The Civil War was fought between 1861 and 1865, and it was one of the bloodiest wars in American history. The causes of the Civil War are still debated today.
The Union victory solidified its status as one nation, but it did not end slavery in the United States. The South remained segregated during Reconstruction (1865-1877).
Slavery was an important reason for the Civil War because it was a major source of disagreement between the North and South. At the time of the Civil War, most people in the South owned slaves or had family members who did. Slaves were valuable property, but they also represented a large investment. The South believed that if slavery was abolished, then their entire way of life would be destroyed.
Another important issue during this time period was state’s rights. States’ rights refers to a person’s right to govern themselves without outside interference from a higher government body such as the federal government or another state government.
The election of Abraham Lincoln was viewed by many Southerners as an attempt by the North to force their will upon them and take away their freedoms as citizens of their own states.
