History Analytical Essay

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Question 7: What was the impact of the Civil War on civil liberties?
Undeniably, the American Civil War triggered a critical turning on the civil liberties of the American people. Mainly this manifested itself through the way the issue of slavery was treated and how the two opposing sides, the north versus south, defined civil liberty. For slaves, the Civil War presented them with an opportunity to liberate themselves from slavery. Coincidentally, the Union government realized that their victory was intertwined with the liberation of the slaves (Foner 530). As a result, the seed for viewing all people as equals was planted. Consequently, campaigns for the emancipation of slaves begun in earnest. For example, in 1862, for the first time in the American history, the government barred the army from sending run-away slaves back to their masters. In my view, this was a demonstration that America was turning away from the old and ushering in a new era of civilian freedom, both for blacks and whites.
Also, thanks to the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by President Lincoln on January 1st, 1863 (Foner 54). While this was a strategic move to mitigate the effects of the South’s cessation, it opened an avenue for black people to enjoy some privileges. Equally, it led to a paradigm shift in the way whites viewed blacks. Some of the rights that the blacks received included being enrolled in the military. While serving in the army, they were treated fairly as their white counterparts, more so for those who were in the navy.

As rightly pointed by some this had a far-reaching impact on the civil liberties of blacks because those who worked as soldiers would never again accept to be enslaved since they had tested what it means to be free, something which they instilled to others (Foner 535). Together, all these developments led to a more just and better America for civilians.
Works Cited
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!: An American History (Seagull Fifth Edition) (Vol. 1), 5th Edition. W. W. Norton & Company, 20160915. [Chegg].