Introduction
The Confederate States of America, simply known as the Confederacy, was a country in North America before the Civil War that was unrecognized, and it existed during the era of 1861 to 1865. The states that were included in the confederate were Alabama, South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. The economy of these states depended mostly on the agricultural activities performed by poor farmers who were experts in developing cotton. The western countries of Virginia were not a part of the state and were separated from it; the upper house was the Senate, and the legislature was Congress. Richmond was the place of political power, but it also served as a great source to supply weapons, manpower and supplies during the war to the Confederate army.
The city was less than 100 miles (160 km) from the Union capital in Washington, D.C; the significance of the city is utmost due to its symbolic representation in the war efforts of the confederate, and it was the target of multiple attempts of the army get the possession of capital. That was the reason it became a center place for the establishment of hospitals and military prisons to accommodate the needs of war. On April 3, 1965, the city finally fell to the Union Fores and was evacuated when a significant portion of the city was demolished by the fire. Many monuments, museums and memorials in the city were erected in the city due to the aftermath of the war.
Symbolic Significance Of Richmond, Virginia
In the United States history, the Census data reveals that Richmond was the 25th largest urban area of the United States with a huge population living there, about 37910. Since 1780, Richmond has been the capital of Virginia and the capital of the federacy as well. Fort Sumter was attacked by the Federate Army in 1861 when the Civil War finally began in the country. Virginia voted to secede from the Union on April 17, 1861. After that, the status of the existence of Virginia was an independent republic state before it joined the confederacy in 1861. The city of Richmond was chosen as the new capital of the Confederacy, and it gave strategic significance to the state of Virginia.
The Center Of Industry
Before the Civil War, the city of Richmond was the center of attention due to becoming the center of industry in the United States. The open supply of hydropower was there to water the factories and industry. The Tredegar Iron Works across the James River was the source of supplying the high quality munitions for the war. Railroad steam engines were also manufactured by the company in the period of war. In addition to that, there existed numerous small factories in the city of Richmond, which helped the economy to boost and produced a large quantity of uniforms, tents, leather goods, harnesses, bayonets and cotton. Richmond has also remained the major transportation hub of Virginia over the last few centuries, with five railroads during the Civil War.
Earlier Seventeenth-Century History
Captain Smith and 120 men from James Town, Virginia, traveled to the Powhatan River in 1607, where they had settled for some time. That was the very first attempt of anyone to settle at the River James Falls. A few years after 1607, the governor of New Jamestown organized an expedition and created the first American hospital. The area was filled with the struggles of various people in the early 17th century, with widespread attacks of Indians destroying many places during 1622. There were no English people who settled along the fall of River James after the Indian attacks, while attacks were made on almost 400 white settlers in 1644 before the Civil War. A treaty was signed later on by the tribe that granted the English to possess the land that existed below the River James Falls.
In the prior year, various constructions and churches were built among which St. John’s Church is the most significant one. Richmond got its status as a registered town in 1742 with a charter by the governor of Virginia in Jamestown.
Importance During The Revolutionary War
During and prior to the Revolutionary War in Virginia, Richmond City remained the most important center of activity. The most famous speech of Patrick Henry was also delivered at the St. John’s Church with the title of “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.” It inspired and influenced many people, including the House of Burgesses, which led to the passing of a resolution to deliver Virginia troops to the Revolutionary War. One year after 1780, the Richmond was unfortunately burned by the English troops to the ground.
The great riot of 1863 was famous when the housewives were no longer able to bear the very high prices of food and commodities, and they decided to break into the stores. Mary Jackson was the leader of the riot group of ladies who was the mother of a soldier as well; to end the riot, the military was finally called to help the government.
The Libby Prison Escape was also the most daring and famous prison escape of the Civil War that happened in 1864 when 100 men from the prison escaped and fled in the night. The city was deeply shaken by that event.
The Capturing And Evacuation Of Richmond
In April 1865, Richmond was finally captured, and it was evacuated on April 2. The retreating soldiers got an immediate order to set the place on fire and destroy the bridges, warehouses and all the weapons that were left. They obeyed the order, and that resulted in a fire in the city that was impossible to control. It destroyed large parts of Richmond city, and civilians, including the Mayor, went to the Union lines to surrender the city. The Union troops deserve the credit for putting out the uncontrollable fire in Richmond City. At that time, President Lincoln was also staying close to the city and also visited the state of Virginia and the white house.
