Life After the Civil War

Political Changes The Civil War caused great change to America’s politics. After the war, the federal government assumed supreme national authority. This would stop any state from seceding again.

Political Changes The Civil War also gave the federal government more power. They could tax the people, force them to accept the new paper currency (not coins), and forced men to fight with a draft.

Economic Changes Government helped business by building railroads, setting up a national bank, and setting requirements for loans. War-related industries grew in the North – guns, wagons building, wool clothes – because the government was buying them.

Economic Changes The South lost industry, slave workers, animals, food and land. At the end of the war, there was a large gap between the economy in the North and South.

Changes to Warfare New technology changed warfare forever The rifle was invented They used trench warfare They used total war – not only fighting the soldiers but civilians also They used the ironclad ship which ended the use of wooden ships

Changes in Lives Lives were changed after the Civil War The 13 th Amendment was passed which ended slavery in the United States Soldiers came home and many looked for jobs off the farm including moving west and working on railroad lines Clara Barton, a former Union nurse, helped develop the American Red Cross to help soldiers and civilians in times of natural disaster or war