The Civil War resulted in significant political, economic, and social changes. Politically, it increased the power of the federal government and no state has attempted to secede since. Economically, the North's industry boomed while the South's economy was devastated by the loss of slavery and destruction of infrastructure. An enormous human and economic toll was taken, with over 600,000 casualties and both sides amassing over $3 billion in war debts. The war also ended slavery through the 13th amendment and impacted individuals like Clara Barton, John Wilkes Booth, and the challenges of Reconstruction.
2. I. Political Changes- Increased the Federal
Government’s Power
A. No state has ever seceded again
B. Income tax
C. New paper currency
3. II. Economic Changes
A. North boomed
Industry and new businesses (entrepreneurs)
B. South devastated
1. No more cheap labor- slavery
2. Industry, railroads, farm machinery, towns
and livestock in ruins
4. III. Costs of the War
1. Human costs
Around 360,000 Union and 260,000
Confederate soldiers died
2. Economic costs
Combined $3.3 billion in war debt
5. IV. War Changes Lives
A. Thirteenth Amendment- Constitutional
amendment that ended slavery
B. Clara Barton- CW nurse that founded the
Red Cross in 1881
6. C. John Wilkes Booth- assassinated Lincoln
five days after Appomattox
D. Problems now facing the Union
1. How to restore Southern states to the Union
2. How to integrate about 4 million newly
freed African Americans into national life
