The Civil War (United States)

The U.S. Civil War (1861-1865) was a conflict between the Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) primarily over slavery and states' rights. Tensions grew as the South wanted to maintain slavery for their agrarian economy, while the North, increasingly anti-slavery, sought to preserve the Union. Key events include battles like Gettysburg and Sherman's March. The war resulted in significant loss of life and property. It ended with the defeat of the Confederacy, leading to the abolition of slavery and significant social and political changes during the Reconstruction era that followed.