2024年5月31日发(作者：)

Abstract

From colony to powerful nation, America has succeeded in great development.

Why the United States can play an important role in the world? People often pay

attention to the history of America. Because the history of the Civil War is a

landmark in the development of meaningful progress in the United States, so you

have to be attracted by the war. The Civil War is the second bourgeois revolution, it

breaks out since the contradiction between free labor force in North and southern

slavery is irreconcilable. In order to know about American politic, economy, culture,

history and so on, the thesis is prepared. It’s finished by quoting documents and

surfing the Internet, and it mainly tells the significance of the United States.

The thesis consists of five parts which show you America’s history in detail.

The first part shows you the introduction of the Civil War, including the

background which is analyzed deeply. And you can know about the fundamental

reason of war in the second part, the third part tells you the process of war easily,

the fire of war included. The forth part analyses the significance of war deeply, the

significance is divided into seven sides. These sides are the significance in politic,

economy, culture, military affairs, revelation of people, face of ethnicity in America,

and effect on UK. In additional, the conclusion about war is composed of major

founding, limitation, recommendation, and my view is mixed with them.

From “Westward Movement” before the Civil War breaking out to the

promulgation of the “liberate black slaves Declaration” and the “Homestead

Act” during the war you can realize that the economy of a country will develop

rapidly, if the country holds a vast market and area abounding with raw material, a

lot of deliberate labor forces included. It’s well known that advanced science

technology is the first productive force, which is essential for a country to manage

economy. What’s more, you can also realize the significance of a nation’s

unification. The slavery is abolished, problems involved in farmers’ land are

absolved well and reunification of the country resumed, in the war. Therefore, the

Civil War clears the rapid development of the capitalist road of the United States

and establishes the foundation for America ascending to be a member of world

powerful nation. So, the war shows practical significance which other countries

should pay more attention to. And then you will see clearly American history

containing blood and tears.

Key word the Civil War free labor system slavery significance

unification bourgeois revolution

1. Introduction

The American Civil War (1861—1865)breaks out because the contraction

between northern free labor system and southern slavery is irreconcilable and

becomes aggravated, finally. There are four great tides of the situation before the

Civil War; (1) Westward Movement happened. It makes western territory expanse

and promotes American economic development objectively. At the same time, the

contradiction of two economic systems deepens. (2) It is about two economic

systems in the North and the South. The capitalists of the North held that internal

unprocessed material and commodity market should be protected and export of

industrial products should be increased. In additional, the customs should get

raised and import of industry should be confined. They hope to abolish slavery

and increase unrestricted labor forces, set up Free State in the West. While, the

slave-owners of the South took their efforts to sell plenty of cotton to Britain and

import lots of industrial products from each other. They advocated strongly

reducing the tariff, increase imports, enlarge the amount of slaves and develop

slavery in the West. What’s more, focal point of contradiction between both sides

lies in existence or abolishment of slavery, which is the main cause of conflict and

also main cause of the Civil War. (3) Rise of movement about anti-slavery. The

conflict between the North and the South became sharp because of that. In the

war, the slavery is abolished, problems involved in farmers’ land are absolved well

and reunification of the country resumed. In a word, the Civil War clears the rapid

development of the capitalist road of the United States and establishes the

foundation for America ascending to be a member of world powerful nation. So

the history of war in America is a landmark in the development of meaningful

progress.

2. The root of the Civil War

It’s about conflict between two different economic systems or two social

systems in America. They are slavery and free labor system, and the contradiction

of both sides is developing into the irreconcilable stage.

3. The process of the Civil War

3.1 The fire of the Civil War

In 1860, Republican president Abraham Lincoln who stands for capitalist class

of the North and held the restriction of slavery was elected.

3.2 The first stage

After Lincoln was elected, eleven southern states seceded from the Union and

created a separated confederate nation. On April 12, 1861, the rebel army began

shelling at Federal Fort Sumter in South Carolina, the 14

th

named. Lincoln

government issued the Onslaught, on April 15. And then the Civil War broke out.

The North far exceeded the strength of the South at the beginning of the war

because it had developed industrial railway, network connection and rich food;

however, the South hadn’t done better than the North. The Northern

government refused to declare the liberation of the northern slaves; therefore in

the first stage of the war, the North suffered defeat in the military.

3.3 The second stage

With the northern military repeatedly suffering failure circumstance, Lincoln

issued the preliminary “liberate black slaves Declaration” on September 22,

1862. What’s more, Lincoln government had also introduced a series of measures

and policies revolution including the promulgation of the “Homestead Act” on

May, 1862. In 1863, the northern military turned as a result of these measures. The

North achieved Gettysburg Victory at the same year, which became a turning point

in the Civil War. At last, the South was forced to the gassing as a consequence of

plantation brink of economic collapsing and a lack of food and daily necessities,

internal opposition included in the South. At last, the Civil War came into an end

and the United States resumed reunification.

