The American Civil War: Uncompromising Differences and Their Impact

Introduction

The American Civil War was very deadly, killing many soldiers. The Civil War was a war between the northern states and the southern states. The Civil War started in 1861 and ended in 1865. The South wanted to preserve slavery while the North was fighting to end slavery. The Civil War happened for different reasons, including slavery, economic differences between the North and South, and the election of Abraham Lincoln.

Uncompromising Differences Leading to Secession

The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 caused seven southern states to secede and form the Confederate States of America; four more states joined them.

The war was one of the deadliest wars fought in America, causing 620,000 of 2.4 million soldiers killed. The Civil War started because of uncompromising differences between the free and slave states over the power of the national government to prohibit slavery in the territories that had not yet become states. When Lincoln won the election in 1860 as the first Republican president on a platform to keep slavery out of the territories, several slave states in the South seceded and formed a new nation, the Confederate States of America.

In the first battle of the Bull Run on July 21, 1861, 35,000 Confederate soldiers under the command of Thomas Jonathon “Stonewall” Jackson forced a greater number of Union forces to head towards Washington D.C., for any hopes of a quick victory and leading Lincoln to call for 500,000 more recruits. By contrast, the South was based on large farms that produced crops such as cotton and relied on slaves as the main labor force. Rather than invest in factories as Northerners had done, Southerners invested their money in slaves even more than land. In the 1850s, the price of cotton had skyrocketed, and the value of slaves rose.

Legacy and Significance

In March 1864, Lincoln put Ulysses S. Grant in command of the Union armies. Leaving William Tecumseh Sherman in control in the West. Grant headed to Washington, where he led the Army of the Potomac toward Robert E. Lee’s troops in Northern Virginia. Sherman outmaneuvered Confederate forces to take Atlanta by September, after which he and 60,000 Union troops began the famous “March to the Sea,” devastating Georgia on the way to capturing Savannah on December 21. Columbia and Charleston, South Carolina, fell to Sherman’s men by February, and Jefferson Davis handed over the supreme command to Lee. The Union won the American Civil War. The war officially ended in May 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Civil War was extremely deadly, causing 620,000 deaths of soldiers. The North won the war due to the advantages it had, including its leaders’ political skills, a larger navy, and its war strategy. Abraham Lincoln was assassinated right before the end of the Civil War. Some have called the American Civil War the last of the old-fashioned wars; others have termed it the first modern war. Overall, the American Civil War had a big part in creating this nation.

References

  1. “Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era” by James M. McPherson
  2. “The Civil War: A Narrative” by Shelby Foote
  3. “Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln” by Doris Kearns Goodwin

The English Civil War: Catalysts, Conflict, and Consequences

Introduction

In this essay, I will be talking about the English Civil War and the events leading up to the war, the events that happened during the war, and the events that happened after the war. This is important to our world history because it shows how we were involved in the war. The war had ended the notion of the divine right of kings and laid the groundwork for the modern UK parliament and monarchy. This is gonna be the bulk of my essay and what I will be talking about in this paper.

The Precursors to Conflict

This is what happened when Charles started to steal money from people. And yet, in 1642, we went to war with ourselves. Pitting brother against brother and father against son, the English Civil War is a blot on our history. The war was making people turn on everyone, even their own family, at some point, and they would even hurt or kill their own family. This also shows how fast people will turn on each other for someone that they don’t even know. This is important because it shows how everything started, like making people turn on each other and fight each other, how the war took a turn for the worst, and how a lot of people started to lose their lives.

This shows how the war was good for the British, how there was the execution of a king, and how the war was brutal and tore the country. This is going to show the two unique events that happened, “The turbulent civil wars of the early seventeenth century would culminate in two events unique to British history: the public execution of a king and the creation of a republic. Schama tells of the brutal war that tore the country in half and created a new Britain – divided by politics and religion and dominated by the first truly modern army, fighting for ideology, not individual leaders.” (“A History of Britain (TV Series). This means that the war helped and destroyed British history, how it was so bad for the British, and how it tore the country in half, forcing them to create a new one. This is important because it shows how the war affected other countries and how it affected them so badly that they had to start over, and they needed to make a new one.

This shows how Scotland and England had a really bad relationship. It made them not work together, but then they dropped everything, and then they planned a future, and the new Britain was in it for the money. This shows the relationship between Scotland and England, “As the new century dawned, relations between Scotland and England had never been worse. Yet half a century later, the two countries would be making a future together based on profit and interest. The new Britain was based on money, not God.” (“A History of Britain (TV Series). This means that the war made countries have bad relationships with others, and they turned on each other. This is important because it shows what kind of problems the war caused for other countries, how they were turning on each other, and how the war made a lot of people turn on each other.

The Unraveling of Society

One of the events that happened was Charles extended the tax on people because he needed money because he went bankrupt, and that’s how things started. This shows how Charles raised the taxes, and it made people upset, “Charles’s decision to extend a year-round Ship Tax to all counties in England provided around £150,000 to £200,000 annually between 1634 and 1638..” (Victoria Masson). This event shows how Charles went bankrupt, and so he needed money to get the money. He raised taxes on people, and that money went to him so he could pay off his debts. This is important because it shows how the people started to turn on others, and that is how the war started.

One of the events that happened was that the people were requesting that the MP (military police) be arrested, and that was too much for Charles to bear. “By June 1642, these were too much for Charles to bear. His bullish response in barging into the House of Commons and attempting to arrest five MPs lost him the last remnants of support among undecided MPs. The sides were crystallized, and the battle lines were drawn. Charles I raised his standard on 22nd August 1642 in Nottingham: the Civil War had begun.” (Victoria Masson). This event showed how people wanted justice for what they were doing, and they got people arrested for what they did. This is important because it shows the last thing that happened before the war.

One of the events that happened was a lot of people died, and they lost friends and family, and a lot of people lost their lives for a stupid reason. This shows how many people lost their lives, “The English conflict left some 34,000 Parliamentarians and 50,000 Royalists dead, while at least 100,000 men and women died from war-related diseases, bringing the total death toll caused by the three civil wars in England to almost 200,000. More died in Scotland, and far more in Ireland.” (History.com Editors). This event shows how people lost their lives in this war, and they died in Scotland and Ireland. This is important because it shows how many people lost their lives.

Charles 1 and Charles ll were put on trial for their actions and how many people were killed. This shows the trial for Charles 1 and Charles 11: “Moreover, the trial and execution of an anointed sovereign and the presence of a standing army throughout the 1650s, combined with the proliferation of radical religious sects, shook the very foundations of British society and ultimately facilitated the restoration of Charles II in 1660.” (History.com Editors).

