph wire used by the Union Army which therefore allowed an exchange of messages to and from the battlefield.
Weapon Trade
All wars are driven through the innovation of weapons and efficiency. This innovation of weapons changes how war works. Military tactics have changed purely based on how these new efficient weapons work. The Civil War had Pre-Industrial Sabers and Cavalry, but many inventions of the Industrial Age arose during the Civil War. The rise of ironclad ships changed how the North approached the South by performing the largest blockade with the Ironclad ships. These new weapons and technology have played a part in both success and destruction. The Civil War was one of the first wars in history to see new technology that have been made through the Industrial Age. |
Works Cited
"The Emancipation Proclamation." The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2016.
"10 Facts You Should Know About the Civil War." Civil War Trust. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.
By Matthew Kent, North Carolina State University, 2013. “Weapons of the Civil War.”
"The Reasons for Secession." Civil War Trust. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2016.
"The Emancipation Proclamation." The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Oct. 2016.
"10 Facts You Should Know About the Civil War." Civil War Trust. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 03 Oct. 2016.
By Matthew Kent, North Carolina State University, 2013. “Weapons of the Civil War.”
"The Reasons for Secession." Civil War Trust. Council on Foreign Relations, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2016.