Fabian Vartez
Between 1861 and 1865, a civil war took place in the United States. Two sides of the country, the North and the Union, fought against and in favor of slavery, but above all, because of their different views on federal laws, aspects of the economy, and how the world’s future should be faced. The political and economic elite of the North were in favor of a type of economic expansion that should put an end to the so-called southern way of life, that is, slavery. In 1860 the election of Lincoln and the Republicans threatened to restrict the rights acquired by slave owners in the southern states. Slavery translated into wealth for the country’s southern regions, but it was a moral nature for national public opinion. Thus, when Lincoln was elected President, eleven southern states disintegrated from the Union to maintain the reigning economic system. The Secession of the South was entirely illegal. Still, it was also a first step towards creating the Confederate States of America that was not recognized as a new nation by the Union. In the spring of 1861, the Union Army failed to maintain ownership of the federal base at Fort Sumter, sparking the first shots of the Civil War. The nations would not recognize the legality of the Confederate States of America but the legitimacy of the United States government. However, Great Britain helped the Government obtain loans and concessions of a commercial nature. The South fought at home and had a strong military tradition of courage among the population - young men and some women - when serving in the armies. Great generals like Robert E. Lee, Joseph Johnston, or Stonewall Jackson, decided to defend the secessionist project of the South. Nevertheless, the North had starting advantages over the South: population, technology, industrial and financial sources, a large army, and, above all, civilian labor. In the South, there was always a shortage of resources and money, of industry and men, and even a worse road network. This is because the railways and main roads, essential for transporting the military forces and their food, belonged to the northern states moreover because the main theaters of the battle played out in the southern states. When you are done reading this book, you will have gained a lifetime of experience in just a few short hours. The stories are interesting to follow, and the challenging concepts have been made easy to understand. So get ready to broaden your horizons and adjust your expectations because you are in for one hell of a ride!