This event shows how there was a trial for Charles 1 and 11, and they were punished for what they did and for starting a war that killed a lot of people. This is important because it shows that they are being punished for what they did to people and the war.

The biggest ideas of my paper were how the English Revolution started, how it was during the war, how the war ended, and how life was after that. Then, my paper shows the most important events that happened during the war and how they might have affected the war. My paper shows how Charles started and how he impacted the war and made the war how we know it to be today. My paper shows how there were some countries that didn’t get along after or during the war, and then they made a future together based on profit and interest. The new Britain was based on money, not God.

Conclusion

My topic was the English Civil War and how it was a turning point in our history. The effects were the things that happened to start the war, what happened during the war, and how it impacted the other countries after the war. This event matters because it shows how the English Civil War was a turning point for our country and what happened for this to be a turning point. Now I leave you with this: Do you think this is a good turning point, and is it something that we should learn about?

References

  1. “The Civil Wars: A Military History of England, Scotland, and Ireland 1638-1660” by John Kenyon and Jane Ohlmeyer
  2. “The English Civil War at First Hand” edited by Tristram Hunt
  3. “Rebels and Revolutionaries in Northamptonshire, 1600-1660” by Stephen Hindle
  4. “The English Civil War: A Military History” by Peter Young and Richard Holmes

The American Civil War: Causes, Impact, and Legacy

Introduction

The Civil War was a significant event during the years of 1861 through 1865. The Civil War was a war that was fought for many reasons. One was to give equal rights to all, and another was to put a stop to slavery.

Causes of the Civil War

The Civil War started in April 1861 and came to an end in 1865. The war was between the Southern and Northern States. This war claimed the lives of as many as 620,000 soldiers; millions were hurt, which was 2 percent of the American population in 1861. Americans thought the Civil War would help, but instead, it produced a lot of problems. The North believed the war was a “War of Revolution,” while the South believed it to be a “War of Rebellion.” The cause of the Civil War was economic, political, and social differences. Slavery was another reason why the Civil War had begun.

The Northern region was well established and depended on factories and other industrialized businesses rather than agricultures and plantations, which made many of the new immigrants settle north, while the Southern region was on a system of large-scale farming, which was things like tobacco and cotton while they benefited from agriculture rather than industrialization. After the Cotton Gin was invented, that really made the South depend on the labor of the black slaves.

Impact and Significance of the Civil War

The first three postwar amendments made social and political changes in history. Those amendments were the 13th Amendment, the 14th Amendment, and the 15th Amendment. “In 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all persons held as slaves within any State, or part of a State, shall then forever free. But the Emancipation Proclamation did not end slavery.” (ushistory.org) The 13th Amendment had passed the Senate, but the House was a different story. They didn’t allow the Amendment to be passed. In 1868, the 14th Amendment was sanctioned, which allowed citizenship to anybody who was born or a citizen in the U.S., which also included former slaves. The Amendment was rejected by nearly all the Southern states but was ratified by the required three-fourths of the states. This was known as the Reconstruction Amendment, “which forbids any state to deny any person life, liberty or property, without due process of law or to deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.’ (14th Amendment to the Constitution 2000). Congress passed the 15th Amendment on February 26, 1869, but it didn’t take place until February 3, 1870, which then gave any black male the right to vote.

The U.S. Congress passed the Kansas- Nebraska Act in 1854, which opened all new territories to slaves. During the Civil War, many states were becoming either free or slave states. The Kansas-Nebraska Act was the border between Missouri and Kansas, which became an issue. This caused pro-slavery supporters to believe that with Kansas becoming a free state, the Union would gain an unfair advantage in the war with the Confederacy. This caused anti-slavery populations to rise in Kansas and pro-slavery populations to rise in Missouri. This tension between the two regions caused a lot of deaths, which made Kansas known as ‘Bleeding Kansas.” (The Kansas-Nebraska Act [ushistory.org])

Conclusion

The Civil War lasted longer than it was supposed to, but the war was unavoidable due to the differences between the Northern and Southern states economically, socially, and politically differences. More Americans were killed in the Civil War than in any other war, and this was the bloodiest. It got African Americans their freedom, and this is something that will always be remembered in history.

References

  1. 14th Amendment to the Constitution Was Ratified. (2000, April 24). Retrieved from http://www.americaslibrary.gov/jb/recon/jb_recon_revised_1.html [bookmark: _Hlk34057982]
  2. History. com Editors. (2019, September 19). Civil War. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/american-civil-war-history
  3. McPherson, Dr. J. (n.d.). A Brief Overview of the American Civil War. Retrieved February 28, 2020, from https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/brief-overview-american-civil-war
    [bookmark: _Hlk34057455]
  4. Our Documents – 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Abolition of Slavery (1865). (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2020, from https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=40
  5. Our Documents – 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Voting Rights (1870). (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2020, from https://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=false&doc=44
    [bookmark: _Hlk34057557]
  6. UShistory.org. (n.d.-b). The Kansas-Nebraska Act [ushistory.org]. Retrieved February 28, 2020, from https://www.ushistory.org/us/31a.asp

Whitman’s Impact on the Civil War: Induction into the Civil War Hall of Fame

Introduction

Dear Civil War Hall of Fame,

Today, I write to you with the interest of inducting Walt Whitman into the Civil War Hall of Fame. Whitman’s role in the war often goes unrecognized due to the wider publication of articles on people like Abraham Lincoln or Ulysses S. Grant. Now, don’t get me wrong, both of the previously mentioned people played important roles in the Civil War, but Walt Whitman also made positive contributions to the war in the United States. From growing up with a hard life, as many Americans did at the time, to writing poetry to document the war in a way that many were unable to, Walt took a different approach to help the country in a time of great need. Walt Whitman should be inaugurated into the Civil War Hall of Fame due to his anti-slavery beliefs, the time he spent taking care of soldiers, along with the documentation of their stories, and for writing Leaves of Grass.

Standing Firm Against Slavery and Advocating Equality

Walt Whitman began his life in a household of nine siblings, all of whom had significant problems such as autism, insanity, etc. He ended up being the only child that succeeded in life, becoming one of America’s most accomplished poets. All throughout his life, Whitman shared his beliefs on slavery, advertising them through poetry, among other things. “Whitman joined the Free Soil Democrats, who believed that slavery should be prohibited from all annexed territories. But his outspoken beliefs cost him several important editorial positions” (Lowen 18). When Whitman was working as the editor for the Eagle, he lost his job because of his boss’s belief in pro-slavery.

