American Civil War

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"). The Confederacy was formed in 1861 by states that had seceded from the Union to preserve slavery in the United States. This happened mainly because of the election of Abraham Lincoln, who opposed slavery's expansion. The war lasted a little over four years and ended with the Union winning, the Confederacy dissolving, and slavery being abolished, which freed four million African Americans.

The conflict began when the Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina on April 12, 1861. Both sides were eager to fight, and many people joined up to fight for their cause. The war included many important battles and events, such as the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, which declared slaves in rebel states free, and major battles like the Battle of Gettysburg. The war ended when Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union general Ulysses S. Grant at the Battle of Appomattox Court House in April 1865.

The Civil War changed America forever. It led to the end of slavery and the beginning of a period called the Reconstruction era, where the country tried to heal and bring the Southern states back into the United States. The war was also notable for using new technologies like railroads, the electrical telegraph, steamships, the ironclad warship, and mass-produced weapons. It was the deadliest war in American history, with about 700,000 soldiers losing their lives.

Origins

Main article: Origins of the American Civil War

Further information: Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War, Slave states and free states, Slavery in the United States, and Abolitionism in the United States

The American Civil War began because some Southern states wanted to keep slavery, which they saw as very important. When Abraham Lincoln, who did not want slavery to grow, was elected president in 1860, several Southern states decided to leave the United States. They were afraid Lincoln would stop slavery from spreading.

Lincoln’s election was a key moment. The Southern states believed Lincoln would limit slavery, and they felt this threatened their way of life. Though Lincoln was not president yet, the South used this time to get ready for war. The North wanted to keep the country together, and they did not accept the South’s decision to leave. This disagreement over slavery and whether states could leave the United States led to the Civil War.

Outbreak of the war

Secession crisis

Main article: Ordinance of Secession

Abraham Lincoln’s election as president in 1860 caused several Southern states to leave the United States. They felt that Lincoln, who opposed the spread of slavery, threatened their way of life. South Carolina was the first to secede on December 20, 1860, followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. These states formed the Confederate States of America in February 1861. They believed that slavery was their right and that Northern states were not supporting laws to protect slave owners.

Battle of Fort Sumter

Main article: Battle of Fort Sumter

See also: Proclamation 80

The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The fort had been a point of tension for months. Lincoln decided to try to supply the fort with food but no weapons. When Confederate forces saw this, they opened fire. After a day of bombing, the fort surrendered. This attack united many Northerners in support of the Union cause, and Lincoln called for volunteers to fight for the United States.

Attitude of the border states

Main article: Border states (American Civil War)

Some states, known as the border states, had slavery but did not join the Confederacy. These included Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, and Kentucky. They were important because they were split in their loyalties. Maryland, close to Washington, D.C., was kept in the Union by Lincoln, who used strong measures to prevent it from joining the Confederacy. Missouri had battles between Union and Confederate forces. Kentucky tried to stay neutral but was drawn into the war when Confederate troops entered. West Virginia was formed from part of Virginia after Virginians who supported the Union created a new state, which joined the United States in 1863.

War

See also: List of American Civil War battles and Military leadership in the American Civil War

The Civil War had many intense and frequent battles. Over four years, 237 named battles were fought, along with many smaller actions. The war was very fierce, with high numbers of soldiers fighting on both sides.

Mobilization

See also: Economic history of the American Civil War

Both the Union and the Confederacy needed more soldiers. The Union started with 16,000 soldiers, and the Confederacy authorized up to 100,000 troops. By May, both sides were asking for more soldiers. In the first year, there were more volunteers than they could train and equip. Later, both sides used draft laws to get more soldiers. The Confederacy passed a draft law in April 1862 for men aged 18 to 35, with some exemptions. The Union followed in July. Many immigrants joined the Union Army, including large numbers from Germany and Ireland. Some Canadians also served.

Southern Unionists

Main article: Southern Unionist

In some areas of the Confederacy, people still supported the Union. As many as 100,000 men in Confederate-controlled states served in the Union Army or pro-Union groups.

Prisoners

At the start of the war, captured soldiers were held in camps run by their own army. This system broke down in 1863 when the Confederacy refused to exchange black prisoners. After that, many prisoners died in these camps.

Women

See also: Women in the military § United States, and Gender issues in the American Civil War

Women served in many roles during the war. Some disguised themselves as men to fight. Others worked as spies, nurses, and in hospitals. Mary Edwards Walker, the only woman to receive the Medal of Honor, served in the Union Army caring for the wounded.

