the war (1861-1865) fought between the United States and the Confederacy, the 11 southern states that had seceded from the Union.
The Civil War, also known as the War Between the States, was a bloody and devastating conflict that resulted in over 600,000 deaths and left much of the southern United States in ruins. The primary cause of the war was the issue of slavery, which deeply divided the nation and ultimately led to the secession of the southern states.
The Confederacy, led by President Jefferson Davis, sought to preserve slavery and the plantation-based economy of the South. The Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln, sought to preserve the Union and eventually abolish slavery. The war began in April 1861 with the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter in South Carolina and lasted for four years until the surrender of the Confederacy in April 1865.
The Civil War had a profound impact on American society and politics, leading to the abolition of slavery with the passage of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. It also led to the centralization of power in the federal government and the strengthening of the Union. The war remains a significant chapter in American history and continues to shape the nation to this day.