Beyond the ordinary

The American Civil War, though seen as a distant historical event, remains woven into the modern ways of American life today. Its long lasting effects still influence many current issues such as race, political division and the meaning of equality. By exploring firsthand accounts and major historical moments, this site highlights how the war’s legacy still impacts society today. 

The beginning 

After years of rising tension between the Northern and Southern states, the Civil War began in April of 1861. The core issue was slavery, and how much power individual states should have compared to how much power the government should have. Southern states believed that the newly elected president, Abraham Lincoln, would limit and eventually abolish slavery, so they seceded and formed the Confederate Staes of America. The conflict officially erupted on April 12 when the Confederate forces opened fire on Fort Sumter, in Charleston Harbor causing the Unions troops inside to evacuate marking the first military engagement of the Civil War. 

Involved parties

The Northern states, known as the Union was made up of states that remained loyal to the government and were opposed to the expansion of slavery. The Southern states, known as the Confederacy consisted of 11 states that broke away and formed their own government because they heavily depended on slave labor and believed their economic and political power were under threat. Both sides had their own advantages, the union had a significantly higher population rate and a major industrial advantage as well. The confederacy’s main advantage was that they were fighting on their own turf in their own territory. They knew the layout of the battle field better than the Northerners.  

The turning point

The bloodiest day in American history was the battle of Antietam, claiming the lives of 23,000 soldiers. This was a turning point in the Civil War because it stopped the Confederacy’s first major attempt to invade the North. Up until this battle, the South had momentum after winning important battles, but the Union stepped up and rejected the Confederates Army. This battle pushed the president, Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, the exact thing the South was afraid of.  

Voices Across Time: Racism After the Civil War

This section examines how the legacy of the American Civil War continues long after the end of slavery. These videos highlight the experience of enslaved people, the rise of segregation and Jim Crow laws, and the persistence of police brutality and racial violence in modern times.

Celia Black & George Johnson’s firsthand interviews. 

   This video presents rare audio recordings of two formerly enslaved individuals, Celia Black and George Johnson. Their voices offer an unfiltered look into the reality of slavery. Celia Black who lived to be 114 years old, recalls the horrible labor she endured. She mentions going out west every year, without missing a year, to pick cotton. George Johnson mentioned that he got his name from the President of the Confederacy, who owned both his father and grandfather. He recalls seeing a boy getting abused and beaten because he couldn’t keep up. Their stories are a reminder that understanding their past is crucial in understanding racial inequality today. 

Malcom X’s speech on oppression and police brutality in 1926.

   In his speech, Malcom X explains that Black Americans have long lived under systems that oppress them, exploit them, and deny them basic civil and human rights. He argues that these injustices are apart of generations of racial control that began with slavery and evolved into segregation and discrimination. He believes real change can only happen if Black people begin to recognize that they are sharing the same struggles, and to unite together. He also describes how racism can damage the mind after being taught to hate their own features, history, and race. 

Modern injustice rooted in History

   This video highlights how the violence faced by George Floyd reflects across the same patterns that have retreated for decades in the United States. George Floyd was stopped in Minneapolis after being accused of illegal activtity. He was held and pinned down on the ground by an officers knee, his knee was on his neck for nearly 9 minutes. As he was being held down, he repeated gasped, ‘I can’t breathe’, and after 6 minutes he stopped moving, yet the pressure continued. His death brought to life many previous and current cases of police brutality, sparking the national outrage of #BlackLivesMatter.