u/Apprehensive_War8062

Evaluate the extent to which the Civil War was a turning point in the history of the United States in the period from 1800 to 1877.

In early America the north and south were divided. Manifest destiny and the Mexican American war gave the U.S more land. The Republicans and Democrats fought about whether or not the land should be a slave or free state. Temporary fixes were made like the Kansas-Nebraska act and the Missouri compromise which tried to make representation for free and slave states equal. Even with the fixes the tensions between the parties about slavery did no end. Although after reconstruction share cropping became present and african americans rights were still socially and economically limited, the Civil War was a turning point in the history of the United States in the period from 1800 to 1877 to a great extent due to slavery being abolished and a stronger federal government. 

The end of slavery marked a lot of resentment in the south. The south was forced to abolish slavery with the thirteenth amendment. With the failure of reconstruction the south had more power to work around slavery. This led to sharecropping which was unpaid work revolving around debt. This would end up keeping the same idea of slavery in the south without going against the thirteenth amendment. While African Americans were technically allowed to vote, the KKK and others who share their opinions would threaten and scare African Americans to either not vote or to vote with them. They also had laws called the black codes in the south which limited their freedom like curfews and limitations on what they could do. This hindered the 14th amendment which made all races equally protected and the fifteenth amendment which allowed free voting from African Americans. Even though they had freedom in federal law, their social and economical freedom was still limited. 

The end of slavery was a big point in history for the United States. In the declaration of independence it stated that all men were created equal. This was false until the end of the civil war because slaves were considered property and not people. After the war the thirteenth amendment and the emancipation proclamation, which Lincoln addressed,  stated that slavery was ended in America. Although African Americans social and economical rights were limited, it was still a big step toward more African American freedom. The federal government's powers were also increased. Before the war many people fought for more state power than federal power. After the war during reconstruction the federal power would increase due to the south's loss like 10 percent plan which would make 10 percent of voters from the south pledge loyalty and accept the abolishment of slavery. This would later change to 50 percent by congress with the Wade-Davis bill showing the want for more federal control than state. Although the south would end up taking power after the failure of reconstruction there was still a lot of federal power as the south used it to evade the thirteenth amendment with sharecropping. 

In conclusion, the Civil War was a turning point in the history of the United States in the period from 1800 to 1877 to a great extent due to slavery being abolished and a stronger federal government. The end of slavery provided a lot of rights toward African Americans. With the south losing it gave more federal power to the north and continued even after reconstruction.