Let's dive in the subject of the civil war for a bit shall we ?
Written by Aline
Note
This is a heavily summed up version, to get a more in depth look, please check websites such as Wikipedia
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 — May 26, 1865) was a war that divided the United States, with on one side the Union (Also known as “the north”) and the Confederacy (Also known as “the South”)
The war originated from a dispute over whether slavery should spread Westward (therefore making more slave states) or in the contrary be contained to the current states. (Many believed that by doing so, it would set slavery on the path of complete extinction)
It all started when 7 southern States seceded from the Union after Lincoln's victory. Lincoln was against the expansion of slavery, when the 7 states were for.
Those 7 states became the Confederacy and they started seizing the US forts on their territories.
The war officially began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate troops fired on a South Carolina Fort.
States had to choose their sides, Kentucky declared it’s neutrality and 4 more seceded to join the Confederacy, led by Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
During 1861–1862, the Union made significant permanent gains in the west — Though the war on the East was more volatile.
The abolition of slavery became a Union war goal on January 1, 1863, when Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all slaves in rebel states to be free, which applied to more than 3.5 million of the 4 million enslaved people in the country.
Western successes led to General Ulysses S. Grant’s command of all Union armies in 1864.
The Union marshalled resources and manpower to attack the Confederacy from all directions
This led to the fall of Atlanta in 1864 followed by the March to the Sea.
The last significant battles occurred around the ten-month Siege of Petersburg, gateway to the Confederate capital of Richmond.
The Confederates abandoned Richmond, and on April 9, 1865, Lee surrendered, setting in motion the end of the war.
Lincoln lived to see this victory but on April 14, he was assassinated (part of a conspiracy to take down the 3 most influential members of the union).
Blue: Union
Light Blue: Union States that permitted slavery
Red: Confederation
Death and casualties:
Union
Confederation
Label
110,000+
94,000+
Killed in action
230,000+
164,000+
accident/disease
25,000–30,000
26,000–31,000
Confederate/union prisons
365,000+
290,000+
total dead
282,000+
137,000+
wounded
181,193
436,658
captured
828,000+
864,000+
total casualties
50,000 free civilians dead
80,000+ slaves dead (disease)\
Blue: Union