The American Civil War was a civil conflict fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865 between the Union, representing the northern states, and the Confederacy, formed by southern states that seceded from the Union. It remains one of the most significant and transformative events in American history.
Background
Tensions between northern and southern states had been building for decades prior to the war, largely over issues such as slavery, states’ rights, economic differences, and political power. The expansion of slavery into newly admitted states and territories intensified sectional conflict.
The election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States in 1860 accelerated the crisis, as several southern states viewed his opposition to the expansion of slavery as a threat to their way of life.
Secession
Between December 1860 and February 1861, eleven southern states seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. These states asserted the right to secede, while the federal government maintained that secession was unconstitutional.
Outbreak of war
The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Following the attack, additional states joined the Confederacy, and large-scale military mobilization began on both sides.
Major events
The war involved numerous significant battles and campaigns, including:
The conflict was characterized by total war, large-scale casualties, and the increasing involvement of industrial resources and rail transportation.
Emancipation
In 1863, President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that enslaved people in Confederate-held territory were free. While it did not immediately end slavery, it transformed the war into a struggle for human freedom and allowed formerly enslaved people to serve in the Union Army.
Conclusion
The war effectively ended in April 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. Shortly thereafter, Lincoln was assassinated.
Aftermath
The American Civil War resulted in the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery through the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The postwar period, known as Reconstruction, focused on rebuilding the South and integrating formerly enslaved people into American society.
The war caused immense human and economic losses and continues to influence American politics, culture, and historical memory.