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Civil War The Phrase “civil war” means a war that takes place within a country,between citizens of that country.There are civial wars happening today in different parts of the world, in different countries around the world. The American Civil War was not the first to happen in the world. England and other nations had already had them and unfortunatly these will not be the last.
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My God, what misery this dreadful war has produced, and how it comes home to the doors of almost every one!
- George Meade in a letter to his wife, April 13,1865
In April 1861 ,the American Civil War began. It lasted from 1861-1865, triggered by the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Lincoln wanted to end slavery and keep the Union together.
The conflict between the North (the Yankees,Union States) and the South (the Rebels,Confederate States) started because of their different ways of living. The North wanted the South to give up their farms, build factories, and abolish slavery. Congress treated the slaves as personal property and would not take away rights of ownership. Thus, America began the conflict that would tear a nation apart.
Four long years later,the war that pitted brother against brother was finally finished. In between ,more than 620,000 Americans died,with disease killing twice as many as those in battle. About 50,00 survivors returned home as amputees. More than 4 million slaves gained their freedom.The United States lost a president,was torn in two, and was finally put back together again. Most of the battles took place in the South and the recovery from the destruction took many years.This is the story of the American Civial war.
North
South
Economic
Differencesfactories, favored taxes that protected them from foreign competition
large plantations, opposed taxes that would raise prices and hurt sales to New England states
money not plentiful, but developing
prospered from farming tobacco & cotton
Cultural Differences
freedom for slaves
depended on slavery
urban society, people held jobs
lived in small villages and on farms
Constitutional Differences
Strong central government, wanted the nation to stay together
State's rights important (secession)
Influential People of the Civil War Abraham Lincoln
President of the U.S.
Opposed slavery (Emancipation Proclamation)
Believe the U.S. was one nation, not individual statesJefferson Davis
President of the Confederate StatesUlysses S. Grant
General of the Union army that defeated General Robert E. LeeRobert E. Lee
Leader of the Army in Northern Virginia
Offered the Union command, but chose not to fight against Virginia
Opposed secession, but didn't want to force unity
Urged Southerners to accept defeat and reuniteFrederick Douglass
Former slave who escaped to the North and became an abolitionistThomas "Stonewall" Jackson
One of the most skilled Confederate generals, from Virginia