Courtney L. answered • 06/07/25
High School Social Studies Teacher
The Border States After the Civil War
Present Conditions:
The border states (Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri) were in a complicated situation after the Civil War. These states had remained in the Union, but many of their citizens supported the Confederacy. According to the Library of Congress, some counties in these states sent soldiers to both armies. While the border states did not suffer the same level of destruction as the Deep South, they were still deeply divided socially and politically. After slavery was abolished through the 13th Amendment in 1865, these states were not placed under military Reconstruction, which meant there was less protection for newly freed African Americans (Source: National Archives).
Reflections and Feelings:
Many people in the border states felt conflicted. Some were proud to have stayed with the Union, while others were angry about the end of slavery and the new direction of the country. There was tension between neighbors and within families. According to historian Eric Foner in Reconstruction: America's Unfinished Revolution, racial tensions were high, and many African Americans in the border states faced discrimination, threats, and violence. Freed people may have felt hopeful but cautious, knowing their freedom was legally recognized but not always respected.
Thoughts and Concerns for the Future:
Looking ahead, there were many fears about what the future would bring. White residents who had supported the Confederacy worried about losing power and influence. Farmers were concerned about rebuilding their economy without enslaved labor. Freed African Americans worried about finding work, receiving fair treatment, and staying safe in communities that often rejected their rights. Without the stronger oversight present in the former Confederate states, the border states faced a difficult path toward justice and unity.
