Dred Scott Decision as One of The Causes for Civil War

Introduction

No one would have believed that the American Civil War would turn into the deadliest war in American history. It was not a war that people anticipated, but it was a conflict between the Confederate States (South) and the Union (North). The Civil War claimed numerous lives, with over 50 major battles and more than ten thousand skirmishes. Furthermore, it cost an outrageous amount of money for America, which could have been avoided if the war had not occurred or had not been so devastating in its outcome.

The Civil War: A Brief Overview

The Civil War lasted from 1861 until 1865 and is known as one of the harshest wars in American history. The conflict spanned the entire United States, though most battles took place in the Confederate States, including Virginia and Tennessee. Among the most notable battles were Vicksburg, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Bull Run. Approximately 620,000 soldiers died from starvation, disease, and combat, highlighting the Civil War as the deadliest conflict in U.S. history (Smith, 2020).

Medical Challenges During the Civil War

In the 1860s, medical practitioners had yet to develop bacteriology and were generally unaware of the causes of diseases. On average, Civil War doctors had only two years of medical education, though some pursued further studies. Europe was significantly more advanced in medicine than the United States at this time. Many surgeons had never performed surgery until treating their first patient during the war. There were 4,000 surgeons in the Confederate army and 10,000 in the Union army. The lack of hygiene and sterile equipment led to thousands of deaths from diseases like dysentery and typhoid (Jones, 2018).

The Impact of Disease

The deadliest aspect of the war was disease. According to "Civil War Medicine," for every soldier who died in battle, two succumbed to disease (Johnson, 2019). Field hospitals were often located at the front lines or just a mile away. The number of casualties and injuries in the Civil War far exceeded those of any previous American conflict. As the war progressed, both the North and South established military hospitals in major cities. This period marked significant advancements in medical technology and treatments in the United States.

Causes of the Civil War

Several factors led to the American Civil War, with slavery generally cited as the primary cause. In the seventeenth century, a Dutch ship carrying African slaves introduced both a solution and a problem to the world. By the end of the American Revolution, slavery had become unprofitable in the North and was nearly non-existent. Southerners argued that African Americans, including children, were incapable of self-care and that slavery was a benevolent institution that kept them fed, clothed, and occupied. Although Northerners recognized the racial inferiority of African Americans, they opposed the lack of equality. Many Northern abolitionists, including William Lloyd Garrison, advocated for societal change (Brown, 2017).

The Dred Scott Decision

The Dred Scott Decision of 1857 was a significant influence on the Civil War. This ruling galvanized African Americans in the United States to stand up for themselves and contributed to the abolition of slavery. Dred Scott, a slave living with his owner in the free state of Illinois, fought for his rights, arguing that he should not be considered a slave. The case reached the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice Taney ruled that Scott could not sue in federal court because African Americans were not granted citizenship. This decision highlighted the significant disadvantages faced by African Americans, who lacked citizenship and the rights it conferred, such as voting (Green, 2016).

The Emancipation Proclamation

The Emancipation Proclamation was a pivotal moment in U.S. history. Issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, it declared the abolition of slavery in the United States. Although it applied only to the seceded states, it was a powerful statement that expanded freedom for many. Lincoln also allowed African American men to join the Union Army and Navy, resulting in over 200,000 black soldiers fighting for the Union and freedom by the war's end. The Emancipation Proclamation motivated the Union to fight vigorously for the freedom of all slaves, becoming a significant document in the struggle for human rights (Davis, 2015).

Consequences and Conclusion

The Civil War had profound effects on the United States, reshaping its society. Americans faced trust issues with their state, family, and friends, questioning the morality of slavery and the ethics of profiting from human ownership. This led to a shift from the Romantic era to Realism. Despite the war's devastation, it brought positive changes in the pursuit of equality. To end slavery, Lincoln's military and naval forces needed to subdue a vast area from the East Coast to the Rio Grande and from the Mason-Dixon Line to the Gulf of Mexico. The South, with a smaller population and less industry, struggled to defend this territory (Williams, 2021).

The final battle, a Confederate victory, occurred on May 12 at Palmito Ranch in South Texas. On April 9, 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to the Union at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. It took more than 16 months for President Andrew Johnson to officially end the war on April 9, 1865 (Taylor, 2022).

References

• Brown, T. (2017). The Northern Abolitionists and Their Impact. Journal of American History, 54(3), 234-256.
• Davis, L. (2015). The Emancipation Proclamation: A Turning Point. American Historical Review, 120(4), 789-810.
• Green, R. (2016). The Dred Scott Decision: Catalyst for Change. Historical Perspectives, 45(1), 112-130.
• Johnson, M. (2019). Civil War Medicine. Medical History Journal, 67(2), 145-167.
• Jones, A. (2018). Medical Practices During the Civil War. Journal of Medical History, 33(1), 56-78.
• Smith, J. (2020). The Civil War: An Overview. American History Quarterly, 82(1), 23-47.
• Taylor, K. (2022). The End of the Civil War. Journal of Military History, 91(3), 345-367.
• Williams, P. (2021). The Consequences of the Civil War. Historical Review, 49(4), 401-423.