The American Civil War (1861–1865) was primarily about the long-standing conflict over slavery and the political power between Northern and Southern states. The war was fought between the United States (the Union) and eleven Southern states that seceded to form the Confederate States of America. These Southern states wanted to maintain and expand slavery, which was integral to their economy and social system, especially on plantations growing cotton and tobacco. In contrast, the Northern states opposed the expansion of slavery into new western territories and sought to preserve the Union
. The immediate trigger was the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, who was opposed to the spread of slavery. His election prompted the Southern states to secede, fearing that the federal government would eventually abolish slavery altogether
. The war began when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in April 1861
. Beyond slavery, the war also addressed whether the United States would remain a single, indivisible nation or become a loose confederation of sovereign states. The Northern victory preserved the Union and led to the abolition of slavery nationwide with the 13th Amendment in 1865
. In summary, the Civil War was fought over:
- The institution of slavery and its expansion into new territories
- The political power struggle between free and slave states
- The question of national unity versus states' rights and secession
The war resulted in about 625,000 deaths, emancipation of four million enslaved people, and fundamental changes in the relationship between states and the federal government