Along with other jobs he lost based on his revolutionary beliefs and the poems he wrote, Whitman continued to fight for what he believed in and stood strong. Leaves of Grass, the book of poetry he spent his whole life revising and editing, speaks of topics that are often disregarded because they are quite controversial. “Leaves of Grass portrays both the suffering and the dignity of African Americans, seen in the present as victims of slave-catchers but envisioned in the future as partners with whites in an egalitarian democracy.” (Klammer) Whitman was scorned for his beliefs but continued to display what he thought was the correct course that America should follow. Making him a dignified option for the Civil War Hall of Fame.

Not only did Whitman stand up for what he believed in, but he also spent most of his life taking care of injured soldiers. It all started when Whitman’s brother was listed as an injured soldier during the war. Walt rushed to where his brother was being held, only to find that he was minimally injured and, for the most part, healed. From there on out, “[Whitman] spent the rest of his time visiting soldiers, he dressed their wounds, read to them, and wrote letters home for those who weren’t able to write.” (Lowen 29) He stayed with them for two weeks before he helped a group of soldiers make it to Washington Hospital.

Whitman mailed out letters to the soldiers and aided them during the time of their perilous journey. Not so long after the journey to the hospital, Walt set up shop in Washington so he could continue his work with soldiers.“Whitman began making the rounds of the hospitals, offering modest gifts of fruit, candy, books, pencils, and paper to the hospitalized soldiers. More importantly, he lent an ear to the young men who needed a friend.” (PBS) Walt Whitman generously gave a large portion of his life to helping others, and it certainly was not cheap or easy. It took a lot of money and time, but it was worth it in the end, for Whitman was able to do something he truly enjoyed.

Conclusion

The final thing I wish to present you with today is Whitman’s documentation of the Civil War and its controversial topics. Leaves of Grass, Whitman’s book of poetry, contained poems that revolved around his philosophy of life. Each individual poem represented a piece of his life during the Civil War. Whitman continued to revise Leaves of Grass throughout the entirety of his time on Earth, making sure that the poems were accurate in their depiction of his view on things. Whitman took the time to pour his heart and soul into his poems, showing the commitment he held to spreading his beliefs. Even when “critics denounced Walt Whitman as a ‘lunatic raving in pitiable delirium.’” and “pronounced his signature book of poetry, Leaves of Grass, ‘slimy,’ ‘vile,’ and ‘beastly.’” (“Walt Whitman”). Whitman stood strong and ended up becoming famous for his poetry, proving that sometimes people are wrong. Not only did Walt display his dignity and courage, but he also provided poems that.

References

  1. Lowen, Mark. “Walt Whitman Biography: The Life of America’s Poet.” ThoughtCo, 21 Oct. 2020, www.thoughtco.com/walt-whitman-biography-3529010.
  2. Klammer, Enno. “The Revolutionary Walt Whitman.” The Wall Street Journal, 28 Nov. 2012, www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887324705104578151393895030042.
  3. Lowen, Mark. “Walt Whitman Biography: The Life of America’s Poet.” ThoughtCo, 21 Oct. 2020, www.thoughtco.com/walt-whitman-biography-3529010.
  4. “PBS Documentary Explores the Life and Legacy of Walt Whitman.” PBS, 18 June 2020, www.pbs.org/about/about-pbs/blogs/news/pbs-documentary-explores-the-life-and-legacy-of-walt-whitman/.

The First Libyan Civil War: Unveiling Revolt, Repression, and Renewal

Introduction

The First Libyan Civil War, also called the Libyan Revolution or February 17th Revolution, was a somewhat violent revolution in 2011 in the African country of Libya. Fought between Colonel MuammarGaddafiloyaists and those trying to get him removed. Gaddafi was ruling Libya with an iron fist, eliminating all political opposition and restricting the lives of Libyans. Between the 13th and 16th of January in 2011, People began to grow more and more upset about the slowness of the housing being built and decided to take over what had been done.

Escalation into Civil War

Members of many cities came together and occupied the unfinished buildings. By January 27, the government will put twenty billion pounds into housing in hopes of curbing the unrest. “In late January, Jamal al-Hajji, a writer, political commentator, and accountant, ‘call[ed] on the Internet for demonstrations to be held in support of greater freedoms in Libya’ inspired by the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.” (Wikipedia)The reporter was arrested on February 1 by undercover police officers and charged on February 3 for injuring someone with his car. “Amnesty International stated that because al-Hajji had previously been imprisoned for his non-violent political opinions, the real reason for the present arrest appeared to be his call for demonstrations.” (Wikipedia) So, in reality, they were taking away his voice in the press.

The protests non-violent protests would lead to an uprising and civil war. This was succeeded by race riots, which were easily put out by the police and pro-Gaddafi loyalists. On the evening of February 15, between 500 and 600 demonstrators protested in front of Benghazi’s police headquarters after the arrest of human rights lawyer FathiTerbil. Crowds were armed with homemade weapons and stones. Marchers hurled Molotov cocktails in a downtown square in Benghazi, damaging cars and blocking roads.

Conclusion

“Police responded to crowds with tear gas, water cannon, and rubber bullets. 38 people were injured, including ten security personnel.” (Wikipedia) They met violence with violence. Their fore caused even more problems among the citizens because they were being treated brutally. This war helped bring families back together once the exiled people were allowed back into the country. Brought new hope toLIbia and its future. With the ability to have new rulers and update their government, they can only look at what good is to come,

Works Cited

  1. “2011 Libya Civil War Fast Facts.” CNN, Cable News Network, August 30, 2018, www.cnn.com/2013/09/20/world/libya-civil-war-fast-facts/index.html.
  2. “How Bad Was Gaddafi?” This Is Africa, January 11, 2018; this is Africa. me/how-bad-was-gaddafi/.
  3. “Libyan Civil War (2011).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, October 25, 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libyan_Civil_War_(2011).

Top Five Battles Won by the North

The first battle the North won was the Battle of the Bull Run. The second battle was the Shiloh. The third battle was the Antietam. The fourth battle was the Gettysburg. The fifth battle was the Appomattox Courthouse.

Referred to in the north as the Battle of Bull Run and in the South as the Battle of Manassas. This fight on July 21, 1861 in Virginia was the main significant clash of the Civil War. It was a Confederate triumph. After a year there was a subsequent fight in the territory known as the Second Battle of Bull Run or Second Manassas depending on the side portraying it. The second Battle of Bull Run was battled in August 28-30 1862 and was additionally an annihilation for Union powers however it was not as aggregate as the first.

