History
American Civil War (1861–1865) — quick study summary
The American Civil War was fought between the Union (Northern free states) and the Confederacy (eleven Southern slave states that seceded after Lincoln's 1860 election). The core cause was slavery and its westward expansion, intertwined with economic and constitutional disputes over states' rights. Union victory in 1865 preserved the United States as one nation and led to the abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment.
Key points
- Trigger: Lincoln's 1860 election; South Carolina secedes Dec 1860; war begins at Fort Sumter, April 1861
- Underlying cause: slavery's expansion into new western territories (Kansas-Nebraska Act, Dred Scott)
- Turning point: Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863) ends Lee's invasion of the North
- Emancipation Proclamation (Jan 1863) reframed the war as one for freedom
- Sherman's March to the Sea (1864) devastated Confederate supply lines and morale
- Lee surrenders at Appomattox Court House, April 9, 1865; Lincoln assassinated 5 days later
- Reconstruction (1865–1877) followed; 13th, 14th, 15th Amendments abolished slavery and granted citizenship + voting rights
Practice quiz
Click each question to reveal the answer.
1. At which 1861 fort did the Civil War begin?
Answer: Fort Sumter
Confederate forces fired on the Union garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor in April 1861.
2. Which 1863 battle is widely considered the war's turning point?
- First Bull Run
- Antietam
- Gettysburg
- Shiloh
Answer: Gettysburg
Lee's defeat at Gettysburg ended the Confederate invasion of the North and shifted momentum to the Union.
3. What did the 13th Amendment do?
Answer: Abolished slavery
Ratified in December 1865, the 13th Amendment formally ended slavery throughout the United States.
4. Who was the Confederate general who surrendered at Appomattox?
Answer: Robert E. Lee
Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the war.
Last reviewed: May 2026