The American Civil War(1861-1865), in the United States
often referred to as simply the Civil War and sometimes called the “War Between
the States”, was a civil war fought over the secession of the Confederate
States. Eleven southern slave states declared their secession from the United
States and formed the Confederate States of America (“the Confederacy”), the
other 25 states supported the federal government (“the Union”). After four
years of warfare, mostly within the Southern states, the Confederacy
surrendered and slavery was abolished everywhere in the nation.
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| The American Civil War on 1861-1865 |
Hostilities began on April 12,1861, when Confederate forces
fired on a U.S. military installation at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Lincoln
responded by calling for a volunteer army from each state to recapture federal
property, which led to declarations of secession by four more slave states. In
September 1862, the Confederate campaign in Maryland ended in defeat at the
Battle of Antietam, which dissuaded the British from intervening. Days after
that battle, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which made ending
slavery a war goal.
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| The American Civil War on April 12,1861 |
In
September 1862, the Confederate campaign in Maryland ended in defeat at the
Battle of Antietam, which dissuaded the British from intervening. Days after
that battle, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which made ending
slavery a war goal.
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| The Battle of Antietam on September 1862 |
In 1863, Confederate general Robert E. Lee’s northward
advance ended in defeat at the Battle of Gettysburg.
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| The Battle of Gettysburg on 1863 |
To the west, the Union
gained control of the Mississippi River after the Battle of Shiloh (April 1862)
and Siege of Vicksburg, Splitting the Confederacy in two and destroying much of
their western army. Due to his western successes, Ulysses S. Grant was given
command of all Union armies in 1864, and organized the armies of William
Tecumseh Sherman, George Meade and others to attack the Confederacy from all
directions, increasing the North’s advantage in manpower.
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| The Battle on 1864 |
When the Confederate
attempt to defend Petersburg failed, the Confederate army retreated but was
pursued and defeated, which resulted in Lee’s surrender to Grant at Appomattox
Court House on April 9,1865.
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| The Battle Petersburg on 1865 |
