THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR: THE OPPRESSOR FIGHTS FOR THE OPPRESSED.

              Uprooted from heritage lands, in Africa, and moved into a whole new world, in chains and shackles, slavery was one of many heinous occurrences in American history. The journey across the Atlantic was one based upon the survival of the fittest which was proved by the overboard-throwing of weak and sick slaves. Blessed before boarding ironically named slave ships such as Baltimore Clippers, Kabenda Panthers, The Wanderer, etc., you would think future NBA or NFL franchises were being born. In fact, other than the inhumane treatment of Native Americans, slavery was the most heinous crime committed in America. From the very first slave-ship, Desire, which arrived in the 17^th century, in Jamestown, Virginia, the southern states have always been known for their championed role in slavery. In the south, agriculture was the main sources of livelihood; cotton and tobacco became the main cash crops. With this profitability in cotton and tobacco plantations, many people flocked into the venture which in-turn required numerous manpower. The southern states have always championed slavery because it became an economic boost for many southern farmers. They finally had an opportunity to purchase manpower to carry-out all laborious tasks for as long as it was needed. Meanwhile, the Northern states thrived in the industrial sector. Due to the Industrial sector of work, success in the North was mainly dependent upon work ethics and innovation. This divide between the two societies formed a major economic and social attitude in America. It also had a spillover into the politics of the land. The American Civil was caused by the economic and social differences between the North and the South, States versus Federal rights, and the election of Abraham Lincoln.

                The American Civil War was a war between states in the American Union. It occurred from 1861 to 1865 and it contributed to an estimated casualty of 618, 000. One of the key issues in the sectional conflict leading to the American Civil War was the economic and social differences between Northern and Southern states. The Southern states used slavery as the main tool to grow their economy and there were no moral obstacles against the concept of slave workers. They claimed that the cheap labor helped to create more avenues for innovation and a source of living. Unlike the Southerners, the Northerners were based upon the industrial revolution. Their economic prosperity depended upon the growth of factories and industries, therefore it demanded an equal amount of work from each and every person. This industrial lifestyle evolved the society as people of different races, cultures and classes had to work together. Every region in the Union had their own definition of success and economic progress, but for the Northern states slavery stood as an inhibitor to growth and urbanization. They believed that slavery degraded labor and contributed to economic backwards which could still be seen in many southern states today. Although slavery was a pivotal factor in the Civil War, but the decision by the North to stage war against slavery was not necessarily motivated by the need to overcome racism. Rather, it was as a result of the need for a national, economic growth and slavery was a hindrance to such innovation. This sort of divided beliefs created numerous friction which contributed to sectional conflict leading to the American Civil War.

                Secondly, another key issue in the sectional conflict leading to the American Civil War were the States versus federal rights. Following the Revolutionary War and freedom from Great Britain, America became a divided entity; there were people who believed in a unified central power, while others believed in separate powers. Such divided notion diluted the initial platform of unity which motivated the fight for freedom. The first organized form of government in the United States was created under the conclaves of the Articles of Confederation. Back then, there were only thirteen states which went ahead to form an unattached confederation which lacked a strong federal government. People in the Southern states loved the idea of autonomy and they basked in their authority, while people in the North saw the need for a unified umbrella to cover every state in order to prevent social unrests or any form of invasion. To solve this problem, some of the Founding father, excluding Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry who were avid supporters of states being separate from federalism. When the U.S. constitution was signed into law, the Southern states felt as though the Northerners took away their rights without their consent so therefore many notable Southerners such as Robert Lee, commanded their states towards secession and they fought fervently for the nullification of the Constitution and the idea of a centralized government.

                Thirdly, the election of Abraham Lincoln into the White House was another key issue in the sectional conflict leading to the American Civil War. An outspoken supporter for the abolishment of slavery, President Lincoln stood as a hindrance to the Southern States because they feared that he would outlaw slavery. He was viewed as a threat to the South. For the Southerners, the abolishment of slavery in America would bring economic failure for Southern states who relied on slave labor as their main financial footing. With the constitution in place, the federal government had total authority as to how to direct the country. Southerners did not agree with Lincoln’s ideas so therefore they broke out and started their own nation which was called, “Confederate States of America.” These states were made up of Delaware, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Maryland, Kentucky, Arkansas and Missouri. Their premise was based upon the notion that President Lincoln was in support of the interest of Northern Merchants whom they believed had aims at bringing an end to slave-labor and establishing a collective economic expansion at the expense of their slave-invested tobacco and cotton plantations.

