Overview of the American Civil War
The American Civil War (1861-1865) was a conflict between the Northern Union states and the Southern Confederate states, primarily over slavery, states' rights, and economic differences. Key events shaped the war's progression and fundamentally altered U.S. society by ending slavery and reshaping civil rights, though they also sowed seeds for future divisions.
Major Key Events
Critical events include the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, igniting the war; the Union victory at Gettysburg in July 1863, turning the tide; Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation in January 1863, freeing slaves in rebel states; and the Confederate surrender at Appomattox in April 1865, ending hostilities. These battles and policies involved over 620,000 deaths and massive destruction.
Practical Example: The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg exemplified strategic turning points: Confederate General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North failed after three days of intense fighting, resulting in 51,000 casualties. This Union victory boosted Northern morale, prevented Southern expansion, and led to Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, which redefined the war as a fight for equality and national unity.
Impact on U.S. Society
The war abolished slavery via the 13th Amendment (1865), freed 4 million people, and spurred industrialization in the North while devastating the South's agrarian economy. It centralized federal power, advanced women's roles in nursing and workforce participation, and initiated Reconstruction, though racial tensions persisted, influencing civil rights movements for generations.