Jared Top Ten: Civil War and Reconstruction by Jared Delos Reyes

April 12, 1861 - Battle of Fort Sumter

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-06 18:41:17 UTC

I chose this event because of its political aspect. The two side division really started to stand out here and animosity began to grow. Many call it the beginning of the Civil war as talk and compromise ended, the Confederates opened fire initially and it was the first combat conflict between the Union and Confederacy. Represents the failure of political unity and forced the federal government to act against secession.

March 20, 1852 - Uncle Tom's Cabin

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-07 15:57:06 UTC

I chose this event because of its social impact. To me, it illustrates early American Revolution on how literature had a profound impact on people's awareness and attitudes toward slavery. A simple book appealed to the Northern's attention as they learned the true horrors of slavery. It intensified the national debate over slavery which led to a deeper sectional division.

November 6, 1860 - Election of 1860

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-07 15:59:38 UTC

I chose this event because of its political aspect as it was a crucial aspect in the Unions Victory. Lincoln being a republican spread fear throughout the southern side due to the south believing the election of an anti-slavery president signaled the end of its political dominance and control over slavery. Lincolns political decisions and leadership choices shaped the future of the Union. Seeing how one election changed the course of history reminds me that political participation isn't just formality, but really matters

1861 - Railroads

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-07 18:36:10 UTC

I chose railroad because of its technological impact. Innovations created effective ways for the union to significantly impact their way of transporting whether it was units, foods or guns. With the Union having more railroads, they constantly transported more supplies while in the South they were more inclined to struggle with transportation. Technologically they were far more advanced and had a further quantity of these technologies. These advancements that Lincoln advocated for the Union, overall saved them a lot of time.

January 1, 1863 - Emancipation Proclamation

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-08 06:41:34 UTC

I chose this event because of its political and economical significance. Developed by President Lincoln which declared enslaved people in Confederate territories were to be free. Highlights how leaders can use their power to create real change and fight for justice. Prior to the Emancipation Proclamation, the Confederate would have a greater population of slaves, however more slaves began to be free which weakened the overall South's slave-based economy.

May 18, 1863 - Siege of Vicksburg

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-08 18:26:01 UTC

I chose the Siege of Vicksburg because of its political and economic importance. It shows how strategy and persistence can completely change the outcome of a war, also including patience and time. The Union's victory let them take control of the Mississippi River, which basically suffocated the Confederacy by cutting off their supplies and trade routes overall weakened their economy as this was their main trade route for the south. Politically split the Confederacy in half showing the Union had real control over the war.

1865-1870 - 13th, 14th and 15th Amendment

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-08 18:30:18 UTC

Mixed on how it affected reconstruction. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments because of their political and social importance. They represent real progress toward equality and justice. Politically, they reshaped the Constitution by banning slavery, granting citizenship, and protecting voting rights, showing how laws can create lasting change. Socially, they remind me that equality takes time and struggle. Although slavery was banned, it soon shaped into new forms through discrimination and unfair laws, something Frederick Douglass warned about that freedom could be taken away in new forms through racism, poverty, and unfair laws. Such as people forming the KKK. His voice and activism pushed the nation toward justice, showing how persistence and truth can challenge inequality.

March 3, 1865 - Freedmen's Bureau

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-08 18:33:45 UTC

I chose this event because of it's economic success. It helped formerly enslaved people get a chance at economic redemption and start fresh after years of hardship. It shows how true freedom requires support and opportunity, not just independence

1865 - Black Codes

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-08 18:34:27 UTC

I chose the Black Codes because of their political importance. To me, they show how people in power can use laws to take away others' freedom. Even though slavery had ended, the government still allowed unfair systems that kept African Americans from being truly free. It revealed how people in power used government control to limit the rights of freed African American after the civil war.

1870s - Sharecropping

jared_delosreyes — 2025-10-08 18:35:00 UTC

I chose this event because of its economic importance. It shows how freedom doesn't always mean equality. Initially sharecropping promised freedom and opportunity but instead created economic slavery. Even after slavery ended, African Americans were forced into sharecropping, which kept them stuck in poverty and unfair working conditions. This is important because it economically trapped African Americans and led them into more debt each time.