The Civil War: Then and Now The Civil War that occurred was one of the darkest periods in our history as a country. It was a period in which there was a complete collapse of social and political systems. Hundreds of thousands were killed and hundreds of thousands more were adversely affected. However, it was also a time of remembrance and significant moral progress. It is remembered as the turning point in American history and many years later would be the foundation of the civil rights movement. There are many reasons why the Civil War began. Some experts argue that tension was created between the Northern and Southern states. Others argue that it was a social clash between slave owners and abolitionists. What is certain, however, is that slavery was the primary issue and the issue that lit the fuse that led to bloodshed and devastation. Whatever way and from whatever perspective, slavery was the main issue and would be decided by the outcome of the war (Foner, “The Civil War”). The Civil War not only threatened slavery, but it also threatened the South and its way of life. life. They were plantation owners and grew cotton. Their very existence and livelihood depended on the labor of African Americans. They had established a culture of White Man domination over African Americans. Since Southerners had first colonized the Americas, they had depended on free labor and felt they could not function adequately without it. (QUOTE) The South was essentially a country within a country. The thirteen colonies had allied themselves to face a common enemy: the British oppressors. After the American Revolutionary War they discovered they had little in common other than a desire for independence. Due to......middle of paper......be seen.The Civil War is one of the turning points in the history of the United States. It was a time when our country was at its lowest point. This event redefined what it meant to be an American and even redefined the culture of how slavery was viewed both morally and politically. It took many sacrifices to overcome this event. It is estimated that more than 750,000 lives were lost in this fight. At that time it would be almost an entire generation of men gone forever. So why is the Civil War so celebrated in reenactments and pageants? (McCurry) The reason is that it marked a new way of life. It marked a new era for those who had previously been enslaved. He showed the world that the United States was a country that believed that no one was the master of anyone else. It proved that the United States was a country where all men were created equal.