Discuss The Boundaries Of Freedom In The Civil War

Freedom can be conceptualised as the “master narrative” of American history1, and often defines what it means to be an American citizen. However, when traced back to the War for Independence through to the era of Reconstruction, this was not always the case. Throughout American history, the meanings of freedom are not defined by one idea, but rather a collection of values2. This is seen in not only the ideologies but also the common boundaries of freedom: class, gender, and race. It is through these boundaries that new meanings emerged, assisting in the coming of the civil war and producing a new birth of freedom within the United States of America (USA).

In colonists' arrival to America, freedom was defined by religious power, economic
The battle between the North and the South, arguing over liberties and definitions of freedom allowed for the pursuit of new ideologies following the war. The North believed that freedom was linked to civil liberties and self-governance, ideologies that were severely contradicted by the slave trade. Thus, the Northern movements became intertwined with abolitionists and together they pursued removing slavery. However, the South viewed freedom as a concept based upon landownership, which was inexplicably linked to the slave trade. The contradicting ideologies served as a reminder of the boundaries of freedom that many needed to overcome. However, during the civil war, the concepts of freedom did not significantly change for the better. Many slaves were offered freedom in return for their service in the war. However, this arrangement did not inherently mean that those previously bound to labor were free6. Instead, legislation such as the Fugitive Slave Act (1850) and the Black Codes created and inflicted new boundaries. Thus, those whose freedom was bound by race was not immediately solved by participating in the Civil War. Another instance of freedom that was affected by the Civil War was that of women. As men went off to fight in the war, women achieved more financial liberties as it became their responsibility to look after the household. The economic freedom women
In dealing with the aftermath of the Civil War, many procedures and legislations occurred to prevent a devastating conflict from occurring again while still protecting the civil liberties of the citizens. Through the mid-19th century, new amendments that removed the boundaries of freedom were enforced, creating the birth of a new freedom. An important aspect of the new freedom found in the era of reconstruction is citizenship. Citizenship was reviewed through the 14th and 15th Amendments. Citizenship is a highly valued aspect of American living, and the basis on which many political, civil, and economic rights rest. However, following the civil war, citizenship was no longer defined by race, but instead the basis of “color-blind” rights. Thus, to be an American it was no longer required to be a white male of high class, but instead to be born in the USA. However, the protected rights of citizens still did not include women. Thus, the revised laws of citizenship were not entirely inclusive in the birth of new freedom. Another instance in which the new birth of freedom was significant was the right to personal freedom and land reform. After the Civil War ended, slavery was abolished, allowing for the revision of civil and economic liberties and materials. Many of those who had been forced into slave labour desired the redistribution of the land they had worked on.