The Civil War

The Civil War, fought from 1861 to 1865, was a pivotal conflict in American history that arose primarily from tensions surrounding slavery and states' rights. The war pitted the Northern states, known as the Union, against the Southern states, which seceded from the Union to form the Confederacy.

Key battles, such as Gettysburg and Antietam, highlighted the war's brutality and the high costs of conflict. The Civil War ultimately culminated in the Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln, which declared the freedom of all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory and set the stage for the abolition of slavery in the United States.