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The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), which was formed in 1861 by states that had seceded from the Union.
- United States, Atlantic Ocean
- Causes of The Civil War
- Outbreak of The Civil War
- The Civil War in Virginia
- After The Emancipation Proclamation
- Toward A Union Victory
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In the mid-19th century, while the United States was experiencing an era of tremendous growth, a fundamental economic difference existed between the country’s northern and southern regions. In the North, manufacturing and industry was well established, and agriculture was mostly limited to small-scale farms, while the South’s economy was based on a...
Even as Lincoln took office in March 1861, Confederate forces threatened the federal-held Fort Sumterin Charleston, South Carolina. On April 12, after Lincoln ordered a fleet to resupply Sumter, Confederate artillery fired the first shots of the Civil War. Sumter’s commander, Major Robert Anderson, surrendered after less than two days of bombardmen...
George B. McClellan—who replaced the aging General Winfield Scott as supreme commander of the Union Army after the first months of the war—was beloved by his troops, but his reluctance to advance frustrated Lincoln. In the spring of 1862, McClellan finally led his Army of the Potomac up the peninsula between the York and James Rivers, capturing Yor...
Lincoln had used the occasion of the Union victory at Antietam to issue a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all enslaved people in the rebellious states after January 1, 1863. He justified his decision as a wartime measure, and did not go so far as to free the enslaved people in the border states loyal to the Union. Still, the Eman...
In March 1864, Lincoln put Grant in supreme command of the Union armies, replacing Halleck. Leaving William Tecumseh Sherman in control in the West, Grant headed to Washington, where he led the Army of the Potomac towards Lee’s troops in northern Virginia. Despite heavy Union casualties in the Battle of the Wildernessand at Spotsylvania (both May 1...
Learn about the Civil War in the United States, which began in 1861 over slavery, states' rights and westward expansion. Explore the causes, dates, battles and outcomes of the war that divided the nation and cost 620,000 lives.
4 days ago · American Civil War, four-year war (1861–65) fought between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded to form the Confederate States of America. It arose out of disputes over slavery and states’ rights.
- The American Civil War was the culmination of the struggle between the advocates and opponents of slavery that dated from the founding of the Unite...
- The Union won the American Civil War. The war effectively ended in April 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Unio...
- It is estimated that from 752,000 to 851,000 soldiers died during the American Civil War. This figure represents approximately 2 percent of the Ame...
- Important people during the American Civil War included Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, whose election prompted the seces...
- The modern usage of Confederate symbols, especially the Confederate Battle Flag and statues of Confederate leaders, is considered controversial bec...
Nov 20, 2008 · Learn how the Civil War of 1861-1865 resolved the fundamental questions of the nation's identity and future. Explore the major battles, events, and outcomes of the war that divided and reunited the country.
Nov 12, 2013 · Learn the basic facts about the Civil War, the conflict that shaped the United States as we know it today. Find out about the causes, the leaders, the battles, and the consequences of the war that divided the nation.
Explore the causes, dates and battles of the American Civil War, the bloodiest and most divisive conflict in U.S. history. Watch videos, read stories and see photos of the war and its legacy.
The American Civil War was a four-year war (1861–65) between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America. Facts. Top Questions. What caused the American Civil War?
