The Civil War left a lasting impact on the United States, shaping the next several decades for the country. In this course, you’ve learned how the course of the war, important battles, and the plans for reconstruction after the war ended. Write a 2000 to 3000-word essay based on one of the prompts below.
- What was the economy like during the Civil War in the North and in the South? Why did the economies of the Union and the Confederacy differ so much? What role did the economy play in the outcome of the war? How were civilians affected by the wartime economy in the North and in the South?
- Why did the Confederacy ultimately lose the Civil War? What were its strengths and weaknesses compared to the Union? What was life like on the Confederacy’s home front for women? What was it like for slaves?
- What were Reconstruction’s successes and failures? What kinds of problems shortchanged Reconstruction’s effectiveness? How was Reconstruction viewed in the South, and what steps did white Southerners take to circumvent Reconstruction policies? Why did white Southerners take such measures?
