Final answer:
The 'sword of the Civil War' refers metaphorically to the abolition of slavery, a central issue leading to and addressed by the Civil War, which had profound effects on American society.
Step-by-step explanation:
The phrase 'sliced away by the sword of the Civil War' metaphorically refers to the abolition of slavery as an institution. The Civil War was a turning point in American history, marking the end of slavery and leading to the Emancipation Proclamation.
Following the war, the Reconstruction period sought—and ultimately failed—to fully integrate freed African Americans into society on equal terms, despite attempts to redress social, economic, and political inequalities that had been entrenched in society.