The Civil War - Research Paper

Introduction

The North and the South key irritant issue that led to their split was the issue of slavery. The abolitionist movement further escalated the tension. In the late 1860 and 1861, these differences could, however, have been resolved by the Crittenden Compromise. John Crittenden aimed at transforming the constitution to protect the slave trade and to keep the South from breaking away (423). It was however rejected both by Republicans and the Southern states. The states continued to withdraw from the United States after the Crittenden's suggestion was launched in Congress. The war could have been avoided by the embrace of this compromise, which would guarantee the South to keep on their slave trade and keep off the North which held onto antislavery.

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The North had vast advantages during the war. They had a larger population compared to the South. Their manpower was thus boosted as they had reserves to get it from. The war effort was improved by the railroad grid which was extensive and the industrial capabilities which enabled the mobilization of men and supplies. The transformation of the North since the 1820s where it had transportation revolution and industrial revolution gave it an upper hand compared to the South as it was able to produce raw materials in huge quantities and transport them quicker than the South did (430). The North received abundant food supply from the farms throughout the war. The tide of war could have turned against the North as the South had a shorter supply line to maintain and they could stay low for defense while the North was mandated to go out and conquer. The Union armies were faced with the task of establishing long lines of supply chains, and they were fighting on unfamiliar land. The civilian population was hostile towards the Union armies (430). The unfamiliarity of the union with the terrain gave the Confederacy an advantage to their side.

The Gettysburg Address reminds people of the sacrifices the founding fathers made to achieve the liberty they had compromised by infringing on others' freedom. He pointed out that all men are created equal just as fathers of the nation propositioned (442). This speech has endured over the centuries as it gives people freedom for whatever they stand for, regardless of who they are. Without this then, they would arise a war which would claim many lives, which would mean that those who died in the battle of Gettysburg would have done so in vain. The sacrifice they made by giving their lives marked the war's turning point.

Women played many roles during the war. Women from both the Northern and Southern side took over the businesses and farms that their husbands had abandoned when they had left for war. They also structured themselves to form ladies' aid societies who sewed uniforms, raised money to get necessities needed by the troops and knit their socks (436). The wounded soldiers were taken into homes by the women in the South so that they could be nursed. The United States Sanitary Commission had women from the North streaming in as volunteers. They were engaged in inspecting the military camps to improve cleanliness and reduce the death toll of soldiers who died from the disease. They also helped the injured and raised funds to purchase medical supplies. Women worked in the Union army as their laundresses and cooks. On the call of Dorothea Dix, thousands of women volunteered to take care of the wounded and sick (436). On both sides, women posed to be spies and disguised themselves as men who were in combat.

Conclusion

The Union forces used the escaped slaves for manual labor at the beginning of the war. However, the Emancipation Proclamation led the African American men to enroll as Union soldiers (443). Their engagement was amongst the distinct advantages the Union had in the war. Apart from combat duty, they were engaged in serving as cooks, hauling supplies and digging trenches.