4. The significance of the Civil War

4.1 The significance in the politic

The North’s victory in the war establishes the dominate position of the North

of the big bourgeoisie, so the Republic Party takes the position of leader in the

political field. But the Democratic Party and the Republic Party are regarded as two

big parties in the United Stats. Political socialization is conducive to the persistence

of the war-major-party. Over 141 years old, two parties today have such a head

start in structuring the vote that they discourage challenges from new parties. Of

course, third parties still try to crack the two-party monotony from time to time,

but none has ever succeeded in occupying the White House. After the Civil War

eliminates slavery, the black has been accepted more in the law than ever. What’s

more, they hold political citizenship and the right to vote in the period of

reconstructing after war, and get liberated from slave shackles. As a result,

American democracy has been promoted.

4.2 The significance in the economy

The westward expansion before the war makes American territory expanded,

and the place abounding with raw material and commodity market enlarged, too.

In additional, most of western uncultivated land after development has been

modern industrial centre of America, which promotes development. In the war, the

promulgation of “liberate black slaves Declaration” keeps black slaves from

slaves’ shackles and brings a lot of freedom labor forces required by capitalism

development. As a result, it clears the rapid development of the capitalist road.

And the implementation of “Homestead Act” has accelerated the development

of the West, promoting agriculture development in the American-style capitalist

road victory. Therefore, America leaps into the world’s most advanced industrial

capitalist power in the 19

th

century. So the Civil War establishes the foundation of

the United States ascending to a member of world powerful nations.

4.3 The significance in the culture

After the war, many masterpieces have appeared in the literary, which describe

westward movement and the Civil War. For example,

Gone with the wind

is a

valuable book.

4.4 The significance in the military affairs

During the Civil War, the two sides are equipped with new large-bore weapons.

The war promotes the formation dispersed, field fortifications and infantry force

operating near the use and development. And the use of armored ships, mines,

torpedoes and submarines in the Civil War is the first time in the history of warfare.

To a great degree, the war promotes American advanced technological military

industry development. In additional, the war establishes the foundation that

America holds the beneficial position when competed with Russia in arms, later.

4.5 The significance in the revelation of people

During the Civil War, the North and the South battle for consumption of billion

dollars, and Federal military and Yugoslav Army casualties more than 600,000,

which makes American society suffer from disastrous loss. People realize deeply

the significance of country’s unification and yearn for peaceful and stable life,

more and more.

4.6 The significance in the face of ethnicity in America

The black gained liberation after Lincoln abolished slavery, but they didn’t

share the same right as the white and suffered various discrimination. As a result,

the civil rights movement lead by Martin Luther King happened, later. Until now,

they haven’t shared housing, intergrading school, good work circumstance and

other public facilities well.

4.7 The significance in the effect on UK

The Civil War frustrates the vestige of British colonial power. In fact, the

southern planting economy and slavery are controlled by Britain, Britain had to

give up right to control colony in the North. But its economic influence had been

lasting for a long time. The cotton in planting land was providing materials for

British spinning and weaving industry. So, to a degree, that has a bad effect on

British economy. What’s more, the United States promoted his sovereignty and

profits.

Conclusion

The Civil War results from the intensity of the contradiction between two

economic systems. The North stands for advanced productive force and develops

free labor system, which promotes development of economy and civilization of

human beings. While the South advocate’s slavery which is decadent social

system. So there must conflict between two economic systems, and breaking out

of the Civil War is inevitable. It’s well known that developing economy needs

advanced productive force as motive power and promoting social development

needs new ideas and new energy to pour. So those old ideas and systems must be

replaced by advanced ideas and systems because the depraved ideas and systems

don’t accord with law of development of things and fundamental profits of

human beings, which is the reason why the North defeated the South in the war. In

additional, the unification of country and the harmony of nation are important

elements for development of country. So the war’s influence on the United States

is profound and lasting. It unifies America and clears up the obstacle on the rode

of development of capitalist economy even thought produced huge loss. We have

known little about “Westward Movement” in the high school; there I show my

own opinion on it. The movement shows that Americans look forward to happy life.

The spirit of being unbending to frustrations and exerting all their strength, active

in gaining success impresses us. Americans expand blood and tears in developing

the West, and the West becomes today industrial centre with their working hard. In

additional, in the war, there is one called Lincoln impressing us deeply. He upholds

the unification of country and abolishes slavery, so he is a president respected by

people in the history of America.

In the Civil War, the black plays an important role. With the help from them,

the North defeated the South quickly. What’s more, they contributed their power

to reconstruction of postwar period. However, they have been discriminated still

now by others even thought got liberation of slaves’ shackles. So it’s unfair for

them to suffer low social class, so every people should respect mutually without

considering race or social class. Since unification and harmony promotes the

development of world, every country should get rid of conflict caused by racial

discrimination.

Reference

周静琼，2009，《当代美国概况》，（上海：上海外语教育出版社）。

刘祚昌，1978，《美国内战史》，（北京：人民出版社）。

杨生茂，1978，《美国南北战争资料选辑》，（上海：上海人民出版社）。

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