The American Civil War (1861–1865)
The American Civil War was a defining conflict in U.S. history, fought between the Union
(North) and the Confederacy (South). The war stemmed from deep-seated differences over
slavery, states' rights, and economic interests. The Civil War resulted in over 600,000 deaths,
devastated the Southern economy, led to the abolition of slavery, and ultimately reshaped the
United States.
1. Causes of the Civil War
1.1 Slavery and the Growing Abolitionist Movement
Slavery was the primary cause of the Civil War. The Southern economy depended on enslaved
labor, while the North was increasingly moving toward industrialization and free labor.
Abolitionists, including Frederick Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and William Lloyd
Garrison, fought to end slavery.
The publication of Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) by Harriet Beecher Stowe exposed the
horrors of slavery and increased anti-slavery sentiment in the North.
The South feared that if slavery was abolished, their economic system would collapse.
1.2 Economic Differences Between North and South
The Northern economy was based on manufacturing, industry, and wage labor, while the
Southern economy relied on large plantations and enslaved labor.
The North supported protective tariffs on foreign goods to protect American industry,
while the South opposed tariffs since they relied on trade with Europe.
The industrializing North did not need slavery, whereas the South depended on cash
crops like cotton, tobacco, and sugar.
1.3 States' Rights vs. Federal Authority
Southern states argued that they had the right to govern themselves without federal
interference.
Many in the South believed the federal government had no right to restrict slavery.
The North, led by President Abraham Lincoln, insisted that the Union must remain
intact and secession was illegal.
1.4 Missouri Compromise (1820) and the Compromise of 1850
Efforts were made to keep the balance between free states and slave states, but these
compromises only delayed the inevitable conflict.
The Missouri Compromise (1820) allowed Missouri to enter as a slave state and Maine
as a free state, keeping the balance in Congress.
The Compromise of 1850 admitted California as a free state but included the Fugitive
Slave Act, which required escaped slaves to be returned to their owners even if they
reached free states. This angered Northerners.
1.5 Kansas-Nebraska Act (1854) and Bleeding Kansas
This law allowed new territories to decide for themselves whether they would permit
slavery, a concept known as popular sovereignty.
This led to violent clashes between pro-slavery and anti-slavery settlers, known as
"Bleeding Kansas", foreshadowing the Civil War.
1.6 Dred Scott Decision (1857)
The Supreme Court ruled that African Americans were not U.S. citizens and had no
rights under the Constitution.
It also declared that Congress had no power to ban slavery in any U.S. territory.
This decision further angered abolitionists and strengthened the divide between North
and South.
1.7 Election of Abraham Lincoln (1860)
Lincoln, a Republican, opposed the expansion of slavery.
His victory in the 1860 presidential election led Southern states to believe their way of
life was threatened.
As a result, South Carolina seceded from the Union in December 1860, followed by
ten other Southern states.
2. Secession and the Start of the War
2.1 Formation of the Confederacy
In 1861, eleven Southern states formed the Confederate States of America (CSA) with
Jefferson Davis as their president.
They believed they had the right to leave the Union and form their own nation.
2.2 Attack on Fort Sumter (April 12, 1861)
The war officially began when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, a Union
military base in South Carolina.
Lincoln called for 75,000 troops to suppress the rebellion.
This led to four more states (Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina)
joining the Confederacy.
3. Major Events of the Civil War (1861–1865)
3.1 First Battle of Bull Run (July 1861)
The first major battle of the war, fought in Virginia.
The Confederates won, proving the war would not be quick or easy.
3.2 Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863)
Issued by President Lincoln, this declared that all enslaved people in the Confederate
states were free.
It shifted the war’s focus from preserving the Union to ending slavery.
African Americans began joining the Union Army in large numbers.
3.3 Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863)
The turning point of the war.
The Union Army defeated General Robert E. Lee, stopping the Confederate invasion
of the North.
Lincoln later delivered the Gettysburg Address, emphasizing democracy and national
unity.
3.4 Sherman’s March to the Sea (1864)
Union General William Tecumseh Sherman led a campaign of total war, destroying
railroads, cities, and infrastructure in the South.
This weakened the Confederacy’s ability to fight.
3.5 Surrender at Appomattox (April 9, 1865)
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at
Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
This effectively ended the war.
4. Consequences of the Civil War
4.1 Abolition of Slavery
The 13th Amendment (1865) officially abolished slavery in the U.S.
4.2 Devastation of the South
The Southern economy collapsed, and cities were destroyed.
Millions of formerly enslaved people were left without homes or jobs.
4.3 Reconstruction (1865–1877)
The U.S. government attempted to rebuild the South and integrate freed African
Americans into society.
The 14th and 15th Amendments granted citizenship and voting rights to African
Americans.
However, racial discrimination persisted through Jim Crow laws and segregation.
4.4 Strengthening of Federal Government
The war ended the debate over whether states could secede.
The federal government became stronger, ensuring that states could not defy national
authority.
5. Legacy of the Civil War
The Civil War preserved the Union and ended slavery, but racial and regional tensions
persisted for decades.
The struggle for civil rights continued well into the 20th century.
The war transformed America, making it a stronger, more unified nation.
Conclusion
The American Civil War remains one of the most significant events in U.S. history. It settled
disputes over slavery and states’ rights, reshaped the economy, and laid the foundation for
modern America. Though the Union was preserved, the effects of the war—especially
regarding race relations—continued to shape the nation for generations.
