Questions
1. What was Vermont’s involvement in the Civil War?
2. How did the death of Stonewall Jackson affect General Lee's decisions, and if Stonewall Jackson was still alive would the south have a better chance of winning the war?
3. How did the death of Abraham Lincoln affect the nation, mainly how did it affect the south?
Introduction
Two years after the Lincoln-Douglas Debates, Abraham Lincoln was elected president. In one of the speeches Lincoln makes, he says, "Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free..." What he said came true, and on April 12, 1861 the Civil War started. Many say the Civil War was over slavery. This is somewhat true, it was also started because of economic and social differences between the North and the South, states versus federal rights, the fight between slave and non-slave State, growth of the abolition movement, and the election of Abraham Lincoln. The South's economic status became dependent on one crop, cotton, as the major product. With cotton becoming a dependent crop, they had to keep slavery. On the other hand, the North was becoming more industrial. With this the societies changed too, while the south stayed as they have been, the North was evolving and changing. Since America was formed, the question of sovereignty was coming up. The federal government was formed and the constitution was made. With this states started to feel like they were having some of their rights taken away. So nullification started to happen, where a state doesn’t have to follow a law that has been made. Soon the federal government started to not allow states to do this. With this happening, states started to succeed from the Union. They also succeeded because the South wanted to keep slavery, but the North didn’t want slavery. The abolitionist’s movement has been going and gaining speed. Finally Abraham Lincoln was elected and the South feared this. Lincoln was for stopping slavery and the South feared this. With all these factors and some others, the Civil War became one of the bloodiest wars in the history of the United States. From 1861 to 1865 the Civil War took place and it was the Confederacy, South, against the Union, North. Over these five years many battles took place and the course of the nation was changed forever.
Mean while, a small state in New England, contributed many men to the war effort. This state was Vermont and Vermont helped the Union out. Vermont had seventeen infantry regiments, one cavalry regiment, three light artillery batteries, one heavy artillery company, three companies of sharpshooters, and two companies of frontier cavalry. Vermont never replaced a unit, but instead got more men to bring it to full strength. Besides whites that fought, Vermont also contributed some African Americans that fought from Vermont. Many Vermonters fought in many battles, starting with the First Battle of Bull Run to Appomattox Court House, but some started in different battles. Most notably is Vermont’s involvement in the Battle of Gettysburg, where we helped stop Pickett's Charge on July 3, 1863. Before the Battle of Gettysburg, a more notable event happened. The death of the Stonewall Jackson and his immortal last words he said, "Let us cross over the river, and rest under the shade of the trees." A great loss for the South and maybe helped the North win the war. Once Stonewall Jackson died, General Lee said that, “"I have lost my right arm.” No doubt that Stonewall Jackson was a major part of the South and the loss of him was greatly felt. At the end of the war, John Wilkes Booth assassinated Abraham Lincoln. After the signing at Appomattox Court House and the loss of Abraham Lincoln was felt all over the nation. With the Civil War came great losses and destruction. After the war construction came about and in the end slavery was done for and the 13th amendment was ratified, which abolishes slavery. In the end the Civil War brought great loss, but also brought a more united Union together. Even though we still have regional differences, we have become stronger and powerful than before. Lincoln was right and we could not have kept a half free state and half slave state Union together.
Conclusion
Even though it was one of the bloodiest wars in American history, a lot came out of it. The United States was united again and slavery was abolished with the 13th amendment being ratified in 1865. This was after Abraham Lincoln’s death. Abraham was a great man and helped out the nation a lot. Even though he was against slavery, his death was very significant and more hurtful to the South. While the nation mourned his death, the vice president Andrew Johnson and the radical Republicans in the senate, got the power. These people imposed harsher terms on the South than Lincoln was planning. Lincoln’s death also affected the healing process from the war. Lincoln’s leadership could have shortened the reconstruction period and decreased the bitterness between the North and South. Besides Lincoln’s death affecting the war, also Stonewall Jackson’s death affects the war. General Lee had lost his right hand man, and in the end this could have affected his decision-making. With out a reliable person, Lee could have been more conservative. In the end Stonewall Jackson could have helped, but the North was just too powerful at the time. All Stonewall could have done was prevent the inevitable from coming, we would just be reading how bloodier the war was and how many more people lost their lives. Through thick and thin, the people from Vermont would still fight for the cause. They were a very dedicated group of soldier and played a significant part in the battles. In all sixty-four Vermonters got the Medal of Honor for doing their duty for the Union. In the end after four of the bloodiest years in American history, with it all starting out as the Confederacy against the Union, and ended in us being united as Americans. With us coming together we became one of the most powerful countries in the world.
Links
Nathan's Addition to the Timeline
Interesting websites/ Pictures
Bibliography
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