How America was changed

Innovation:

The Civil War forced America to innovate and advance in a desperate effort to out compete itself, and when the war was over, America found itself with new technologies and ideas that could aid it in and out of war in the future.

One big change was the medical system. Inexperienced physicians entered the war, but vast legions of doctors, trained experts by the war, emerged after four long years of war. The nation’s first ambulance corps, careening across the battlefield with wagons to cart wounded soldiers off to safety, were employed in the Civil War. Hospitals for the wounded soldiers soon became a commonality across the country, being set up for regular people as well

Technology also advanced. Rapid fire machine guns were just starting to be developed, and new tactics, like hot air balloon espionage, were employed to spy on confederate camps. The telegram was an integral part of war communications as well as a war for the citizens at home to learn of the battles

(Towner, 2011) & (Wheelan, 2017)

Democracy:

With the rise of communism in Europe, democracy was falling on its last legs. By winning the Civil War and maintaining the Union, the North showed that democracy was strong and would not collapse like so many believed it would.

Additionally, America established itself as a country that would fight tooth and nail in the name of democracy and unity, and the violence of the Civil War showed other countries how dangerous of an enemy America could be.

(Addis, n.d.)

Racial Tolerance:

Who could mention the Civil War without talking about abolition and the effort to free slaves. The Civil War set the stage for the society we live in today, where racial tolerance is considered the norm by most people, the old ideals of the past begrudgingly making way for a new, progressive society.

Lincoln felt that if slavery was not abolsihed, then the war would have not been worth it. He understood how the Emancipation Proclamation was only temporary, a wartime act. While abolition was still denied by the House of Representatives, the seeds had been sowed.

(McPherson, 2010) & (Editors at U.S. History.com, 2019)

Industrialization:

To go along with this new technology was the rapid rebound of industrialization. As the South staggered to its feet and started to rebuild, more and more northern influence led to a new, industrial South.

Because of this, the country also felt a lot more unified (at least on the surface), as there was no longer this vast economic difference between the two halves of the country.

(Editors at U.S. History.com, 2020)