156

USA

Slavery and the Civil War Relationship Essay

April 21, 2022 by Essay Writer

Introduction

The American Revolution was attributed by the advancement in the sectors of social, political, constitutional, and even economical. Majority of the historians tend to agree that the Declaration of Independence commenced by stating a belief. This belief was used to attach Americans across the nation. It was at this period that revolutionary pretension was at its peak as slavery still existed and it proved costly to reconcile in the white dominated American society.

Reconciliation was considered as a two way process which did not mean rationalizing slavery and trying to comprehend its significance. In the eighteenth century, only few studies failed to talk about the significance of libertarian Revolution that was taking place within the slave community. In addition to this it was revealed that the relationship between the Revolutionary theory that was practice and the slave system that was practice at that time.

Relationship of slavery to the revolution

In the era of the revolution, the black man presence in the American society had become a pivot point in the argument over slavery. The argument was pursued in an environmentalist perspective and regarded as a turning point as it incorporated a controversy between nature and nurture, which had a long history of plaguing the existing race relations.

The development of racism had its roots firmly fixed on the ambiguity that surrounded American as Englishman instead of the whole slavery notion. In the quest of attaining national identity, none of the principles set were in reference to the black community. Upon insisting on American’s true identity, the issue that arose was whether the black community was truly American.

Revolution is considered as one of the critical stages of the commencement on the argument that pertained to race and slavery. In addition to this Revolution is indicated as having promoted deep concern over the significance of slavery and nature. It was from this concern that a racist society evolved from. Researchers have in the past indicated that revolution was a turning point era in the history of American slavery. The development of slavery in America is attributed to three critical stages.

American Revolution is considered the first of these stages as it is regarded to have played a crucial role in attainment of regional power by the slaveholders by taking advantage of the weak central government. “Formulation of the positive-good proslavery argument which signaled the maturation of the ruling class and its achievement of self-consciousness,” is regarded as the second stage; the final stage was the seceding decision (MacLeod 9).

The creating a new national entity and achieving independence are some of the factors that attributed to the South slaveholders believing in the notion that slavery was morally wrong especially in regards to principles. It is believed that Revolution brought out inconsistencies and strains that existed in the slaveholding society and magnified them. This indicated the gap that existed between freedom and slavery, which was the key in forcing the slaveholding class to find a middle ground between the two.

Relationship of revolution to the civil war

In 1763, Britain was regarded as the greatest colonial power and its colonies included North America territories that lied in the east of Mississippi and Canada. On the completion of the seven years war, the British took it upon themselves to levy taxes from a total of 13 American colonies.

This did not go well with the American population as riots soon sparked across America. In addition to this the British vision of a single empire that comprised of a powerful parliament was opposed the American colonial population who indicated that the parliament purported by the British did not represent the people.

In the years 1770s to 1776 crisis rocked the British colonists when they declared their own independence. It was on 4 July 1776 that the declaration of independence was approved which formally initiated the American Independence war. The efforts of the colonists in the war were complicated as they were fighting both the revolutionary war as well as the civil war.

Another issue that complicated the war was the Loyalists that existed among the American population who questioned the motives behind the instigated war. The colonies however received a boost from foreign countries that had initially been defeated by the British. Among the foreign countries was the French that provided arms (Spielvogel 572).

Conclusion

The relationship that exists between slavery and revolution on one hand and revolution and slavery on the other hand dates back many years before the independence of America. The Revolution has been pointed out as a critical point in the history of American slavery as well as the civil war in America. It was through Revolution that the strains in the slaveholding society were revealed and amplified. In regards to the civil war, Revolution was pointed out to have had a major impact in the American independence process.

Works Cited

MacLeod, Duncan J. Slavery, race, and the American revolution. NY: Cambridge University Press. 1974. Web.

Spielvogel, Jackson J. Western Civilization: Alternate Volume: Since 1300. CA: Thomson Higher Education. 2009. Web.

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