Compare And Contrast The American Revolution And Civil War

Steven Simkins 12/13/12 The American Revolution and Civil War were fought with a purpose

derived from, and in defense of one minority group. As the Colonists built their own societies and settlements in the New America, issues of contentions arose separating themselves from the rest of the British empire. The Revolution became a fight for themselves and their well being not the well being of anyone else. As ideas of Civil War arose around 1860-1861 the cause was for the black minority although not yet announced by Abraham Lincoln. Both the American Revolution and Civil War were powered through the desires of one minority group to rise up and fight against the traditional normalities. In the years of early American development, the colonists found

themselves contradicting and
disagreeing with many ideas the mother country had in mind for them. The ridiculous taxing, lack of representation and poor treatment sent the colonists over the top. Ideas of Revolution were not inclusive of women’s ideas or immigrants. Noting the voting restrictions and requirements to be a congressmen, there were no women in government or who had a voice in government. Lack of representation of women and immigrant’s ideals shows the Revolution was focused on one minority; the white male who owned land and was a colonist. As the war began, both sides took advantage of the Native Americans and blacks that were in the area. The British and the colonists made numerous promises to the other minorities but

they were all forgotten as the war ended. Because Native Americans were viewed by Colonists as uneducated and inferior, they were pushed back to expanses of previous territory until they could no longer prosper. Colonists forces prevailed against their mother country and the resulting society was again drive by white males and strictly in favor of white males. The war of the North and South was similarly focused but the minority at

heart were the African-Americans. Abolitionists fought for years to give slaves the rights they deserved and were eventually successful through many grueling battles. Although Abraham Lincoln held off in announcing the true purpose of the war until after the battle of Antietam, it was always there. Seen similarly as the American Revolution, those in government were strictly white males. Even following the victory of freedom, neither African-Americans or women saw a spot for themselves in government. By 1870 Blacks received their voice in government through the fifteenth amendment further angering the American women who went unappreciated and lacked the voice in government they so dearly advocated for. The Civil war proved to be even detrimental to other minorities such as the Jewish population. General Grant issued the General Order Number eleven which banned Jews from Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi showing the first signs of Antisemitism. Another minority of the time were the Chinese immigrants and following the Civil War many moved to America looking for work. They were soon banned through the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 because the white Californians especially saw too much

competition in the job market.
The Civil War was both a positive influence on the African-American minority and a negative influence on any other minorities such as the Jews and Chinese. The American Revolution and Civil War were both fought for a meaningful

purpose defending a group of people but neither succeeded in benefitting other minorities of the time. Immigrants and smaller religious practices commonly fell victim to the thrashes of the majority in the population. The American Revolution broke the ties between the Colonists and the British but also led to long term discrimination of the Native Americans. Similarly the Civil War was successful in presenting African-Americans with more rights and freedoms while proving to be damaging to the moral of women and the chances for immigrants to succeed. During both wars the immigrants took more of a back seat role in society, filling jobs and settling in where they could but following the battles there was protest over jobs and land resulting in a loss for the foreigners. As whites had shown before in society, they felt a sense of superiority and used this as they controlled government and the majority of the public
eye.