More History In 17th Century
A diverse and strong economy was created after the reconstruction period in Richmond, Virginia, near the River James. The main constituent group in the confederacy was Powhatan when the Jamestown island was set. There were not many houses built near the river at that time; only twelve houses were reported on the hill; the plain was filled with various crops such as beans, wheat, pumpkins, tobacco, hemp and gourds.
The 17th century island was filled with the crops of maize with only six or seven families living there along the river. In 1607, the country was possessed by the England but English people did not came back to the falls again for a year after 1607, In September 1608, the Newport returned from England and strted to explore the country beyond. The chief of Powhatan refused to sell it to the Englishmen due to the cultivation of corn. In September 1609, Powhatan’s people seemed in awe of the colony’s then-president; the English men were forced not to make any attempts to settle any higher than Henricus. After that, Fort Charles was built at the falls of River James.
The 18th Century History
The popularity of Richmond City was still below the significant mark of 200 by the start of the 18th century. The cultivation of tobacco started at 40 different locations, which led to the enormous development of the city near the river James Falls. In 1737, the original street plan was laid down by William Mayo for creating the streets in Richmond Town. They had the plan to sell the site to the suburban villas in the future.
During the era of 1740, the great awakening greatly impacted the era; William Byrd made his efforts to promote Richmond town to a chartered city in 1742 as well. There were large areas that were still not exploited and underdeveloped in the city; the land in Richmond had to be exploited to take its full advantage.
The Virginia State Capital was formed in 1785 by the general assembly when another charter was passed for including the James River into the United States. In 1788, the United States Constitution was ratified by Virginia state in Richmond city, which solved the problem of the split between the various states. During the later years of the 18th century and early 19th century, various issues of slavery of African American people arose, including the trading of African American slaves in the area. Thousands of slaves were sold and sent to the South in 1825.
Many other important events took place in Virginia Richmond city in the early 19th century, including the establishment of the first-ever Richmond district in 1803. The Industrial Revolution started in the early 19th century when, in 1831, a rail was opened between Chesterfield and Manchester. The industry was booming at that time, and investors were taking great interest in creating industries of iron and foundry in the area. Richmond also has the privilege to start the first steam engine service in the city. Another prominent advancement was the Medical College of Virginia, which was also formed during the early 19th century.
The 19th Century
During the 19th century, the city of Richmond was also becoming a center for religious and scientific advancement. The city was becoming a major part of regional communications development, with several books and newspapers published in the city. Public opinion was shaped the John Warrock, who helped to provide education to the people of Richmond. But still, slave trading was another issue that was not slowing down in the 19th century either; before the Civil War in 1861, history was made by Henry Brown when he nailed himself into a small box and got shipped from Richmond, Pennsylvania. Jefferson Davis became the president of Confederate states before the Civil War in 1861, which lasted until 1865.
In May 1861, the Civil War began, which led rise to the Pensylvania campaign. The city was attacked by a large riot by the women, and the fire was out of control in the area. President Lincoln tried to establish communication with the forces to stop the war from the White House, which had the authority over the land of America at that time. After the Civil War in 1865, the United States Constitution passed an amendment to start the reconstruction in the area and abolish slavery as well. That was the time when many public schools were created in the city of Richmond and the state of Virginia. At that time, the troops of war were totally removed from the area at the end of the civil war.
The Legacy
The Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond City is the final burial place of a lot of notable persons in the Civil War, including the United States Congressman John Tyler. It is also a burial place for the governors of Virginia and Confederate generals. The dead people of the war were also buried in the Oakwood Cemetery. The city played a remarkable role during the war and the role of the confederacy. The most prominent place is the Richmond National Battlefield Park. The Museum of the Confederacy is also right next to the White House.
References
Citrine, Walter McLennan. 1997. British Trade Unions. Tokyo: Hon-no-Tomosha.
Eliot, George. 2016. The Mill On The Floss. New York: Open Road Integrated Media.
Eliot, George. 2016. The Mill On The Floss. New York: Open Road Integrated Media.
Fitter, Richard Sidney Richmond. 2008. London’s Natural History. London: Collins.
Fonda, Nick. n.d. Richmond, Now & Then.
Richmond History. 2001. [Richmond, Surrey]: Richmond Local History Society.
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