Union

Women in the North supported the war effort in many ways. They made supplies for soldiers, held rallies, and helped in workplaces that men left. They sewed uniforms and knitted socks, helping to keep the army supplied.

Confederate

Confederate women had to manage plantations and farms with many men away at war. They kept the economy going and tried to keep morale high, even though life was very hard.

Union Navy

Main article: Union Navy

The Union Navy grew quickly from a small force to a large one with thousands of sailors and many ships. Its job was to block Confederate ports, control rivers, and defend against Confederate ships. The Navy fought in rivers in the West and along the coast, helping the Union Army.

Union blockade

Main article: Union blockade

The Union tried to block Confederate ports to stop supplies from reaching the South. This blockade hurt the Southern economy very much. The South tried to get supplies by using fast ships called blockade runners, but this was not enough to save their economy.

Blockade runners

Main article: Blockade runners of the American Civil War

The Confederacy used fast ships to bring in supplies from foreign countries, but the Union Navy tried to stop them. These ships were risky and could be taken by the Union.

Diplomacy

Main article: Diplomacy of the American Civil War

Further information: United Kingdom and the American Civil War and France and the American Civil War

The Confederacy hoped that Britain and France would support them, but the Union worked to stop this. The Union emphasized the fight against slavery to gain support in Europe. Diplomacy was important in keeping Europe from supporting the Confederacy.

Eastern theater

Main article: Eastern theater of the American Civil War

The Eastern theater of the American Civil War included military actions east of the Appalachian Mountains, covering places like Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and coastal areas of North Carolina. Two main armies were involved: the Union's Army of the Potomac and the Confederacy's Army of Northern Virginia.

Key battles shaped the conflict. Early fighting at Philippi, West Virginia, marked the war's first land battle. The First Battle of Bull Run saw the Union initially advance but then be pushed back by Confederate reinforcements. Later, General George McClellan led Union forces toward Richmond, Virginia, but was stopped by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Important battles such as the Battle of Antietam, the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg turned the tide, with Gettysburg being a major Union victory that halted Lee's second invasion of the North.

Western theater

Main article: Western theater of the American Civil War

The Western theater of the American Civil War included areas between the Appalachian Mountains and the Mississippi River. Important states and regions involved were Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, and parts of Louisiana.

Key Union armies in this area were the Army of the Tennessee and the Army of the Cumberland. One of the most important Union leaders was Ulysses S. Grant, who won several major battles. These included victories at Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, which helped the Union gain control of important rivers. The Union also captured cities like New Orleans and Memphis, which were important for moving troops and supplies. The capture of Vicksburg, Mississippi was a major turning point, giving the Union control of the entire Mississippi River.

Trans-Mississippi theater

Main article: Trans-Mississippi theater of the American Civil War

The Trans-Mississippi theater was the part of the American Civil War that happened west of the Mississippi River. It included places like most of Missouri, Arkansas, parts of Louisiana, and the Indian Territory which is now Oklahoma. Both the Union and the Confederacy had their own military leaders and troops here.

One of the first big battles here was the Battle of Wilson's Creek in August 1861. There was also a lot of guerrilla warfare, where small groups of fighters attacked both military and civilian targets. These attacks made it hard for the Confederacy to control the area, but they continued until Union forces could stop them. Important battles also happened in Indian Territory and the New Mexico Territory, like the Battle of Glorieta Pass. Even after big Confederate cities like Vicksburg fell, Texas stayed under Confederate control until the end of the war.

Lower seaboard theater

Main article: Lower seaboard theater of the American Civil War

The lower seaboard theater involved military and naval operations near the coasts of the Southeast and the southern part of the Mississippi River. One of the earliest battles took place in November 1861 at Port Royal Sound, where Union forces aimed to capture Charleston, South Carolina. Though the Union faced strong resistance, the bravery of soldiers like those in the 54th Massachusetts Infantry helped encourage more African American soldiers to join the Union Army.

Union forces also targeted Fort Pulaski in Georgia and the forts guarding New Orleans in Louisiana. After capturing these locations, Union control over the Mississippi River grew, which was important for the Union's strategy in the war. There were smaller skirmishes in Florida, with the Battle of Olustee being the largest.

Pacific coast theater

Main article: Pacific coast theater of the American Civil War

The Pacific coast theater was the part of the American Civil War that happened on the Pacific Ocean and in places west of the Continental Divide. This area included several states and territories, and it was one of the many places where soldiers fought during the war.

Conquest of Virginia

Grant became the leader of all Union armies in 1864 and worked with other generals to attack the Confederacy from many directions. His plan included moving against the Confederate army near Richmond, capturing important cities, and cutting off supply lines.

