The American Civil War, also referred to as the War Between the States, was a war that lasted for four years from 1861 to 1865. The participants of the war included the Union states which were also known as the Northern states and the Confederacy, also referred to as the Southern states. The war led to massive casualties with many sources agreeing that between 600,000 and 700,000 people killed in the process ( Tindall & Shi, 2016). Eventually, the Northern states emerged victorious in the war. The leading cause of the civil war was the differences between the Southern and the Northern states on the whole idea of slavery, tariffs, trade, and states' rights. Because it was majorly a war between collections of states, it is imperative to appreciate the role of individual states. New York and its residents, for instance, played a significant role in the Civil War and its efforts.
The New York state shaped the course of the war significantly especially through the constant supply of resources for the war. It is critical to note that the state of New York supplied the highest number of materials, men, and money to facilitate the war more than any other state. It is documented that a fifth of the Union Army was made up of New York Soldiers. Approximately, 370,000 men from the New York state participated in the war ( Tindall & Shi, 2016). It is also imperative to note that New York was the most populated state in the North, and as such, it was relied upon to release men who would participate in the Civil War. The Union Army was not only composed of foot soldiers from the New York, but the commanders and leaders of the unit also hailed from the state.
Delegate your assignment to our experts and they will do the rest.
Secondly, the state of New York enhanced the media coverage of the war which influenced public opinion about the war both in the north and the south. At this particular time, the country had already advanced in technology, innovations, professional practice, and journalism. The New York produced a majority of the newspapers and magazines during the war hence keeping the citizens informed about the course of the struggle. For instance, in 1961, the ‘’New York Herald’’ printed a whopping 135 copies about the bombardment of Fort Sumter in 1861 ( Cook, 2014). As such, the state of New York was a huge asset for the North, which relied on it for reporting on the war and shaping the opinion of the public and asking them to rally behind the agendas of the Northern states. Other vital news outlets from the New York state that influenced the politics of the war included the New York Tribune, The New York Times, and Harper’s Weekly among others.
The New York had several strategic advantages that assisted North in pursuing the Civil War. The New York was a leader in agriculture, industrial activities, and transportation. They had well-developed transportation system with the railroads, canals, and the turnpikes connecting the eastern and the western markets. The farmlands in the New York were among the most productive in the nation. The state was also endowed with rapid flowing rivers that were a source of power to some of the major industries. Lehoucq (2012) asserted that the economic prowess of the state made it attractable to many people who saw it as a conducive area for residing. The overall implication is that it led to a massive population increase, a factor that immensely assisted in the recruitment of men to participate in the war. The industries produced weapons that assisted in the fighting and the transportation system gave the soldiers a means of movement during the war.
The war would not have been successful had the New York not provided some of the critical war instruments required to launch a serious attack on their opponents. The war ended in 1865 with the state leading in the provision of different types of war materials that assisted the Union Army in achieving its success. Cook (2014) illustrated that the New York produced 27 regimens of cavalry to the Union Army including another 15 regiments of artillery. On top of that, the state also provided resource persons such eight engineers and another 250 infantry. The State of New York consisted of multiracial citizens all of who participated in the war. Records indicate that from New York, 4125 blacks participated in the war as soldiers ( Lehoucq, 2012). Therefore, the diversity in the war with regards to personnel stamped the state’s authority and influence in the Civil War. It is also noteworthy to appreciate the fact that the state had various wealthy individuals who supplied money and materials to facilitate the war. The wealthy people, a majority of whom were industrialists supported the effort of the war via weapons materials, supplies, ammunition, and accouterments. Examples of these people include Erastus Corning and Robert Parrot among others who strengthened the position of the North.
In conclusion, the Civil War was an intense fight between the Northern and the Southern states regarding the issue of slavery among others. It led to many casualties with scores dying and a majority injured. The New York, a member of the Northern states was a cog in the war and greatly influenced its success. It provided the highest number of soldiers, resources, and also had the biggest news outlet that helped in shaping the opinion of the citizens regarding the war. The state was strategically poised to assist the course of the war and also had wealthy individuals who supplied materials to the Union Army.
References
Cook, R. (2014). Civil War America: Making a Nation, 1848-1877 . Routledge.
Lehoucq, F. (2012). The politics of modern Central America: Civil war, democratization, and underdevelopment . Cambridge University Press.
Tindall, G. B., & Shi, D. E. (2016). America: A narrative history . WW Norton & Company.
