1.1.2
The Impact of the Civil War
The Impact of the Civil War
The Impact of the Civil War
The Emancipation Proclamation did little to free slaves. Some argue that the motives were more of a political move by Lincoln.
Attitudes towards black people
Attitudes towards black people
- Some attitudes towards black people changed for the better as a result of their participation in the Civil War.
- Some white Americans now saw them as brave heroes.
- Lincoln even changed his own attitudes towards black people after he saw them fight and considered them to be gallant and intelligent.
- This was reflected in the 1989 film, Glory which showed the heroism of the all-black 54th Massachusetts Infantry.
Campaigns to end slavery
Campaigns to end slavery
- After the Civil War ended many campaigned to end slavery.
- The Women’s Loyal League created a petition which was signed by 500,000 people who wanted to end slavery.
Lincoln's re-election
Lincoln's re-election
- In 1864 President Lincoln stood for re-election however he didn’t make ending slavery one of his campaign promises as this was unpopular with white voters.
- However, the National Convention of Colored Men who met in New York in 1864 demanded that in exchange for public endorsement (support) of Lincoln, they wanted enfranchisement and land for freed slaves.
- When Lincoln was re-elected he then worked to persuade the American Senate to pass the Thirteenth Amendment.
The Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment was approved by the House of Representatives in 1865. The amendment abolished slavery in the USA.
The Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment
- The Thirteenth Amendment was passed by the Senate in 1864 but it wasn’t approved by the House of Representatives until 1865.
- The Thirteenth Amendment ended slavery and gave ‘Congress…power to enforce’ the legislation by appropriate force.
Why did the Thirteenth Amendment pass?
Why did the Thirteenth Amendment pass?
- Many black people had fought in the Civil War and without them, the Unionist forces may not have won. To deny them their freedom after that seemed immoral to the Unionist forces.
- Many slaves had run away during the Civil War and it would have been very difficult to get them to return to their masters.
- Lincoln believed that continuing slavery was immoral and went against the Constitution of America.
The impact of the Thirteenth Amendment
The impact of the Thirteenth Amendment
- Passing the Thirteenth Amendment was extremely significant in the fight for freedom and marked the important first step.
- However, there was still much to be done. Frederick Douglass stated that ‘the work does not end with the abolition of slavery, but only begins’.
- Although the Thirteenth Amendment ended slavery many white Americans were still against it and racism remained widespread.
1‘Free at Last’ 1865-77
1.1The Thirteenth Amendment
1.2Radical Reconstruction, 1867-77
2The Triumph of ‘Jim Crow’ 1883-c1890
2.1Jim Crow Laws & Civil Rights Cases
3The New Deal and Race Relations, 1933–41
3.1Failure to Address Black Grievances
3.2The New Deal
3.3The Second World War
4‘I have a dream’, 1954–68
4.1Civil Rights Activities, 1954–63
4.2Civil Rights 1964-68
4.3Malcolm X & The Black Panthers
5Obama's Campaign for the Presidency, 2004–09
5.1The Late 20th Century
5.2Barack Obama & his Political Career
5.3Reasons for Obama's Victory
Jump to other topics
1‘Free at Last’ 1865-77
1.1The Thirteenth Amendment
1.2Radical Reconstruction, 1867-77
2The Triumph of ‘Jim Crow’ 1883-c1890
2.1Jim Crow Laws & Civil Rights Cases
3The New Deal and Race Relations, 1933–41
3.1Failure to Address Black Grievances
3.2The New Deal
3.3The Second World War
4‘I have a dream’, 1954–68
4.1Civil Rights Activities, 1954–63
4.2Civil Rights 1964-68
4.3Malcolm X & The Black Panthers
5Obama's Campaign for the Presidency, 2004–09
5.1The Late 20th Century
5.2Barack Obama & his Political Career
5.3Reasons for Obama's Victory
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