                All in all, the American Civil War was poised by many philosophies which rose as a result of difference in beliefs and morals. The Northerners wanted a collective and successful America, while the Southerners wanted a separated and laborious America which was anchored upon Slavery. Can you imagine what America would have been, if slavery was still the order of the day and everybody worked in farms or swamps? This is certainly not aimed at bashing the agricultural sector of this great nation, rather it goes to show that it was the rise of the Industrial sector that paved way for innovation and rapid economic growth in the United States of America.          

Sources:

Allen, Jewett. “Slavery in the South: A state-by-state history.”

Cash, Wilbur. “The Mind of the South.” Alfred A. Knopf Publishing House. NY:  1941.

The American Civil War Center. http://www.tredegar.org/caused-civil-war.aspx

JOB FOR THE LADY, PLEASE.

The Industrial Revolution was an era in which the world witnessed changes in Transportation, Agriculture, Textile, and Metal manufacturing. This era is deemed to be a revolution because it brought an end to the old ways of doing things. The Industrial Revolution began from the 18th to 19th century. Although the Industrial Revolution is tagged as a "revolution,” it occurred gradually. Before the Industrial Revolution, life revolved around farming and the average person made their living by cultivating crops. Garnering a year's living was based upon the farming seasons; life was difficult for the average person. Although individuals manufactured goods such as farming tools, textile, etc., but it was carried out on a personal and small scale.

Innovations in Agricultural practices brought about an increase of food supply and raw materials, innovations in the industrial and technology sector brought about an increase in production, adequacy and profits. All of these advances also provided job vacancies for citizens. There was a lot of job availability, so therefore there were economic opportunities for everyone including women, children, even slaves.

Children were also workers during the Industrial Revolution.

But the factory owners enjoyed the most from the economic opportunities. With the turn of the Industrial Revolution, labor was difficult in America; people worked very long hours with no vacation time and the pay did not compensate their laborious jobs. At times, factory owners would cheat their hardworking laborers by hiring them on yearly contracts and paying them at the end of the year. In fact, sometimes strict regulations were imposed upon laborers with hefty fines for those who broke them. The cheap and readily availability of younger women in the very beginning of industrialism caused the industrial era to experience rapid boom which also expanded the U.S. economy. So in general, there were economic opportunities but they were at the expense of the blood and sweat of laborers.

Women hard at work in textile and garment industries.

During the American Revolution, women were an integral factor of change. They occupied male-centric positions in order for their husbands and sons to be able to fight for freedom from the British Empire. Their handiwork was greatly noticed and appreciated; therefore when the Industrial Revolution arrived women would no longer stay at home all day long to attend to domestic matters as much as they did prior to the industrial boom. Women worked in the factories in the 1830s; in fact there were some job positions that were exclusively given to women alone due to the belief, by factory owners, that women had smaller fingers so therefore they could easily maneuver through the tasks. But after work, women were still expected to return home to carry-out the household domestic needs such as cleaning, cooking, and caring for the children. Some of the industrial positions held by women were textile weaving, textile spinning, etc. During the day, women generally enjoyed being away from the walls of their kitchen and the dullness of farm life. Being able to earn their own money and a living was very liberating, regardless of the inhumane working conditions of the factories.

Apart from financial liberation, factory-working women also experienced social liberation. The crowded, all-female environs of garment and textile factories established a feeling of community amongst women; they were able to form an alliance which helped to combat change and create a voice for themselves in a "man's world," at the time. One of the avenues they used to create a voice for themselves was through publications which described their working conditions and challenges, their triumphs and accomplishments and sometimes relaxing poems and essays. One of the notable publications, the Lowell Offering, was from the large textile mill in Lowell, Massachusetts.

A historic image showing women
contribution in society.

