American History

America as a country has attracted the attention of many people as well as states all over the world first as world superpower, second as a nation that comprises of people of varied identities in terms of race, culture and religion and finally as a country that has embraced unity among its states especially after the civil war of 1861. Moreover, the nation has imbued a culture of democracy and equality among its citizens. It is this equal rights and freedom Americans enjoy that propel an investigation on how the country has managed to maneuver through bumpy and rugged path of slavery and civil war and still become worlds most admired democratic nation in the world.

American states comprise of a conglomeration of people with diverse cultural, religious and racial backgrounds. The correlation between these people in one system and leadership has been a challenge to the country for years. Social frictions were inevitable in such circumstances due to inability of the concerned parties to interrelate harmoniously and cohesively in the society. Blacks were looked upon in the social setting of America and were in bondage for many years since colonial era (Meyers 101). They were subjected to hard labor by working in cotton as well as rice firms owned by white people in Virginia and South Carolina respectively. The demand for the products increased thereby increasing the demand for labor hence precipitating black slavery. The slaves never had rights and could be leased at any time. Their hardship lifestyle persisted for many years hence instigating their determined pursuit for freedom. They resorted to rebellion and defiance of their owners as a means of resisting slavery. This rebellion therefore contributed to a great extent the civil war of 1861 (Meyers 204).

The resistance was used by the blacks to organize themselves in networks and groups that helped other black people to reach the North as well as lay ground for the civil war (Robinson 23).The incorporation of blacks into the union in Orleans in 1862 soon followed. The white soldiers opposed to their inclusion in the union since they believed that blacks were inferior beings and could not fight the whites. This notion was however, proved wrong in 1865 (Ripley 330). Kansas was the first State to incorporate the first group of black Negroes as soldiers. He further elaborates how the black Negroes advanced in the union ranks to the officers position something that was highly opposed by the white soldiers in the North (330). According to Robinson, President Lincoln too was opposed to the idea but later reversed this in 1863 after the declaration of freedom of the black soldiers that took place on January 1st the same year (23).

President Lincoln believed that the use of black soldiers would discourage the enemies and therefore recruited many black soldiers in the union army. However, the first regiment of the black soldiers was deployed in the wake of attack of South Carolina where they suffered high number of casualties. This enhanced their continued incorporation into the army and subsequent honor by the authority. Despite their effort and determination to evade black slavery, the blacks were still subjected to discrimination in the forces (Schomp 39) .There was a high degree of segregation in the forces where the black soldiers and their white counterparts were operating from different camps. Additionally, the black soldiers were being paid peanuts while white soldiers received lamp-sum amounts. The black soldiers were subjected to heavy duties such as cooking and cleaning of boots unlike their counterparts. The black soldiers were considered second hand soldiers by their fellow white soldiers. The blacks could not be allowed to advance the ranks as they were ex-slaves. Moreover, they rarely became officers and could not advance past the rank of a captain (Schomp 40).

The black soldiers could face execution if captured or otherwise sold to slavery. They were indiscriminately killed by their white counterparts and the number of blacks who died in the war was a clear confirmation of the claim. The killing of black soldiers did not deter them from pursuing freedom but encouraged them on. Their determination and perseverance made both the North and the South unions acknowledge their significance in the army hence facilitated their incorporation (Woodworth 547). The blacks offered voluntary services to the army such as fortification and left for field after the completion of such duties. The confederate gradually lost their white soldiers and therefore developed a strategy to incorporate more blacks into the forces. The black soldiers were therefore trained with a pledge that they would be freed after the war. However, this was not to come since that marked the end of the civil war in 1865.

Slavery came to an end as a result of end of the civil war due to surrender of the army by various generals in the war. The surrender of confederate army by General Robert E. Lee in 1865 brought the civil war to an end. However, President Abraham Lincolns desire to initiate reconstruction after the resignation of the last general Stand Watie was thwarted by his assassination in April 1865 (Americas reconstruction 1).This was later followed by institution of military rule that ended in 1876.

The research information has been collected mainly from secondary sources among them books on American civil war and more important, articles from the internet. More research needs to be done by accessing additional books as well as journals concerning the same. Publications should be posted on the internet and their accessibility enhanced. A different research should be carried out to clearly investigate the current composition of American forces in terms of race as well as critically analyzing the criteria of rank advancement.

The research is proving to be technical in many ways. To start with, it touches on issues of slavery which reminds the researcher of various inhuman acts that were committed by the white people against the innocent blacks. The atrocity in Tennessee for instance brings back the bad memories considering the fact that more than three hundred black soldiers were killed on the spot.

Lastly, the research had some difficulties in trying to access some relevant materials such as books concerning the American civil war. These books could not be accessed freely.

Conclusion
U.S as a country is world superpower and therefore its management strategies are scrutinized globally. The world is glued at the countrys style of leadership due to its complex demographic composition. Racial composition of the American population is an important factor worth considering as far as the leadership of America is concerned in relation to recovery from black slavery. The countys freedom lies squarely on the civil war which resulted to about hundred and sixty thousand casualties. The harmony and peace in which different people in US currently live after the civil war are fruits of slavery. It is true that the civil war brought to America a new birth of freedom as President Lincoln put it.