What was the Civil War? Check History, Aftermath, and Key Events

Usually, a civil war is one where all of the fighting takes place within a single country. It occurs when two or more organized groups from the same country clash because of major disagreements, often about politics, how society is formed, or fundamental beliefs. However, if one hears the phrase "the Civil War," most would immediately associate it with the American Civil War.

This was one of the most defining and brutal periods ever witnessed in the history of the United States. It was a time of great struggle and change that irrevocably altered the country. Insight into the concept of a civil war, more so the American Civil War, helps us normatively look at pivotal moments where countries confronted extreme internal divisions and internecine battles for their very being.

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What Was the Civil War?

Between 1861 and 1865, the Union, or northern states, and the Confederacy, or southern states, fought each other in the American Civil War.

A major dispute over slavery was the primary cause of this war. Because slavery played a significant role in their economy and way of life, the Southern states sought to maintain it. But Abraham Lincoln opposed slavery when he was elected president in 1860. As a result, eleven Southern states made the decision to secede from the Union and establish the Confederate States of America as their own government.

Causes of the Civil War

Slavery: At the heart of the conflict was slavery. The Southern economy relied heavily on slave labor for its cotton plantations, while the North moved toward industrialization and opposed the expansion of slavery into new territories.

States’ Rights vs. Federal Authority: The Southern states believed in the sovereignty of individual states to govern themselves, including the right to uphold slavery, while the federal government pushed for a unified policy.

Economic Differences: The North and South had developed starkly different economies, industrial versus agrarian, leading to differing interests and priorities.

Political Tensions: More and more people who wanted to end slavery, called abolitionists, gained power, and then Abraham Lincoln was elected president, which worried the Southern states. 

Aftermath and Impact

The Civil War ended in 1865 with the defeat of the Confederacy and the abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment. However, the devastating impact of this war left deep scars: Over 600,000 deaths, making it the deadliest war in American history.

A challenging period of rebuilding the South was the Reconstruction Era, and integrating previously enslaved people into society. Long-lasting racial tensions and regional divisions still influence the United States today.

Key Events During the Civil War

Fort Sumter (1861): The war began when Confederate forces fired on Union troops stationed at Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

Battle of Antietam (1862): Known as the bloodiest single-day battle in American history.

Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Lincoln declared all slaves in Confederate states free, transforming the war into a moral battle against slavery.

Gettysburg (1863): A turning point in the war with a decisive Union victory.

Surrender at Appomattox (1865): Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the war.

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