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. Even though slavery was outlawed, blacks were still heavily discriminated against. The Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacist terrorist groups formed in response to the end of slavery. Even Southern state governments attempted to suppress blacks and keep them as close to bondage as possible by passing so-called Black Codes.

Another topic the war failed to solve was sectionalism, and hard feelings between the North and South. The average Southern rebel was bitter towards Yankees. Diehard southerners were the masterminds behind Lincoln's assassination. The assassination only furthured bitterness and resentment between the North and South.

The nation was slowly recovering and making amends from the war. The Reconstruction efforts, the average American hoped, would bring back the peace and normality they experienced long before the tension and hate between North and South.