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"The Tragedy of Kansas", from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (1856)

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Significance: Bleeding Kansas demonstrated the social and political division caused by slavery in America. It made violence a popular topic of discussion in the country and turned neighbors into rivals. In terms of politics, to crushed expectations for a compromise and drove the nation closer to the civil war.

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Illustration of a Minié Ball from Harper's Weekly (1862)

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Significance: By making firearms far more accurate and lethal, the Minié Ball changed warfare. It changed military tactics allowing soldiers to shoot farther and load faster. It led to significant losses and showed how technology may increase the damage caused by war. The consequences pushed the adoption of brand new tactics and showed the Civil War's rising industrial innovation power.

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Illustration from Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper (1857) showing Dred Scott, whose supreme Court case shocked the nation

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The Dred Scott Decision deepened social divisions because African Americans were denied freedom and citizenship. The divide between the North and the South widened as it aggravated the abolitionists and gave slave owners newfound confidence. The Decision increased the struggle against slavery and caused many Americans to lose faith in the legal system, bringing the country closer to civil war.

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A political cartooning showing the nations divide by four presidential candidates (Lincoln, Breckinridge, Douglas, Bell)

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Significance: Socially, the Election of 1860 fractured national identity by forcing Americans to choose sides. North vs. South, Anti-Slavery vs. Pro-Slavery. Because neighbors had conflicting allegiances, it fueled community action and increased mistrust in communities. In terms of politics, the Election brought the new republican Party to power and destroyed the Democratic party. Many Southerners believed their interests would be ignored after Lincoln's presidential victory, which came without any electoral votes from the South, which started the beggining of the secession.

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Illustration showing Union General William T, Sherman's troops marching through Georgia, leaving destruction in their path. (1865)

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Significance: Socially, Sherman's March exposed the civilians to the brutality of war, shattering Southern morale. it made many in the South doubt the cause they were fighting for and shattered their dedication to fight. In terms of political significance, the March helped Abraham Lincoln win reelection in 1864 by increasing support for him throughout the North. The devastation represented the union's unwavering will to put an end to the conflict and unite the country under one government.

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Illustration showing President Abraham Lincoln presenting the Emancipation Proclamation  to civilians around him.

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Significance: socially, the emancipation Proclamation brought hope to enslaved people and transformed the Civil War from a struggle for unity to one for freedom. Many African American were motivated to fight for equality and enlist in the Union Army as a result, politically it reinforced Lincoln's authority and won over nations that opposed slavery to the Union. A significant step toward abolishing slavery in the US was taken with the proclamation, which reframed the country's mission.

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Portrait of Andrew Johnson by Frank Buchser (1866)

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Significance: The Presidential Reconstruction of Andrew Johnson had significant political and social repercussions. Socially, his weak tactics allowed Southerners to retake control by imposing Black codes that restricted African Americans' freedom. Politically, his vetoes of laws such as the Civil Rights Axt of 1866 caused a rift with Congress and his impeachment in 1868, showing the boundaries of presidential authority. Johnson stalled the advancement of equality and influenced national discussions about racial rights and federal power by allowing Ex-Confederates to retake government control.

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Significance: after being enacted in 1865, the 13th Amendment had significant political and social impacts.Socially it ended the legal basis for racial bondage in the United States and freed the millions of African Americans by abolishing slavery. Southern society was drastically altered by this significant shift, yet obstacles and discrimination against recently released individuals persisted. By guaranteeing that no state could maintain slavery, the amendment enhanced federal power politically and established a standard for future civil rights protection.

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Significance: After being Ratified in 1868, the 14th Amendment had significant political and social effects. Socially it laid the groundwork for civil rights by guaranteeing "equal protection of the laws" and guaranteeing citizenship to all individuals born in the US, including freedmen. The amendment became a pillar of future court cases against discrimination and inequality and influenced national discussions about voting rights and civil rights.

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Illustration of Jim Crow made to mock African Americans at the time.

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Significance: Because the upheld the social inequality that existed during slavery and enforced racial segregation, Jim Crow laws, which came after black codes, had significant societal impact. Black communities were socially and economically oppressed as a result of the laws that restricted them from access to public areas, education and employment. Jim crow Laws, justified discrimination and normalized inequality.