Grant's army faced tough battles but kept pushing forward. Meanwhile, General Sherman marched through Georgia and the Carolinas, destroying farms and railroads to weaken the Confederacy. These efforts helped bring the war to an end.

Main articles: Sherman's March to the Sea and Carolinas campaign

End of the war

Main article: Conclusion of the American Civil War

The American Civil War ended in April 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House. This marked the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.

Over the next few months, other Confederate forces surrendered across the South. By June 1865, most of the Confederate army had laid down their weapons. The last Confederate general surrendered in June, and on June 19, 1865, Union forces announced that all slaves in Texas were free, a day now celebrated as Juneteenth. The war officially ended in August 1866 when the U.S. government declared peace restored across the entire country.

Union victory

The American Civil War ended with a victory for the Union, leading to the end of the Confederacy and the abolition of slavery. Historians discuss whether the Confederacy could have won, with many believing the Union's larger population and resources made its victory more likely. The Confederacy hoped to win by enduring long enough to make the war too costly for the North, but after key battles and political changes, support for the Union grew stronger.

Important factors in the Union's success included President Abraham Lincoln's leadership, the effective use of his war powers, and the Union's strong industrial and economic advantages. The Confederacy struggled to gain support from European countries, which limited their ability to challenge the Union effectively. The Union's victory helped strengthen democratic government and changed the course of history by ending slavery.

Casualties

The American Civil War had a very high number of casualties. Many soldiers died from disease, and some were injured in battles. The exact number of deaths is hard to know because records were not always kept well. Estimates suggest that around 700,000 soldiers died during the war.

Many soldiers suffered from diseases, and some lost limbs. The war also affected the lives of many African Americans who joined the Union Army, and they faced higher death rates than white soldiers. The use of new weapons and tactics led to many battlefield deaths, and soldiers often had to fight from trenches to stay safe.

Emancipation

Abolishing slavery was not a goal of the Union at the start of the American Civil War. The main goal was to keep the United States together. However, as the war continued, it became clear that ending slavery was very important. President Abraham Lincoln finally made ending slavery an official war goal with the Emancipation Proclamation.

The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the states that had left the Union. It allowed African Americans to join the Union Army, which helped the Union win the war. The Proclamation did not free slaves in border states that stayed with the Union, but it was a strong symbol of the Union's commitment to ending slavery.

Reconstruction

Main article: Reconstruction era

The Civil War caused great damage to the Southern United States. It destroyed much of the South's wealth and left many banks and railroads bankrupt. After the war, the nation faced big questions about how to bring the South back into the United States.

Reconstruction was the period after the war when the country worked to rebuild and make new rules. Important changes included three new amendments to the U.S. Constitution. These amendments outlawed slavery, guaranteed citizenship to former slaves, and protected voting rights no matter what race a person was. This helped ensure that the goals of the war—like ending slavery and keeping the country united—were met.

Memory and historiography

The American Civil War remains a very important event in American history. People have created many statues, books, and memorials to remember it. They think about many topics, such as the lives of soldiers, the lessons of the war, and its effect on democracy and rights.

Historians study the causes and events of the war. They write about leaders from both sides and share their stories with the world. The name of the war has also been debated, with different groups using various terms to describe it.

Lost Cause

Main article: Lost Cause of the Confederacy

After the war, some people in the South created an idea called the "Lost Cause." This idea said that the Southern cause was noble and heroic. It shaped how many people thought about the South and race for many years.

Battlefield preservation

Efforts to preserve battlefields began during the war itself. The government later created parks to protect important battle sites. Today, groups work to keep these places safe so people can visit and learn about history.

Commemoration

Main article: Commemoration of the American Civil War

See also: Commemoration of the American Civil War on postage stamps

People have remembered the Civil War in many ways, including reenactments, statues, films, and special stamps and coins. Famous movies and TV shows have helped shape how many people think about the war.

Technological significance

Technological changes during the war changed science and warfare. New inventions like trains, telegraphs, and repeating firearms changed how battles were fought and how people lived. The war also saw the first use of balloons for spying and ironclad ships in naval battles.

In works of culture and art

The American Civil War has inspired many books, movies, songs, and games. Famous books include Gone with the Wind and The Red Badge of Courage. Popular movies such as Gone with the Wind and Lincoln tell stories from the war. Well-known songs like Battle Cry of Freedom and Dixie come from this time. Video games like Sid Meier's Gettysburg! let players experience parts of the conflict.