The Civil War detonates in the west as the armed forces of Union General Ulysses S. Award and Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston crash at Shiloh, close to Pittsburgh Landing in Tennessee. The Battle of Shiloh got probably the bloodiest commitment of the war, and the degree of viciousness stunned North and South similar. For a half year, Yankee soldiers had been stirring their way up the Tennessee and Cumberland streams. Kentucky was immovably in Union hands, and now the Federals controlled a lot of Tennessee, including the capital at Nashville. Award scored significant triumphs at Forts Henry and Donelson in February, compelling Johnston to accumulate the dispersed Rebel powers at Corinth in northern Mississippi. Award brought his military, 42,000 in number, to meet with General Don Carlos Buell and his 20,000 soldiers. Ward’s goal was Corinth, a crucial rail community that whenever caught would give the Union complete control of the district. Twenty miles away, Johnston snuck at Corinth with 45,000 troopers.

Referred to in the north as the Battle of Antietam and in the south as the Battle of Sharpsburg, this fight on September 17 1862 in Maryland was the bloodiest fight at any point battled throughout the entire existence of the United States with lost 22,717. The fight, battled between the powers of Confederate Robert E. Lee and Union General George McClellan finished in the withdrawal of Lee’s powers from the field so it is considered a Union triumph however the refusal of McClellan to seek after and decimate Lee’s military whenever he got the opportunity to do so are viewed as a gigantic disappointment that permitted the war to proceed. The quick repercussions of the fight was a sufficient triumph to give President Lincoln the certainty to discharge the Emancipation Proclamation which proclaimed a conclusion to subjection in the Confederate domain.

The Battle of Gettysburg, battled from July 1 to July 3, 1863, is viewed as the most significant commitment of the American Civil War. After an extraordinary triumph over Union powers at Chancellorsville, General Robert E. Lee walked his Army of Northern Virginia into Pennsylvania in late June 1863. On July 1, the propelling Confederates conflicted with the Union’s Army of the Potomac, told by General George G. Meade, at the junction town of Gettysburg. The following day saw much heavier battling, as the Confederates assaulted the Federals on both left and right. On July 3, Lee arranged an assault by less than 15,000 soldiers on the adversary’s middle at Cemetery Ridge.

Battled on April 9 1865, the last fight between the powers of General Ulysses Grant and General Robert E Lee was the Battle of Appomattox Court House. Lee had spent the earlier year protecting Richmond however chose now to attempt to move south to interface up with other Confederate powers. He had to withdraw to Appomattox Court House by Union powers and at last had no real option except to give up. The reports flagging give up were marked on April 9 and an official service was hung on April twelfth disbanding the Army of Northern Virginia that Lee had instructed. The impact of this was to end the war in Virginia and to trigger a flood of gives up across staying A confederate area. The give up at Appomattox Court House denoted the finish of the Civil War.

Ulysses S. Grant Essay

I grew up in Ohio, my family was anti-slavery and my father was a soldier, who never saw much combat. My family always wanted me to enlist as a soldier in his footsteps and so after getting my education and growing to the ripe old age of 17, I decided that I would indeed enlist as a soldier. The training was very intensive, but I learned all the same within a year, my country went into an armed conflict with our Southern neighbor, Mexico, and I was brought into the frontlines (Mexican-American War, April 25, 1846 – February 2, 1848 ). My longtime friend Ulysses Grant was in this war with me, but I didn’t see him all that much as we were on different fronts of the conflict. Instead, I found myself fighting under General Winfield Scott.

I honed my experience and learned a lot through this but was always overshadowed by another soldier, Robert E. Lee. I decided the most intelligent thing to do was make friends with Lee, so that’s what I did. Telling stories of our experiences and having a good time. He was a very good man albeit the main thing we disagreed on was the matter of slavery. I couldn’t put him on too much blame for this though, it was how he was raised it was simply different. Even though our friendship, I held a lot of respect for Lee, as a brilliant fighter and a great man. Time passed going through battle after battle until eventually, I met back up with my longtime friend Ulysses S. Grant in marching from Vera Cruz to Mexico City. It was hard but we pulled on victorious and by the end of the Mexican-American war I returned to my home in Ohio, finding both my parents gone. The next years were hard, finding the way on my lonesome and struggling with some of the remaining horrors of the war I survived.

A lot of thought happened at this time, wondering if we ever had the place to invade our small neighborhood. There was little time for this thought though as very quickly, the tensions in the union on the matter of Slavery grew to a boiling point. This only got worse with the stepping up of our nation’s 16th president Abraham Lincoln (November 1860). He had no plan of abolishing Slavery as a whole, simply the trade and stopping it from growing. His main goal was to make sure the Union stayed together as one. Sadly just the opposite of that happened and before I knew it, southern states that were in favor of Slavery were seceding left and right from the Union I realized that this was going to turn into a massive conflict, a war of brother against brother. Soon enough my initial horror was confirmed as I found that the leader of the confederates would be my respected friend Robert E. Lee. Another horror was just how soon the whole thing erupt, it felt like as fast as these confederate states seceded they led their first attack, one against Fort Sumter in South Carolina (April 12, 1861). With that start, the war was inevitable. My lifetime friend Ulysses S. Grant would go on to lead the Union. I decided that I would fight in this war if nothing else to honor my Father. In that sense, at least there was only one option, to fight against Slavery under the Union and General Ulysses Grant. Once I made this decision, it was back to training.

I told Ulysses of my decision immediately and thus I often fought at his side. The war was hard, even if they decided to leave, every person was still American and I knew there may well come a day in which I have to face my respected friend in battle. If that day came I knew I’d have to do what I must. At this point, we still weren’t sure of the scale to expect of this conflict and I heard orders to form a lightly trained force to storm the confederate capital in Richmond. I heard it was going fairly well, until things went for the worst as the confederates gained reinforcements and slaughtered our troops brutally (First Battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861). We started our move and in April of 1862, our army was camped in Pittsburgh Landing. Our numbers were massive (62,000 Union Soldiers) and everything seemed well and good, well and good all until the morning of the 6th. That morning we were ambushed by a massive confederate force. (45,000 Confederate Soldiers) At this point, all hope seemed lost they had the upper hand, we weren’t prepared but we fought back.

