Summary
The civil war was the war fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865, and faced the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South) because of the strong disagreements between them. The civil war is remembered as the bloodiest in U.S History.
Union
thousands of casualties and losses
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Confederacy
thousands of casualties and losses
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Causes of the war
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Slavery
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Sectionalism
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Protectionism
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States' rights
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The south needed slavery because the South’s economy was based on a system of large-scale farming that depended on the labor of black slaves to grow certain crops, especially cotton and tobacco. The North that didn’t need slavery because of the fact that their economy was based in manufacturing and industry wanted to abolish it.
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During the war
1861
On April 12, after Lincoln ordered a fleet to resupply Sumter, Confederate artillery fired the first shots of the Civil War. Four more southern states; Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee; joined the Confederacy after that. In the First Battle of Bull Run on July 21, 1861, 35,000 Confederate soldiers under the command of Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson forced a greater number of Union forces to retreat towards Washington, D.C., dashing any hopes of a quick Union victory and leading Lincoln to call for 500,000 more recruits, after that it became clear that the war would not be a limited or short conflict.
1862
On August 29, Union troops led by John Pope struck Jackson’s forces in the Second Battle of Bull Run. The next day, Lee hit the Federal left flank with a massive assault, driving Pope’s men back towards Washington.
On the heels of his victory at Manassas, Lee began the first Confederate invasion of the North. McClellan was able to reorganize his army and strike at Lee on September 14 in Maryland, driving the Confederates back to a defensive position along Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg.
On September 17, the Army of the Potomac hit Lee’s forces in what became the war’s bloodiest single day of fighting. The Union win at Antietam would prove decisive, as it halted the Confederate advance in Maryland and forced Lee to retreat into Virginia.
On the heels of his victory at Manassas, Lee began the first Confederate invasion of the North. McClellan was able to reorganize his army and strike at Lee on September 14 in Maryland, driving the Confederates back to a defensive position along Antietam Creek, near Sharpsburg.
On September 17, the Army of the Potomac hit Lee’s forces in what became the war’s bloodiest single day of fighting. The Union win at Antietam would prove decisive, as it halted the Confederate advance in Maryland and forced Lee to retreat into Virginia.
1863-1864
Lincoln had used the occasion of the Union victory at Antietam to issue a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in the rebellious states after January 1, 1863. Still, the Emancipation Proclamation deprived the Confederacy of the bulk of its labor forces and put international public opinion strongly on the Union side. Some 186,000 black soldiers would join the Union Army by the time the war ended in 1865.
In the spring of 1863, Hooker’s plans for a Union offensive were thwarted by a surprise attack by the bulk of Lee’s forces on May 1, whereupon Hooker pulled his men back to Chancellorsville. The Confederates gained a costly victory in the battle.
Lee launched another invasion of the North in early June, attacking Union forces commanded by General George Meade on July 1 near Gettysburg, in southern Pennsylvania. Over three days of fierce fighting, the Confederates were unable to push through the Union center. Lee’s remaining forces were able to escape into Virginia.
In July 1863, Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant took Vicksburg (Mississippi), a victory that would prove to be the turning point of the war.
In the spring of 1863, Hooker’s plans for a Union offensive were thwarted by a surprise attack by the bulk of Lee’s forces on May 1, whereupon Hooker pulled his men back to Chancellorsville. The Confederates gained a costly victory in the battle.
Lee launched another invasion of the North in early June, attacking Union forces commanded by General George Meade on July 1 near Gettysburg, in southern Pennsylvania. Over three days of fierce fighting, the Confederates were unable to push through the Union center. Lee’s remaining forces were able to escape into Virginia.
In July 1863, Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant took Vicksburg (Mississippi), a victory that would prove to be the turning point of the war.
1864-1865
The Union started to advance and to make pressure on the Confederacy, winning multiple battles.
Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9. On the eve of victory, the Union lost its great leader: The actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln at Ford’s Theater in Washington on April 14.
Sherman received Johnston’s surrender at Durham Station, North Carolina on April 26, effectively ending the Civil War.
Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House on April 9. On the eve of victory, the Union lost its great leader: The actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln at Ford’s Theater in Washington on April 14.
Sherman received Johnston’s surrender at Durham Station, North Carolina on April 26, effectively ending the Civil War.
After the war
The result of the Civil War was the decisive defeat of the Confederate States of America, and their eventual resumption of their status in the United States. The time period directly after the Civil War was known as the Reconstruction, a time marked by turmoil, violence and a lot of conflict and controversy. The Reconstruction Era was not a peaceful time; there were a large number of people that tried to take advantage of the weakened South.
The biggest result was the end to Slavery. The 13th Amendment called for the abolishment of Slavery, and it was in support of President Lincoln’s Emancipation proclamation.
In addition, the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution were also passed by Congress and ratified by states, becoming law.
The biggest result was the end to Slavery. The 13th Amendment called for the abolishment of Slavery, and it was in support of President Lincoln’s Emancipation proclamation.
In addition, the 14th and 15th Amendments to the Constitution were also passed by Congress and ratified by states, becoming law.