A civil war is a war between associations within a country. The Civil War started when the Confederates attacked the Union soldiers at Fort Sumter, South Carolina, on April 12, 1861. The war was between the Northern and Southern states. The main cause of the Civil War was over the ethics surrounding slavery. On September 22, 1862, an exclusive order by the United States President, Abraham Lincoln, was issued (Du Bois). This was the Emancipation Proclamation. The Emancipation proclamation was an executive order by the United States President, Abraham Lincoln, to free slaves in ten states.
Abraham Lincoln aimed to free slaves because he wanted to stop the African Americans from being treated as property (Du Bois). He also wanted the ex-slaves to join the Union in fighting against the Confederates in the war, increasing the Union’s manpower. Many African Americans fled from their masters to join the Union army. However, the Emancipation did not free all slaves. The law applied to ten states. The number of slaves in these states that were freed was more than 3.5 million of the 4 million slaves. The border-states still held 500,000 slaves (Du Bois). This happened on January 1, 1863, when the Proclamation was made legal. The Thirteenth Amendment was passed to ensure the elimination of slavery. These slaves were later freed under the state actions. Prior to the laws, slaves who escaped were returned to their masters or held in camps. Other major causes of the war were over the power of the federal government to control the states, the social values and economic interests between the Northern and Southern states.
Lincoln presented the Proclamation to the cabinet on July 22, 1862 to ask for their opinion as it was something he was strong-minded about (Du Bois). The Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton supported him, but the Secretary of State William Seward instructed him to issue the Proclamation after a major Union victory so as not to appear weak against the Confederates. The much-needed win was acquired from the Battle of Antietam on September 1862, and five days later, Lincoln issued the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation (Maxwell). The final proclamation was made on January 1, 1863 (Du Bois). When the slaved were freed, nearly 200,000 blacks joined the army. This gave the Union additional human resources that was significant in winning the war.
The impact of the Emancipation was felt on the same day it was formalized, 1 January (Maxwell). Thousands of blacks were seen celebrating their freedom that day. The slaves, about 20,000, were freed immediately after the Proclamation. Slaves fled their masters from the Confederacy and were frequently aided by Union soldiers. At midnight, slaves that had been recaptured by Union soldiers after fleeing, we released. The news of the Proclamation spread so fast and reached the Confederacy. Slaves who were being used to prepare food, repair railways, common labourers and factory workers, among many heard about the information and were filled with hope. The news created confusion inciting the slaves’ escape to join the Union in the military.
The political impact of the Proclamation was felt at large. Copperhead Democrats immediately denounced the law and supported reestablishing of the Union to allow slavery. They saw the proclamation as an abuse of presidential power. Racism was rampant on both ends of the war. The Northern people only supported the war in order to force the Confederates to stay in the union. The Confederates proclaimed that the promises to restore the Union by the Republicans was not about ending slavery or black rights but was about winning the war as the people of the Union were still racial towards blacks. The Copperhead perceived the Proclamation as proof of their position in power, and some members began to rise politically. War Democrats against the Copperhead position were in a dilemma as they feared opposing the Union might make them the next target. There was a lot of political tension, and the Union people felt like Lincoln was neglecting them.
On June 19, 1865 is when Texas residents finally learned that slavery had been abolished when the Union soldiers arrived in Galveston (Jarrell). The former slaves began celebrating with dances, praises, prayers and feasting. On June 19 the next year, the first official Juneteenth celebrations took place in Texas (Jarrell). The original practices are comprised of prayer meetings, wearing new clothes as a way of signifying their new freedom. In a few years, African Americans from different states started commemorating the day as well making it a custom (Jarrell).
Juneteenth was made a state holiday in Texas, and other states followed. The year was 1980. The celebrations have continued to date, the 20th century. People sing, dance, and hold gatherings and meetings in remembrance of the day they got freedom from the whites (Jarrell). Older people pass down stories they were told with their grandparents and parents to their children so as not to forget the historical activities that happened in the 1860s. It is good for people to acknowledge where they come from, although most of the generations cannot be traced from the 19th century and below.
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