We fought our way, giving up ground as we went and it seemed like it stretched on forever. It was hours until we could finally stabilize long enough to get the reinforcements we needed to fight back the confederate army. When all was said and done, this place Shiloh, a place said to be of peace, had seen the most violent and bloody battle I’d ever seen (Up to that point the most bloody American Battle of time, with casualties of 23,000 soldiers between the two armies). Time passed and it was hard, living as a soldier was never easy, sicknesses spread like crazy and the generally low food sources and rations were a hard adjustment. Between physical work and trying to keep our morale up, we passed our time mobile marching through the country and planning for the future. Enough of this went by and In June of 1862, the confederate army truly fell into the hands of Lee. One of General Lee’s plans was to invade Maryland and cut off the railroad to split our armies. I found this through a leak in an old confederate camp. Thus a force of our men led by General George McClellan attacked Lee’s army. (September 17, 1862, Battle of Antietam) We should have easily one due to our massive number advantage but from what I heard about the battle, things got very difficult due to McClellan’s ability to make a strategic decision. This gave the enemy enough time to bolster their morale and fight back, this was another bloody battle and it all went down in just a day (22,000 Casualties).

Even through the massive number of deceased, the Confederates retreated leaving this battle as a strategic victory for the army of the Union. Hearing this news was hard, we were happy that in the end, we won but so many casualties…. It certainly wasn’t easy, one of my close friends left for that battle and never came back. These wars had taken so much, so much from everyone involved, and what was there to gain from all that loss? It was really hard to take in as a whole.

The Preconditions of the American Civil War

The rise of partisan politics in the Early Republic was due to a difference in opinion on how the country should be run. There were both people who supported the constitution (Federalists) and those who did not support the constitution (Anti-Federalists or Democratic-Republicans).The Federalists wanted a strong government; “They argued that the separation of powers … and the division of powers between states and nation, would preclude tyranny” (Norton 7-2). Whereas the antifederalists believed that states would help citizens have more rights and would not allow the government to take complete control. Their fear was that the government would take too much control and take away the rights that they came to America to have. Therefore the difference of opinion led to the development of the First Party System.

The First Party System included the Federalists and the Democratic – Republican Party (or the anti-federalists). The concern that drove the people of America into two seperate groups was how involved they believed the government should be. While the Federalists wanted the government to have more control, the democratic-republican party feared that it would take rights away from the citizens. This is seen in each party’s view on freedom for immigrants. The Alien and Sedition Act of 1798 gave the government the right to deport immigrants and control their voting rights. Federalists supported this whereas the democratic – republicans were in opposition of this (Norton 8-1e). The Act gave too much power to the government. The main reason for the development of the First Party System was due to the disagreement about how much power the government should have.

The Second Party System included the Whig and Democratic parties. The Democratic Party believed in a strong central government but they did not want the government to have too much power. Although they disliked government help in the economy because they viewed it as “…favoring the rich”, they still wanted “…federal intervention in westward expansion” (Norton 12-1d). Unlike the Decocratic party, the Whigs wanted the government to be actively involved. The Whigs wanted all classes to have equal rights and wanted society to be ruled by having people in higher roles who controlled those below them. While the Democrats wanted westward expansion, the Whigs wanted to focus on the existing colonies and making them stronger. Although the Democratic Party and Whigs have many differences, they also have a strong simulartity: both parties were made up of indivduals who either supported slavery, or were antislavery.

Andrew Jackson was the defining leader of the democratic party while John Quincy Adams was the leader of the Whig Party. Jackson led the democratic party with the belief that a strong central government was essential. The constituents that defined the democratic party were referred to as Jacksonians. They wanted “…federal intervention in westward expansion…” (Norton 12-1d). Adams led the Whig Party focussing on the current colonies instead of worrying about expanding to the west. “As president, Adams proposed a strong nationalist policy… [with] protective tariffs, a national bank, and internal improvements” (Norton 12-1 b). The constituents of each party chose between different people running to lead their party by choosing which leaders represented their beliefs and values best.

The Second Party System contributed to increased democratization of American politics by giving more people a voice when it came to voting, as well as increasing the number of people that were allowed to vote. The Second Party did this by removing the law that stated only white male, property owners were allowed to vote. This gave the opportunity to all white men to be able to vote (both rich and poor). Although this was a large increase in the number of people able to vote, women and African American men were still denied the right to vote.

The pro-slavery arguments of the antebllum period included both economic reasoning as well as religous reasoning. The southern economy relied on slavery to flourish. Many southerners needed their slaves in order to support their families, therefore they justified slavery as a need. Not only did people that were pro-slavery argue that slaves were a economic neccesity, they also argued that slavery “…was a hierarchical view of the social order with slavery prescribed by God” (Norton 9-1c). Abolitionisists aknowledged the economic benefit that slavery had for the south while expressing that slavery did not support free-labor idealogy because white men who worked hard could not compete with those that had slaves working for them; therefore men without slaves could not move up in society as easily as men who had slaves (WGU Abolitionists). Abolitionists also expressed that they did not believe slavery to be supported by God. The Quakers believed that everyone is created equal by God therefore slavery should not exist because no race is above another. Evangelicals believed that all humans were given the right by God to choose between good and bad and slavery prevented African Americans from having this choice. Evangelicals believed that this would then delay Jesus’ second coming because all people needed to choose good before He would return (Norton 10-9a). The drastic differences between the beliefs of abolitionists and people who were pro-slavery played a major role in the Civil War. Westward expansion increased sectional tensions by causing people to fight over whether or not the new states would be considered a free or pro-slavery state. As each new territory became a state members were added to the House of Representatives. It was important that the representation of pro-slavery states and free states was equal. This is what caused major conflict when deciding whether or not each state would be considered free or pro-slavery.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act “…left the decision of whether to allow slavery in the new territories of Kansas and Nebraska up to the people residing there (popular sovereignty)” (Norton 12-8a). This then led to abolitionists and southeners who were pro-slavery entering Kansas to claim the state as free or a slave state. Both groups sent armed individuals to claim the state. As a result violence broke out and blood was shed (Norton 12-8g). This conflict later became known as Bleeding Kansas. This violence in turn led to the outbreak of the Civil War because people had begun physical violence in an attempt to claim a state as free or a slave state.

Dred Scott was an African American slave who tried to sue for his freedom. The Supreme Court ruled on Dred Scott’s case that although he had lived in a free state it did not make him a free man. Most importly the Supreme court ruled that Congress had no way to make slavery illegal in any state. As a result, the Missouri Compromise was declared unconstitutional. This led to many African Americans fearful that they had no hope in America and should leave because it felt as if slavery was “…the supreme law of the land…” (Norton 12-9a). This decision created a lot of tension between the North and the South which then contributed to the Civil War.

John Brown was a strong supporter of anti-slavery. His goal was to start a rebellion of slaves by leading an attack on Harpers Ferry. Although the rebellion failed, white southerners feared that the abolitionists would create a slave rebellion. The rebellion caused “[w]hite southerners [to be] outraged when they learned that Brown received financial backing from prominent abolitionists…” (Norton 12-9d). This caused even more tension between the North and the South which also contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.

