History
The American Civil War Explained
A concise overview of the American Civil War (1861-1865), a conflict that redefined the United States by ending slavery and preserving the nation.
What is it?
The American Civil War was a four-year conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 between the United States, known as the Union, and 11 Southern states that seceded to form the Confederate States of America. The central cause of the war was the long-standing disagreement over the institution of slavery. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who opposed the expansion of slavery into western territories, prompted seven Southern states to secede. The war began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina.
Why is it trending?
The Civil War remains a central event in the American historical consciousness because it definitively shaped what kind of nation the United States would be. It resolved two fundamental questions left over from the American Revolution: whether the U.S. was a divisible confederation of states or an indivisible nation, and whether it would continue as the world's largest slaveholding country. The war's themes of racial inequality, states' rights, and national identity continue to resonate in contemporary social and political debates, making its study relevant for understanding modern-day issues.
How does it affect people?
The war's impact was profound and lasting. It resulted in the preservation of the Union and the abolition of slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment, fundamentally altering American society. The conflict was the deadliest in American history, with an estimated 620,000 to 750,000 soldier deaths, and it left much of the South in ruins. For people today, its legacy influences discussions on civil rights, federal versus state power, and regional identities. The Reconstruction era that followed the war set the stage for ongoing struggles for racial equality that continue to affect American society.