which statement best explains why the civil war continued after the confederate surrender at the appomattox court house
The civil war continued after the Confederate surrender at the Appomattox Court House due to several reasons:
1. Resistance from Confederate holdouts: Not all Confederate troops were present at the Appomattox Court House, and some units continued to fight even after the official surrender. These holdouts, known as "bushwhackers" or "guerillas," aimed to disrupt the peace and destabilize the post-war reconstruction efforts.
2. Disagreements over the terms of surrender: While General Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, not all Confederate leaders were willing to accept the conditions laid out by Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Some Confederate commanders and politicians believed that they could negotiate better terms or continue the fight on different terms, leading to further conflicts.
3. Outlaw bands and violence: The post-war years were marked by a rise in violence, particularly in the southern states. Outlaw bands, often consisting of former Confederate soldiers, engaged in criminal activities and targeted freed slaves, undermining the peace and causing localized conflicts.
4. Political and social tensions: The end of the Civil War did not resolve the deep-rooted political and social divisions that led to the conflict in the first place. Tensions regarding race, rights, and Reconstruction policies persisted, leading to ongoing strife and antagonism between different groups.
Overall, a combination of factors such as holdouts, disagreements over surrender terms, violence by outlaw bands, and deep-seated political and social tensions contributed to the continuation of conflict after the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House.