American Civil War: Causes

• The American Civil War was a major conflict in the United States, lasting from 1861 to 1865.
• It pitted the Union (the North) against the Confederacy (the South), which seceded.
• The central cause of the war was slavery and the differing views on its morality, legality, and expansion.

Causes of the Civil War

• Economic Differences: The North's industrial economy contrasted sharply with the South's agrarian system, reliant on slave labor.
• States' Rights: Southern states argued for the right to decide on the slavery issue themselves, opposing federal intervention.
• Slavery: Moral and political opposition to slavery grew in the North, while the South defended it as vital to their economy and way of life.
• Political Failures: Compromises like the Missouri Compromise and the Compromise of 1850 failed to resolve the issue of slavery's expansion.
• Abolitionism: The rise of abolitionist movements further polarized the nation, heightening tensions over slavery.
• Secession: Following Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860, South Carolina seceded, followed by other Southern states.

Key Battles

• Fort Sumter (April 1861): The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the Civil War.
• First Battle of Bull Run (July 1861): The first major land battle, resulting in a Confederate victory and demonstrating the war's potential length and difficulty.
• Battle of Antietam (September 1862): The single bloodiest day in American history, it ended in a tactical draw but led to Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
• Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863): A major turning point in the war, resulting in a Union victory and marking the Confederacy's furthest advance north.
• Siege of Vicksburg (May-July 1863): The Union's capture of Vicksburg gave them control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy.
• Sherman's March to the Sea (November-December 1864): Union General William T. Sherman's destructive march through Georgia, aimed at crippling the Confederacy's infrastructure and morale.
• Appomattox Court House (April 1865): The site of General Robert E. Lee's surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant, effectively ending the Civil War.

Impact on Society

• Loss of Life: The Civil War resulted in over 620,000 deaths, making it the deadliest conflict in American history.
• Economic Changes: The war stimulated industrial growth in the North while devastating the Southern economy.
• Political Transformation: The war led to the end of slavery and strengthened the power of the federal government.
• Social Upheaval: The war profoundly altered race relations and social structures, particularly in the South.
• Technological Advancements: The war spurred innovations in weaponry, transportation, and medicine.

Emancipation and Slavery

• Slavery as a Central Issue: Slavery was the fundamental cause of the Civil War, dividing the nation along moral, economic, and political lines.
• Emancipation Proclamation (1863): Issued by President Lincoln, it declared the freedom of slaves in Confederate-held territory, weakening the Confederacy and boosting the Union cause.
• 13th Amendment (1865): Officially abolished slavery in the entire United States, ensuring its permanent end.
• Impact on African Americans: The end of slavery offered new opportunities for African Americans, but they still faced significant challenges, including discrimination and poverty.
• Resistance to Slavery: Enslaved people resisted slavery through various means, including escape, rebellion, and everyday acts of defiance.

Reconstruction Era

• Definition: The period after the Civil War (1865-1877) focused on rebuilding the South and reintegrating it into the Union.
• Presidential Reconstruction: Lincoln and Johnson favored a lenient approach to Reconstruction, prioritizing reconciliation and quick reintegration of the South.
• Radical Reconstruction: Congress took a stricter approach, aiming to protect the rights of African Americans and punish the South for secession.
• Key Legislation: The Reconstruction Acts divided the South into military districts, required Southern states to ratify the 14th Amendment, and enfranchised African American men.
• 14th Amendment (1868): Granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including former slaves, and guaranteed equal protection under the law.
• 15th Amendment (1870): Prohibited denying the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.
• Challenges to Reconstruction: Southern resistance, political corruption, and economic hardship hampered Reconstruction efforts.
• End of Reconstruction: Reconstruction ended with the Compromise of 1877, which withdrew federal troops from the South and effectively restored white supremacy.
• Legacy of Reconstruction: Reconstruction achieved some success in rebuilding the South and protecting African American rights, but many of its goals remained unfulfilled, leaving a legacy of racial inequality and political division.