The Industrial Revolution was certainly a step forward for the acceptance of women in the workforce. Unlike the colonial era, women were now being allowed to make a living for themselves and their children; they could choose to either save or spend their hard-earned money. This sort of opportunity was pivotal for financial balance in households across America. Although the working conditions were extremely unconducive, women were starting to become recognized contributors to the society. There was more respect for women because no factory owner wanted to offend the architects of production in their factories. For the factory-women, working with fellow women who shared each other's pain and struggle created a bond, a community, an alliance which would become a catalyst for further improvements of opportunities for women in the society. The Industrial Revolution provided economic opportunities for women in the 1830s; they were not the best opportunities but they helped to create a gender neutral America which we all call home.  

AN APOLOGY WE SHALL FOREVER PAY.

After the $11.25 million purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1804, from the French government, by President Jefferson, America's size doubled and securing every inch of the landmass was essential to the government. In 1828, Andrew Jackson was elected as the 7th President of the United States. He was elected as president during the era when the need for expansion was at the forefront of government's agenda. After gaining independence from Great Britain, the presence of the Native Americans around the United States was still a sore thumb to White Americans at the time. They knew that they had to do something about the presence of the Native Americans. But they didn't know whether to integrate with them and introduce them to the ways of the "modern man" or excommunicate them out of the territory and risk another expensive war on their hands; after all Alexander Hamilton was no longer privy to step in to save the economy as he did in 1791.

This Native American woman's great-grand father's
land is among present day Alabama.

Andrew Jackson was known as the "people's president," due to his election philosophies which was committed to working for the interest of the people. According to the library of Congress, the Tennessee president was a major supporter of the campaign to remove Native Americans from the path of White Settlement. President Jackson introduced the Indian Removal Act which was signed into law in 1830 by Congress. This act was passed in order to free up the Indian lands along the east river of Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, and parts of Georgia, for settlement by Americans and their slaves. The act also authorized President Jackson to grant unsettled lands west of the Mississippi to Native American in exchange for lands along the above mentioned states. Obviously, such deal was deemed unfair by Native American tribes. The removal act did not benefit the Native Americans at all because it was an unjust action backed by an All-White Congress, aimed at randomly displacing a once organized society.

A few tribes peacefully accepted the Removal act, but many resisted it and a major tribe who resisted were the Cherokees. With such resistance came a forceful removal during the unbearable winter in 1838 and 1839, known as the "Trail of Tears." During this forceful removal, almost 4,000 Cherokees lost their lives. These people, just as anyone would, wanted to fight for their heritage and protect the lands of their ancestors. I wonder why the United States government did not purchase these Native American lands as they did the Louisiana Territory from the French. For President Andrew Jackson, the removal of Native Americans was just an action to enable that states to advance rapidly in wealth and power. Obviously, the humanity of these people was not a factor for President Jackson to consider; after all, he was a Southern slave-owner whose democratic opinions had no sort of social reformation.

   Women, Children and Men being matched
out of their land, in the treacherous winter, as they wept.  

Unbeknownst to most people, the Removal Act of 1830 was more of a treaty than a command. If the act was rightfully upheld, today, there would have been descendants of Native Americans still living in Alabama and coastal areas of Mississippi. And they would have still retained legal ownership of over twenty-million acres of their land which was taken, by President Jackson, through the Removal Act, after the Battle of Horse Shoe Bend (present day Alabama, close to the Georgia Border). Even though the Removal Act was not favorable for Native Americans, the U.S. government should have kept their promises of land-swap with the Native Americans. Unfortunately, President Jackson saw the battle between Native American tribes, due to resistance of the Removal Act, as an opportunity to disregard the promises of the Removal Act and steal the traditional lands of the Native Americans.

Although the topic of the removal of Native Americans from their heritage lands is a very sentimental and debatable topic in American history, but the untainted truth has to be taught both to present day and future generations to come because disregarding the existence of this part of United States history would be equivalent to disregarding the existence of the Holocaust. Andrew Jackson's removal policy was not beneficial to the Native Americans because their lands were lost so were their people and their culture was shattered. The Removal Act of May 28th, 1830 was clearly an excuse to high-jack one of the most prized possessions of the Native Americans without providing any incentive for them. Yes, Andrew Jackson might have gained more land for this Great Nation of the United States of America, but it was done at the expense of the Great Native American tribes. So, next time you use the $20 USD bill, you shall know the truth and hopefully it shall set you free.  

A remembrance to kept in mind.