What effect did the sacrifice of 600,000 men make on American history? The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865 with 384 battles. The Civil War started over the sectionalism tensions over slavery and states’ rights. These issues were slingshot into a war in the Election of 1860 when Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected president. The South saw this as a threat to lose their way of life and within 4 months states started to secede from the Union. On April 9th, 1865 the war came to an end with General Robert E. Lee of the Confederacy surrendering to General Ulysses S. Grant of the Union at Appomattox Courthouse in Virginia. So why was the Civil War a defining moment in American History? The Civil War was a defining moment in American History because it changed America’s view as a nation of freedom and sacrifice.

The Civil War was a defining moment in American history due to the sacrifices men made to support their cause and sometimes by force. Poor Irish immigrants that didn't have the money to bypass the draft and in turn, this rallied them together to protest with lines such as “Poor man’s blood for the rich man’s money”, lines such as this were used by poor Irish immigrants that did not have enough money to pay the $300 fee so that their son would not have to go and fight in the war. While on the other hand the rich white men that could afford the $300 fee and go with their lives as happy men without any change (Hayes, pg. 71). On the contrary the soldiers who had joined the army made sacrifices and some men “had paid his debt” in a different way (Fitzgerald, pg. 66). Every man in the army at the time believed that they had a debt to pay for their country and being in the army was the most logical way to them. Sometimes this had meant fighting and then losing your life for your cause and country. In the book a soldier was covering a sentry post for General Robert E. Lee and had fallen asleep. He was sentenced to death by firing squad, but by the pure will of General Lee he spared his life. To repay the debt of honor he volunteered to lead a charge on a local Union camp. In turn, he died, but he had repaid his debt. But when the soldiers did survive till the end of the war some of their sacrifices went to waste with the surrender of the Confederate at Appomattox courthouse “With an increasing admiration of your constancy and devotion to your country, and a grateful remembrance of your kind and generous consideration of myself, I bid you an affectionate farewell” General Robert E. Lee dedicated the address to the Confederate Army after the surrender to thank them for their sacrifice and service to their country Robert E. Lee personally felt that he had been let the army down by surrendering and felt it was the soldiers right to surrender due to their sacrifices to the country (Lee pg. 105). As a final point, the Civil War was at least a defining moment by itself just for the sacrifices men made during the war.

The Civil War was also a defining moment in American history because it tested the nation’s ability to endure and maintain freedom as one nation. America had gained their freedom “four scores and seven years ago” from Great Britain and again it had found itself in a war (Lincoln, pg. 77). America had lasted 87 years on its own as a nation and just a couple of years before its hundred year anniversary. During these 87 years America had been through many tests such as establishing a form of government, writing a Constitution, surviving the Whiskey rebellion and the War of 1812.The Civil War was “testing whether that [the] nation” can pass the test of maintain its’ freedom as a nation. (Lincoln, pg. 77). Just like learning a chapter in math and then taking a test to make sure we understand the information and the priorities, the United States of America had to take the same test, but a larger scale with the Civil War to see if it can

stand together as a powerful nation. “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here…” (Lincoln, pg. 77). President Lincoln is saying that this war is a war only for the United States to fight and will mean nothing to the rest of the world unless they are involved. All in all, the Civil War tested the nation with its ability to stand together, unite and maintain freedom without the influence of any other nation.

In conclusion, the Civil War with the 600,000 deaths; the Civil War was a defining moment in American History because it changed America’s view as a nation on freedom and sacrifice. The Civil War caused a great deal of American lives and their sacrifices didn’t go to waste, as it showed the world how the United States of America can stand together even when split by a great Civil War.