References

  1. Norton, Mary Beth. ​A People and a Nation.​ 10th ed., Cengage Learning, 2015.
  2. WGU (2016) ‘Abolitionists.’ [Video] Retrieved from https://wgu.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=06d2cb33-0b11-450e-b50c-6ba9c67bfb1e
  3. https://wgu.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=06d2cb33-0b11-450e-b50c-6ba9c67bfb1e
  4. https://wgu.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=06d2cb33-0b11-450e-b50c-6ba9c67bfb1e
  5. https://wgu.hosted.panopto.com/Panopto/Pages/Viewer.aspx?id=06d2cb33-0b11-450e-b50c-6ba9c67bfb1e

How Could the Civil War Have Been Avoided: Argumentative Essay

As Thomas Hobbes once said, “Hell is the truth seen too late”. In truth, many learn this lesson the hard way. Throughout our lifetimes, many see fantasy before reality, which is why philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes, along with authors such as William Golding, try to enlighten people with a new way of thought. Lord of the Flies, is a novel that creates a world that recognizes the evil that dwells and lingers within humankind. When Golding wrote Lord of The Flies during WWII, he acknowledged what happened to human behavior during the war along with what he witnessed, and incorporated the same idea into his book. Then there is Thomas Hobbes, a philosopher who claims the nature of man without society is evil and has ideas that are presented and displayed in Lord of The Flies. Thomas Hobbes is an English philosopher that believes in the ideas of contractarianism and reflects on them, which suggests that people give up some rights to obtain orders which will lead people to act morally rather than savagely. Although many oppose Golding and Hobbes’s way of thinking, such as the French philosopher Rousseau, many also learn and value the writings of both individuals. The opposing team which often coincides with the philosophies and teachings of Rousseau claim that the idea that the nature of man is innocent and is often corrupted by the unnaturalness of society, is more reasonable. Hobbes and Golding both use their intellect and experiences from wars that they have witnessed to formulate what the nature of man really is without the masks and delusions of society. In the novel Lord Of The Flies, Golding conveys what happens to the nature of man when order collapses. Golding displays Hobbes’s theory that man is born essentially evil, but utilizes society to keep them in order by demonstrating how children react when removed from a place consisting of rules and commands.

Both Hobbes and Golding paint a picture of what life would be like in a society without a strong and effective government. Imagining an anarchical society would leave many to think of madness and chaos. That exact idea is what Hobbes along with Golding brings to the table, a proposition of the effect of man unchained from a social contract. As Ralph said, “We have lots of assemblies. Everybody enjoys being together. We decide things. But they do not get done …”(Golding 79). In Lord of the Flies, the author creates this quote to show the readers that even though they have elected a chief, which can be classified under a form of government, this administration is not strong enough to lead and be the backbone of their society. Golding uses this quote to show the readers that without effective and disciplinary advisors, people tend to be immature rather than step up to the duties presented to them. Hobbes also asks us to consider what life would be in a condition without government. To express his ideas, Hobbes states things such as the “dissolute condition of masterless men without subjection to Lawes, and a coercive power to tie their hands from rapine and revenge” (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Hobbes’s Moral and Political Philosophy. The State of Nature, 12 Feb. 2002). With this statement Hobbes uses his intellect to emit that without government, the comfortable life in which we enjoy would no longer be. Golding mirrors this idea by showing how Ralph misses the luxury of cutting his hair and taking a bath, as explained in Chapter 5. Golding in an addition to Hobbes also expresses the significance of rules and regulations needed in a functioning society. In Lord of the Flies, Golding also makes Ralph inform Jack that there are rules on the island, and as always Jack disregards the need for order and regulation (91). With the information given, Golding is trying to show the readers how the children on the island have little to no regard for order, now that there are no enforcers there to implement and demand that rules shall be followed. In The Lord of the Flies, this segment of the book is used to recognize that chaos and a disordered society will be the children’s future if they were to go on this way. Hobbes in addition to Golding, enlightens us with many possible outcomes for the man with a non-operational government. Ultimately Golding along with Hobbes use their writings to enlighten us about what the world would be like in an anarchical society.

Hobbes as well as Golding also sought to reveal that almost all governments are likely to dissolve into a civil war. Functioning or non-functioning, governments often erupt into civil war and unrest. Throughout history, there have been many civil wars such as the American Civil War, the Syrian Civil War, and the Chinese Civil War, which all have a common ancestry as human ignorance and idiocy at the root. Most civil wars connect to the common route of disregarding other views and selfishly thrusting your ideas on everybody else. Both Golding and Hobbes try to emphasize that the evilness that loiters within mankind is driven by the competition to impose and enforce one’s ideas and views unconsciously. For example, In Chapter 5, Golding uses Jack’s character to question and interrogate Ralph’s position as a leader (91). This is a turning point in character development for the kids, especially Jack. Jack only shows more disregard for rules and disobedience from then on. Golding exemplifies Jack questioning whether Ralph is fit to be a leader, to emphasize Jack’s need for change, better or worse. Hobbes also reveals his ideas on the dissolvement of society. Hobbes believed that in order to avoid civil war, the absolute government would be the best route for a society to take in form of government. (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Hobbes’s Moral and Political Philosophy. The Philosophical Project, 12 Feb.2002) With his ideas on absolutism as the ideal form of government to avoid civil war, Golding reflects his thoughts by showing how a democratic society used by the children in Lord of the Flies dissolves into mayhem. Golding also fabricates many instances where the incomprehensive mind can lead to the termination of government. For instance, In chapter 8 of the novel, Jack decides to separate from the group and venture without Ralph as his leader. With that, he took his hunters and asks Ralph’s remaining group if they would like to join him (Golding 127-140).In Lord of The Flies, chapter 8 was a very rough chapter. We observe how Ralph’s control over the boys is slowly dwindling. Readers also notice how Jack has immensely gained power and control throughout the novel by using fear as a tactic to keep all the children in order. Golding uses the breaking up of order and society as an example of civil war to show what happens when mankind becomes power-hungry and greedy and obtains the need for bloodlust. Primarily, Golding reflects Hobbes’s ideas of man dissolving his own government into civil war to strengthen his main idea that humankind is fundamentally evil.

