American Civil War The American Civil War (1861–1865) was a conflict between the “United States Federal government” (the "Union") led by Abraham Lincoln and 11 Southern states that declared their secession from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America (the “Confederacy”), led by President Jefferson Davis. The Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party, opposed the slavery and rejected any right of secession. The American Civil War (1861–1865) was a conflict between the “United States Federal government” (the "Union") led by Abraham Lincoln and 11 Southern states that declared their secession from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America (the “Confederacy”), led by President Jefferson Davis. The Union, led by President Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party, opposed the slavery and rejected any right of secession.

Attention The South’s economy was mostly based on agriculture with large cotton plantations, where slave labour force was vastly used. And by imposing the abolishment of slavery on the Southern states, the industrialized Northern states were hoping to have a considerably larger and cheaper labour market filled by newly freed slaves from the South.

The capital of the newly established “Confederate States of America” (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina) was Richmond in Virginia with a new president, Jefferson Davis, while the seat of Lincoln and the capital of the 23 Northern states remained Washington D.C. The capital of the newly established “Confederate States of America” (South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina) was Richmond in Virginia with a new president, Jefferson Davis, while the seat of Lincoln and the capital of the 23 Northern states remained Washington D.C. War started on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked a Federal military detachment at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. War started on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked a Federal military detachment at Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

Confederate States of America ( )

During the first year of the American civil conflict, the Union established a naval blockade of the Confederacy’s coastline. During the first year of the American civil conflict, the Union established a naval blockade of the Confederacy’s coastline.Attention This blockade prevented the South to export its main economic output, cotton, to Europe in exchange of much needed importation of armaments from the European powers and mainly from Britain.

Both sides raised large armies. However, the Union remained throughout the war superior in manpower, navy, railway network, financial power, armaments output and technology, and industrial production. The only advantage that the Confederacy had was the superior generalship of their commanders on the field, such as Robert Edward Lee, Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson. Both sides raised large armies. However, the Union remained throughout the war superior in manpower, navy, railway network, financial power, armaments output and technology, and industrial production. The only advantage that the Confederacy had was the superior generalship of their commanders on the field, such as Robert Edward Lee, Thomas Jonathan “Stonewall” Jackson. In 1862 the large, bloody battles began. In September 1862, Lincoln's “Emancipation Proclamation” made the freeing of the slaves a war goal, despite some opposition even in the Union. In 1862 the large, bloody battles began. In September 1862, Lincoln's “Emancipation Proclamation” made the freeing of the slaves a war goal, despite some opposition even in the Union.

In the East, General Lee and his “Army of North Virginia” gained a series of Confederate victories over the “Army of the Potomac”, but his best general, "Stonewall" Jackson, was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May In the East, General Lee and his “Army of North Virginia” gained a series of Confederate victories over the “Army of the Potomac”, but his best general, "Stonewall" Jackson, was killed at the Battle of Chancellorsville in May General Lee's invasion of the North was repulsed at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania in July 1863 with heavy casualties for the South; he barely managed to escape back to Virginia. In the West, the Union Navy captured the port of New Orleans in 1862, and Union general Ulysses S. Grant seized control of the Mississippi River by capturing Vicksburg in July 1863, thus splitting the Confederacy into two parts. General Lee's invasion of the North was repulsed at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania in July 1863 with heavy casualties for the South; he barely managed to escape back to Virginia. In the West, the Union Navy captured the port of New Orleans in 1862, and Union general Ulysses S. Grant seized control of the Mississippi River by capturing Vicksburg in July 1863, thus splitting the Confederacy into two parts.

By 1864, long-term Union advantages in manpower, industry, finance, navy and transportation were overwhelming the Confederacy. By 1864, long-term Union advantages in manpower, industry, finance, navy and transportation were overwhelming the Confederacy. Grant fought a number of bloody battles with Lee in Virginia in the summer of Lee performed brilliantly in most of the battles in a tactical sense but on the whole he lost strategically, as he could not replace his casualties and was forced to retreat into Virginia. Meanwhile, another Union general William Tecumseh Sherman captured Atlanta, Georgia. Grant fought a number of bloody battles with Lee in Virginia in the summer of Lee performed brilliantly in most of the battles in a tactical sense but on the whole he lost strategically, as he could not replace his casualties and was forced to retreat into Virginia. Meanwhile, another Union general William Tecumseh Sherman captured Atlanta, Georgia.

Sherman's “March to the Sea” destroyed much of Georgia and the morale of the war weary South. Sherman's “March to the Sea” destroyed much of Georgia and the morale of the war weary South. In 1865, the Confederacy collapsed after General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia. In 1865, the Confederacy collapsed after General Lee surrendered to General Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.

The full restoration of the “United States of America” was the era known as “Reconstruction”. The full restoration of the “United States of America” was the era known as “Reconstruction”. The Civil War caused about a million casualties, including approximately 620,000 soldiers killed. The Civil War caused about a million casualties, including approximately 620,000 soldiers killed. The causes of the war is subject of much debated controversy even today. The causes of the war is subject of much debated controversy even today.

Attention The main results of the war were the restoration and strengthening of the “Union” which was to be a more and more prominent actor in international relations by the end of the 19th century, and, the end of slavery in the United States.