The American Civil War

The American Civil War (1861-1865) was a pivotal conflict in U.S. history, fought between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy). Here’s a concise overview of its causes, key events, and conclusion.

Slavery: The primary cause was the deep divide over slavery. The South relied on enslaved labor for its agrarian economy, while the North increasingly opposed slavery.

States’ Rights: Southern states believed in the right to govern themselves and feared federal overreach.

-Economic Differences: The North was industrializing, while the South remained agrarian and dependent on cotton exports.

Political Tensions: Disputes over the expansion of slavery into new territories (e.g., the Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott decision) heightened tensions.

After Abraham Lincoln’s election in 1860 (opposed to the expansion of slavery), Southern states began seceding from the Union. – By February 1861, seven states had formed the Confederate States of America, with Jefferson Davis as president.

The war began on “April 12, 1861”, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, a Union-held fort.

First Battle of Bull Run (1861): The first major battle, ending in a Confederate victory.

Battle of Antietam (1862): The bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history; a Union strategic victory.

Battle of Gettysburg (1863): A turning point in the war, where the Union repelled a Confederate invasion of the North.

Siege of Vicksburg (1863): Union control of the Mississippi River split the Confederacy in two.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863): – Issued by Lincoln, it declared freedom for enslaved people in Confederate states, shifting the war’s focus to ending slavery.

Sherman’s March to the Sea (1864): – Union General William T. Sherman’s campaign devastated the South, crippling its infrastructure and morale.

On “April 9, 1865”, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the war.

Aftermath: – The Union was preserved, and slavery was abolished with the “13th Amendment” in December 1865. – The war resulted in over 600,000 deaths and left the South economically devastated.

Reconstruction began, aiming to rebuild the South and integrate formerly enslaved people into society.