Introduction
Originally, the Civil War was the result of differences in views regarding slavery. After the South’s loss, the country faced multiple social, economic, and political changes. Americans would later be confronted by the need to change their country and reunite the North and the South as one nation-state. An alternative ending and its consequences will be reviewed along with the original turn of events.
Discussion
To understand how life would have been different in case of an alternative outcome (the country not reuniting), it is important to know the characteristics of the Civil War and its era. Since the North aimed toward limiting the spread of slavery, it would likely have still been open to more progressive views (Library of Congress, n.d.). I would have had a higher chance of contributing to the more egalitarian projects that Lincoln was considering (Library of Congress, n. d.). Meanwhile, in the South, I would have had to deal with opposite views (Library of Congress, n. d.). Given its negative attitude towards the Reconstruction era, it is likely that white supremacist views would have persisted, thus, complicating my life.
An alternative turn of events could have caused many different outcomes in the North and the South. The former would have continued its shift towards industrialization. This would have motivated the popularity of petroleum refining, as gasoline-powered cars would have become more common (Library of Congress, n. d.). The South, on the other hand, would have temporarily rejected the shift. However, the difficulty in manufacturing goods would have eventually forced them to absolve reliance on slavery and agriculture and support industrialization (Library of Congress, n. d.). This means that the South would have experienced a slower economic change than the North.
Conclusion
Racism would still be quite persistent, despite the role of people of color in the Civil War. White supremacy would have been a severe issue, especially in the South. This means that the abolition of slavery is insufficient for change in both cases. Despite having participated in the Civil War, Asian Americans would have experienced racial discrimination alongside African Americans (Waite, 2021; Library of Congress, n. d.). The South, however, would have been harsher for African Americans than the North, as the former would have been temporarily reliant on slavery due to the location’s desire to support and expand it (Library of Congress, n. d). Thus, both areas would have had to experience economic, social, and political difficulties separately.
References
Library of Congress. (n.d.). Overview | Civil War and reconstruction, 1861-1877 | U.S. history primary source timeline | Classroom materials at the Library of Congress | Library of Congress. The Library of Congress. Web.
Waite, K. (2021). The bloody history of anti-Asian violence in the west. National Geographic. Web.