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The Outbreak of the American Civil War

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The American Civil War, from 1861 to 1865, was a defining conflict in U.S. history, sparked by disputes over slavery and state rights. Key developments included the Anaconda Plan, Emancipation Proclamation, and major battles that led to the Confederacy's defeat. The war's aftermath brought Reconstruction and the abolition of slavery, setting the stage for future civil rights advancements.

The Outbreak of the American Civil War

The American Civil War, a pivotal event in the history of the United States, spanned from April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired upon Fort Sumter, to April 9, 1865, with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House, although the last battle occurred later, on May 13, 1865. The war was fought between the Union, which consisted of the federal government and twenty-three states that remained loyal, and the Confederacy, formed by eleven Southern states that seceded. The primary cause of the conflict was the disagreement over the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories, which threatened to alter the balance of power between slave and free states. The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who opposed the expansion of slavery, was the final catalyst that led to secession by Southern states, setting the stage for the Civil War.
Civil War battlefield with cannon and cannonballs in foreground, fallen soldiers and dead horse on brown ground and trampled grass, background of trees and smoke.

The Course of the War and Key Developments

The American Civil War featured significant battles and campaigns across various theaters, with notable action in both the Eastern and Western Theaters. The Union's strategy, known as the Anaconda Plan, aimed to suffocate the Confederacy by blockading Southern ports and controlling the Mississippi River. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863, redefined the war's purpose by proclaiming the freedom of slaves within the Confederacy, although it did not immediately free all slaves. Key military engagements included the Union's naval blockade, the capture of key Confederate cities such as New Orleans, and the division of the Confederacy after the Union victory at Vicksburg. The appointment of General Ulysses S. Grant as the commander of all Union armies in 1864 marked a strategic shift, leading to a series of decisive victories, culminating in General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the Sea and the eventual surrender of the Confederate forces, effectively ending the war.

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00

Civil War end date and event

April 9, 1865, Lee's surrender at Appomattox

01

Union vs. Confederacy composition

Union: federal government, 23 loyal states; Confederacy: 11 seceded Southern states

02

1860 election impact on Civil War

Lincoln's anti-slavery stance prompted Southern secession, igniting war

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