Sectionalism After War

As the Civil war had drenched the American society with a feeling of sectionalism and dismay, the inevitable was yet to be answered as to what society was going to be like following the war. As the dust settled, many attempted to redirect society in a direction of empathy and immunity, whereas the others, mainly the recalcitrant southern states, continued to dig its dark roots within American society. This sense of sectionalism drove the American society even after the struggle ended in 1865. The perseverance of this ideology prevented society as a whole from advancing following the Civil War, or so many thought. Although many people consider the after war period, up until the end of World War I, to be filled only with contention and regression
Prior to the war, the black race was looked upon with a “scorned eye”, and was not able to gain a footing with the “pure white race”. The Declaration of Independence gave “certain, unalienable rights” to every citizen, but, the American society did not adhere to these basic principles that guided their nation. Stepping foot in the right direction, in 1863, congress passed the 13th Amendment. This document dictated that “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction”. This document afforded black people within America the right to possess freedom in all of its glories. Adding to this sense of immunity was the ensuing amendment: the 14th Amendment. Signed into law in 1868, this amendment dictated that “ No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law”. This addition of rights for black people within the contentious American society integrated the white and black races for the years to come. But, the introduction of the black community did not stop there, the addition of the 15th Amendment further extended the
In the post Civil War era; however, the participation rate skyrocketed due to the initiation of World War I. Women were eager to express their patriotic support for the war effort. Workforce participation rates for women topped 37.7 percent during World War I. (page) This increase in participation within the workforce exposed women to their potential. Not only were women involved in factory work following the Civil War, but also apart of labor unions. Founded in 1873, the Women’s Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) was initiated as a way to provide protection for workplace related incidences, as well as the advocation for alcohol reformation, otherwise known as the temperance movement. Women were one of the first to introduce the temperance movement into society. Along with temperance came the advocation for voting rights. With women gaining a voice among society after the Civil War, their creed to one day be afforded the right to vote became a reality. Ever since the Seneca Falls Conference in 1848, women had scrupulously embedded the ideology of fair and equal voting rights between the sexes. In 1920, this creed was obtained through the 19th Amendment. This amendment dictated that “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex”. This addition of legislation helped women gain