The Civil War

• The Civil War was a major conflict fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865.

• It was primarily fought between the Northern states, known as the Union, and the Southern states, known as the Confederacy.

• The main cause of the war was the disagreement over the institution of slavery, with the Southern states wanting to preserve it while the Northern states sought to abolish it.

• The war began with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina in April 1861.

• The Union had several advantages, including a larger population, more industrialization, and a superior navy.

• The Confederacy, on the other hand, had skilled military leaders and a strong defensive position.

• The war saw significant battles, such as the First Battle of Bull Run, Antietam, Gettysburg, and Sherman's March to the Sea.

• President Abraham Lincoln played a crucial role in leading the Union during the war, while General Robert E. Lee commanded the Confederate forces.

• The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by Lincoln in 1863, declared that all slaves in Confederate territory were to be set free.

• The war ended in 1865 with the surrender of the Confederacy at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

• The Civil War resulted in the abolition of slavery, the preservation of the Union, and the deaths of approximately 620,000 soldiers.

• It also had a profound impact on the nation, leading to the Reconstruction era and significant changes in American society and politics.