US History

The Historical Context of the Thirteenth Amendment The mid-19th century was a tumultuous period in American history. The United States, young and vibrant, found itself in the throes of a civil war. Furthermore, it was not just any war, but one that brought to the forefront the moral question of slavery, a deeply rooted societal […]

The Road to Appomattox In April 1865, the American Civil War was rapidly nearing its end. Consequently, Confederate General Robert E. Lee aimed to join forces with General Joseph E. Johnston’s troops in North Carolina in order to strengthen their dwindling power. Unfortunately for Lee, Union forces blocked his path to the south, hence forcing […]

The Genesis of Sherman’s March The summer of 1864 marked the beginning of Sherman’s March to the Sea. The Union Army assigned Major General William Tecumseh Sherman the daunting task of capturing the Confederate stronghold of Atlanta, Georgia. As a seasoned military strategist, Sherman understood the importance of undermining the enemy’s capacities on all fronts […]

The Prelude to the Battle of Gettysburg The weeks leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg were marked by military strategic moves and political tension. Confederate General Robert E. Lee devised a plan to invade the North, believing it would demoralize the Union and force a quick end to the war. Viewing this as an […]

The Genesis of the Emancipation Proclamation The roots of the Emancipation Proclamation are embedded deep in the American Civil War’s tumultuous landscape. In this period of unrest, President Abraham Lincoln faced significant pressure from abolitionists and Radical Republicans. Firstly, they wanted an end to slavery, a system that was the base of the Southern economy. […]

The Context of the Battle The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, took place within the broader scope of the American Civil War. Specifically, it occurred on September 17, 1862, in Maryland. The Confederate Army, under General Robert E. Lee, crossed into the Union territory, marking their first incursion into the […]

The Events Leading up to the Battle of Fort Sumter To appreciate the significance of the Battle of Fort Sumter, let’s first explore the events that preceded it. By 1860, the United States of America was teetering on the brink of Civil War. The discord was primarily rooted in the disagreement over slavery, and it […]

Origins of the Abolitionist Movement The Abolitionist Movement began to emerge around the late 18th century. Initially, it was in response to the barbaric transatlantic slave trade. Millions of Africans were forcefully taken from their homelands and deported into a life of slavery across America. Primarily, the horrors of the slave trade and brutal realities […]

Introduction If there’s a pivotal, seismic moment in American history that reshaped the nation, it is the American Civil War. This conflict, which spanned from 1861 to 1865, laid bare stark economic, political, and moral schisms between the Northern and Southern states, primarily over the issue of slavery. Remarkably, the war wasn’t just a series […]