Many may argue that if all people were inherently evil, why didn’t Ralph and Piggy succumb to the darkness in Lord of The Flies, yet this argument is very debatable due to certain aspects containing religion. In religion, we learn that every man is born with sin to some degree, and to say we have no sin would be deceiving ourselves. As many have read, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—” Romans 5:12. This quote is here to recognize that everyone is born with sin, and everybody commits sin within their lifetime. So to answer the question of why didn’t Ralph and Piggy succumb to the darkness would be almost invalid because according to religion everyone is tempted to the darkness. Both Hobbes and Goldding use religion as crucial and fundamental advisors for their writings and ideals. Golding implements the idea of religion in the novel drastically. For instance, In the book Lord of The Flies, Golding introduces the idea of the ‘beast’ as “a snake thingy…” (35). Golding synthesizes this quote to support the idea of religion playing a key factor on the island with the boys. Golding also references the snake from the bible to represent the ‘Beastie’ in order to convey the evil that is tempting them and it also spreads awareness that the human mind is weak to influence. Thomas Hobbes also gives his intake on how religion can be a factor in the evilness that dwells within all but in a different way. Hobbes’s religious ideas, like his political ideals, reflected his understanding of human nature. Hobbes believed that some forms of religion may cause opinions that disrupt the order of society, which can then lead to civil unrest. Although Both Hobbes and Golding approach the idea differently, they both believe that religion can be a cause of the inherited wicked of humankind.

Hell, a term used to represent a place of negativity and despair is the truth of reality, hidden by the facade of society. Earth can be hell for all we know, damning us to a place of wrongdoings, wickedness, and cruelty that almost all possess. Philosophers such as Thomas Hobbes write to share their ideas of the state of nature through one’s perspective. Authors like Golding also try to use books to spread the ideas of man’s evilness when taken out of society. In the book Lord of the Flies, Golding conveys Hobbes’s ideas that the evil that dwells within man is a reality by revealing the savagery of kids without order. Both Golding and Hobbes painted a picture of the aftermath of a society without a working government. They also explained to the readers the dissolution of government due to the wickedness harbored in the human mind. And lastly Golding along with Hobbes used religion to counter the argument for their ideals. All in all Golding and Hobbes used every aspect of social and political life to argue their perspectives on human nature. Perhaps man is as evil as Golding along with Hobbes states, and perhaps they aren’t but the true nature of man is a complexity that many may not understand but rather interpret.

Joshua Chamberlain’s Heroic Participation in the Civil War

Throughout history, there have been many wars and battles that were fought. These battles were fought by an army and were led by people who became significant today. One of many that served in the military was Joshua Chamberlain, who may not be well known but is one of America’s important roles. Chamberlain became a significant figure in American history due to his studiousness, his desperation to serve his country, and heroic participation in the war.

Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain was born on September 8, 1828, in Brewer, Maine. He is the oldest of his four siblings. His parents were Joshua Chamberlain and Sarah Dupree. Chamberlain’s father admired the military and named his son after Captain James Lawrence, who was a naval officer in the War of 1812. His name, however, had more meaning and determination. As a child, his father was very harsh on him while his mother considered him her favorite. Both of his parents had different expectations of him. His mother wanted him to become a minister while his father wanted him to be a soldier. Growing up, he was shy and had a speech disorder that caused him to stutter; however, that didn’t stop him from going to school. Under those circumstances, in 1848, he attended Bowdoin College.

Chamberlain was very studious and wanted to learn everything. To be able to get accepted into Bowdoin College, he had to take an entrance exam. The exam required him to learn Greek and Latin, which wasn’t a problem for him. While attending Bowdoin, he met and was taught by a professor named Calvin Stowe, who was a biblical educator that wanted to spread public education across the country. During his years in college, Chamberlain still had much difficulty with his speech; however, he overcame his disorder and encouraged himself through his religiousness. Four years later, he graduated from Bowdoin College in 1852. After Chamberlain had graduated from Bowdoin, he attended a graduate school of religion, called Bangor Theological Seminary. He gave all his attention to reading theology and church history. He attended the Seminary for a total of three years. After attending Bangor Theological Seminary, Chamberlain returned to Bowdoin because he was offered a job to be a professor of languages and rhetoric. He taught modern language and rhetoric for many years. He was also very fluent in multiple languages including Greek, Latin, Spanish, German and more.

At the end of 1855, he married his wife, Frances Caroline Adams, and had five children together. Unfortunately, one of his children died as a premature and two died during infancy. Frances Caroline Adams, or Fanny, met Chamberlain at Bowdoin College and had much difficulty because she wasn’t interested in him at first, but they made it work. After getting married, they found themselves having different opinions and had lots of arguments. Frances at one point filed for divorce and stated that Chamberlain was abusive; however, he said that it wasn’t true and that she was just making up things. Their marriage wasn’t perfect, but they did not divorce and lived together until she died in 1905.

By 1961, Chamberlain’s life was considered comfortable. He had a good job, a wife and his lovely children. He also enjoyed doing his job at Bowdoin. However, several years later, there was an outbreak of war, which made Chamberlain have more desire and the urge to serve his country and follow his father’s dream of him serving in the military. Chamberlain had told Bowdoin College that he wanted to join the army; however, his wife and the college opposed his decision. His wife wanted him to stay home and live with her and their children. She wasn’t supportive of him going into the military because she thought the war had nothing to do with him. Consequently, he left his job as a professor and volunteered to do his services and joined the military without any knowledge about military tactics.

In 1862, a war had started due to uncompromising conflicts over the power of the national government to prohibit slavery. This war was called the American Civil War. During the Civil War, Chamberlain was given a leave of absence to go to Europe and study language for two years. Instead, he enlisted into the military and was offered by the governor of Maine to become the Lieutenant Colonel of the 20th Maine regiment. Chamberlain had told the governor, “I have always been interested in military matters and what I do not know in that line I am willing to learn”, as stated in the article (Joshua). He became second-in-command and studied under his commander Colonel Adelbert Ames, who had just graduated from Westpoint in 1861. Ames was commissioned into the artillery and was sent to fight in the war immediately. Although Ames was young and new to the army, he was very knowledgeable and stern with his discipline. He turned the men in the 20th Maine into soldiers. Chamberlain got to learn the intricacies of being a military commander and studied military tactics through books and his commander Ames. The first battle that the regiment and Chamberlain participated in was the Battle of Fredericksburg which was the Unions failed attack on Marye’s Heights. This battle is remembered today as the most catastrophic Union defeat that caused thousands of lives. Although this battle had lots of casualties, Chamberlain and the 20th Maine managed to escape without injury. Even though they maneuvered their way out, Chamberlain and his regiment were still pinned down by the Confederate continuous shooting. Nevertheless, the Battle of Fredericksburg was just the beginning and it helped Chamberlain and the 20th Maine regiment learned something new about fighting in the battle.

