MARYLAND'S ROLE IN THE US CIVIL WAR

Outline: Maryland's Role in the US Civil War

Informative, Research Based

Present the history of the events in the Civil War in relation to Maryland to highlight the role played by the State in the War.

I: Introducing the topic

II: Starting the discussion highlighting the importance of the geographical position

III: Sentiments of the people in Maryland

Divided sentiments—eastern and south joining the Confederates, Western and central were more pro-Union

What made these sentiments to be divided in the State

Consequences of this divided sentiments

IV: Participation of Maryland's African Americans in the Civil War

V: Battles in Maryland

Street Riots of 1861

Important places of Battles

Battles at South Mountain, Antietam and Monocacy

VI: Significance of the Battle at Antietam

Clash between Union and Confederate troops—Union gets a better position

Emancipation Proclamation issued

Photographs of War change the mindset of people

General Lee goes back to Virginia

All combine to deflate the Southern resistance to a certain extent

VII: Prominent Marylanders in the Civil War

Maryland's Role in the US Civil War

Introduction

The Civil War is regarded to be a critical period and one of the greatest conflicts in the history of United States. It pitted brother against brother and neighbor against neighbor while it left little to be untouched by the civil war. Maryland has a wonderful history since it was founded in the early 17th century and has continued to have a central place in the history of the country whether it is related to participation in the War of Independence or the War of 1812. It was though the civil war that thrust the state into a role of this unprecedented importance where it had to struggle to even define itself as being a part of the South or the North. Maryland's role is a significant one in terms of not only keeping Washington DC protected but also in helping the Union in bringing the troops from the Northeast to battles in the South.

Discussion

The Civil War was the most contentious event in the nation's history that divided families, friends and communities. Though it impacted significantly almost every state, the border slave states experienced a different kind of effects. Internal disputes and shifting allegiances dominated the events and impacted significantly the lives of all the citizens. Of all these border slave states, Maryland had the most crucial role to play in the Civil War. Since it was a border state that comprised of both slaves and freemen, the state was divided in terms of sentiments between the Union and the Confederacy. Marylanders fought for both sides during the Civil War and in some battles, they also fought each other.

Divided sentiments in Maryland in the Civil War

Geographically, the state is surrounded by the capital of the country while it is also considered to be a sister state of Virginia. Because of this geographic position, this state is considered to have played a vital role in the political and military struggles of the Civil War. It is though not only its proximity to Washington that gives it this importance ...