Problems Solved by the Civil War

After Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse, marking the end of the Civil War, the nation was relieved that the bloodiest war in American history was over. Though the Civil War had resolved some important key issues that had led to the conflict, other problems still remained, unaffected by the violence and bloodshed.

The Civil War solved a few of the extremely pressing issues of America. The pressure built over the conflicting arguments and passionate debates on the subject of state’s rights eventually came to a boiling point when the first shots of the Civil War were fired. The South believed that a state had the right to nullify any law it wanted to, but the North disagreed. After Lee’s surrender, state’s rights were no longer an issue as the federal government declared itself superior.

The debate over slavery was also resolved with the passing of the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865, after the end of the war. The Thirteenth Amendment outlawed slavery and involuntary servitude within the boundaries of the United States.

Though the war ended any real debate over issues such as states rights and slavery, there were other subjects it failed to properly settle. Blacks were still not socially accepted as equals, and whites in general, especially poor southern whites, looked down upon them as insubordinates.