Civil War Nationalism: Impact on African Americans, Native Americans, and Chinese Immigrants

How Civil War Nationalism Affected Diverse Groups

The Civil War spurred a significant impulse of nationalism in the United States, which affected various groups differently. Although the war's purpose shifted substantially from its beginning to its end, evidence shows that different populations experienced varied outcomes. The unique context of the Civil War aligned African Americans with the preservation and expansion of the United States, while Native Americans and Chinese Immigrants were largely defined as outsiders.

African Americans and Union Victory

Initially, the Union's primary motivation for fighting was to preserve the nation. When this motivation evolved to include ending slavery, it carried profound implications for African Americans. With Emancipation becoming a central purpose of the war for the Union, African Americans gained a stronger reason to support the fight. For the first time, their interests were directly tied to the preservation of the Union; thus, a Union victory became synonymous with a victory for African Americans.

Negative Impacts on Native Americans

After the war concluded, Native Americans desired only to be left alone. Unfortunately, the U.S. nation-building efforts during the Reconstruction period had severe negative consequences for them. Key policies included:

• The Homestead Act of 1862: Land, often situated on Indigenous territory, was offered to American settlers.
• Railroad Subsidies: Government subsidies for railroads, ongoing since the start of the Civil War, led to further encroachment on Native lands.
• Forced Reservations: Ultimately, the U.S. government forced Native Americans onto reservations, stripping them of much of their remaining freedom.

Mistreatment of Chinese Immigrants

While Native Americans faced extreme hardship, Chinese immigrants also received harsh treatment from the U.S. government. Many immigrants arrived in California due to the Gold Rush. However, this welcome soured, culminating in the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which restricted further Chinese immigration to those who were merchants, students, and individuals in other specific professions.