How did the Civil War permanently alter the national definition of freedom, and link freedom to the survival of the nation?

The Civil War was, without a doubt, the most transformational event in the history of the United States. Over the four years of fighting, 600,000 people lost their lives. Slavery, the economic backbone of half the country, was abolished. The definition of freedom changed radically during this time period, and the aftermath of the war tied the concept of freedom to the survival of the nation.

The Civil War made freedom a universal concept in the United States. No longer was freedom (or lack thereof) defined by skin color. The 13th amendment, which abolished slavery, stated that no one could be held under slavery-like conditions unless he or she had been convicted of a crime. Also, the 14th amendment extended freedom by ensuring that no state could suppress the rights of citizens. Though these freedoms were later undone by ‘Jim Crow’ laws that swept the American South, the 13th and 14th amendments laid the legal framework for a more equal and just society.

“The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” the most famous song to come out of the Civil War, explains how the concept of freedom became linked to the survival of the United States. “In the beauty of the lilies Christ was born across the sea…as he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free.” Ending slavery became a religious necessity. Not only was the survival of the United States at stake, but as was the will of God.