The next battle was the Battle of Chancellorsville. Chamberlain and his regiment were not involved in the battle due to smallpox. Instead, they were quarantined and was assigned to guard duty to keep them away from everyone else. This battle was the Confederate’s second victory; however, they had one major loss and that was Stonewall Jackson due to an accidental shot from his own men. The losses at Chancellorsville made Colonel Ames increase more troops and left Chamberlain in charge of the regiment. Furthermore, Ames was promoted and got assigned to the XI Corps and Chamberlain was promoted to the 20th Maine’s colonel. Therefore, in 1863, Chamberlain was responsible to fight in the Battle of Gettysburg.

The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the major battles in the Civil War. This battle was considered the turning point of the war and was the battle that earned Chamberlain fame. The morning of the battle, General Sickles was supposed to be in charge of the left flank at the high ground; however, he wanted a different area and left the Little Round Top exposed. For this reason, the Union needed a different group of troops to be positioned on the hill, so Vincent’s brigade, which included the 20th Maine, took the position. After Robert E. Lee’s, a confederate commander, great victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville, he had planned to invade the North and forced an end to war, but he failed due to Chamberlain’s regiment and other troop’s flank. In the afternoon, Chamberlain was posted and ready to face the Confederate’s attack at Little Round Top; however, they were charged at multiple times. He had lost a lot of soldiers and ammunition, so he had to extend his line and make it longer. After repulsive and repeated assaults, the regiment executed a bayonet charge and dislodged their attackers down the hill. Eventually, the 20th Maine finished sweeping the rebels off the field and the Union was secured. The Battle of Gettysburg took three days until it ended with Chamberlain’s successful plan. After the Battle of Gettysburg, Chamberlain took some time off due to his illness and needed to recover from the battle before moving onto the next one. Chamberlain had also received a medal of honor due to his extraordinary heroic tactics serving on the Little Round Top, in 1893.

Shortly after his time off, Chamberlain returned, in 1864, and was assigned to be in command of the Fifth Corps, which is a Union Army of the Potomac. Soon after, the next battle that Chamberlain commanded in was the Battle of Petersburg. It was also known as the Siege of Petersburg, which is where there was a series of battles around the city. Petersburg was a crucial supply area for the Confederate army. There were raids and battles fought in an attempt to cut off the railroad. This battle ended with the abandonment of the Confederate capital at Richmond (Hawks). Throughout this battle, Chamberlain was wounded multiple times; however, he never gave up and kept on fighting. One of his wounds, a shot through his hip, landed him a promotion to Brigadier General. The General US Grant gave him the promotion thinking he was going to die due to the damage from the shot. However, he survived and was sent to Washington to recuperate.

His wife had gone to him to help with his recovery and tried to convince him to leave the military, but Chamberlain disagreed and still wanted to serve. With his promotion, he played an essential role in the campaign against the Confederates. At the beginning of the Campaign, there was another battle that was fought. It was the Battle of White Oak Road, which was fought at the end of March in 1865. He, once again, got wounded and almost lost his arm, but he kept on going. During this time, he also got promoted to Brevet Major General in honor of his efforts in the battles. On April 9th, the Confederates surrendered and a few days later they formally surrendered by stacking arms in front of Chamberlain and his troops. Chamberlain told his troops to salute the Confederates for their surrender, as the defeated army, and respect them. Eventually, the war ended and everyone got the chance to return home.

When the war ended, Chamberlain had finished as a brevet major general. Throughout his years in the military, he got the chance to fight in twenty battles and got cited for bravery four times. While fighting in the battles, he was wounded in a total of six times. He was shot in his hip, foot, arm and other parts of his body. Some of the wounds could have cost him his life; however, he was able to survive those battle wounds. As the war was ending, he was offered a spot in the regular army, but he didn’t accept the offer and decided it was time for him to go home. Despite wanting to be in the military, Chamberlain wanted a break from fighting and be with his family.

After the war, he returned to Maine and became an attractive political candidate in his state. He also became a Republican and ran for governor of Maine in 1866. His wife; however, did not want him in politics and refused to live with him in Augusta. Due to Chamberlain’s intelligence and knowledge, he became the governor for four terms. In addition, he also became the president of Bowdoin College, alongside Oliver Otis Howard who was a former general and Bowdoin alum. As the president, he wanted his students to study military tactics and participate in military drills, but the staff and students disagreed with the idea. In 1883, he resigned from being president due to his health. However, his original intention was to become a US Senator. Chamberlain wanted to be elected by the Maine legislature to run for the Senate and got his hopes up because they didn’t choose him. After resignation, he tried to build his fortune by investing in railroads and moved to New York City to try and establish a law practice. In addition, he also served as the Surveyor of the Port of Portland up in Maine. By 1898, there was the Spanish-American War, which Chamberlain volunteered to serve in the United States Army, but his physical condition did not allow him to fight. As a result, he got rejected from doing his service while other Civil War veterans got accepted.

Some of the veterans that were going to fight in the Spanish-American War were Confederate commanders in the Civil War. One of the commanders was William C. Oates, who was the person that Chamberlain defeated in the Battle of Gettysburg. This made Chamberlain angry and had a conflict with Oates because he got accepted into the United States Army while Chamberlain got rejected. Later on, there was a Gettysburg monument commission that was in charge of approving or rejecting proposed monuments for the Gettysburg battlefield. However, there were lots of disagreements, so Oates asked Chamberlain for help to talk to the commission for permission to place the monument. Although they got the authorization, Oates and Chamberlain couldn’t agree on where to place the monument and it was not built due to the conflict between Oates and Chamberlain.

In the later years of his life, he spent time writing and spoke about his experience in war. He wanted to recapture the moment he was in war into his writing and explain why he loved being in the army. In 1915, there was a 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, but Chamberlain couldn’t attend due to his health. On February 24, 1914, Chamberlain had passed away at the age of eighty-five. After his death in 1914, his book, ‘The Passing of the Armies’, was published and was one of his memoirs. In this book, it included stories of the battles that were fought and surrenders that occurred. It had all the details that Chamberlain had to go through and recaptured every event that had happened in his life. In addition, many other books that were published after the publication of Chamberlain’s memoir.

To conclude, with all that he has done for his country, he became well known for his heroic participation in the war. Although he knew nothing about being in the military, let alone leading an army, he was still determined to join and help his country. His desperation to join the military and serve his country led him to multiple successes. Contributing in multiple wars and leading his army for the four years he was in service. He risked his life and never gave up even when he was badly injured. Chamberlain had accomplished his desire to be in the military and became a political figure. Today, he is known as a college professor who had the bravery to serve his country and brought many successes to American history.