Civil War Dbq Analysis

The civil war began in 1961 and was sparked by many reasons which include slavery and a book named Uncle Tom’s cabin. Many believe that the war was fought over freedom, freedom of the slaves, this, however, was not the case. The war was essentially fought in order to preserve what they had, the south fought to preserve their beliefs and way of life while the north fought to preserve the union. However, the eager and willing compliance of African Americans throughout the civil war led to a signification alteration in the war goals. Therefore a later contribution to the new culture and politics that followed. In his report to the secretary of war Major General Benjamin F. Butler asks “are they free and if so what do I do with them.” (Doc A). Before the war started slavery was not the main issue it was merely the fuel that fed the flames. The south believed that the union had no right to interfere on their states and that they could not change their way of life and abolish
Where originally the goal was to reform the United States of America and answer the question of slavery in the states (popular sovereignty or not), was changed to the abolitions of slavery and appeasing and angry south. According to the Republican Party Platform of 1864, the addition of the 14th and 15th amendments granted the right of suffrage and citizenship demanded by the convention of coloreds only further aggravated the war torn south (Doc H). As a result the government was forced to focus the majority of Johnson’s presidency on the reconstruction on the US. Blacks were supporters of the reconstruction, as shown by their extremely instrumental involvement in the constitutional conventions (Doc J). Blacks were able to gain full citizenship and suffrage, feats that would have been otherwise impossible if they had not affected the course of the civil war in t hey way that they