Civil+War+*

=**__Civil War__**= The United States was falling apart in January,1861, as states in the South seceded from the Union. Newly elected President Abraham Lincoln pleaded for national unity. On April 12, 1861 southern Confederates attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina and the Civil War began. The South (Confederates) wanted independence and the North (Union) wanted to keep all the states under one government. The war continued for four years. Many Americans died. This would be the bloodiest war in American history. Brothers fought brothers and friends fought friends. This war would not only divide the country but would divide the hearts and minds of all America.

**Causes of the Civil War**
The main cause of the Civil War was slavery. In the Southern states, slavery played an important part in the economy. Cotton was king and a huge cash crop. There were four million slaves belonged to five million whites to create this man driven economy. In the Northern states, there were far less slaves. Their economy was driven by manufacturing. As the United States grew, the division between views about slavery became larger and larger. Blood was spilled. When Lincoln was elected President of the United States of America in November 1860, the Southerners decided that separating from the Union was the only solution. South Carolina seceded on December 20th and by March 4, 1861, six other states had seceded. toc

The Beginning of the War
At the start of the war, the first attack was on a Union fort guarding Charleston harbor in South Carolina. This fort was called Fort Sumter. President Davis of the Confederate States of America demanded immediate surrender. At 4:30 AM on April 12, General P.G.T. Beauregard ordered the Confederates to bombard the fort. The defending Union troops would be no match for the Confederate forces On the second day the Union commander had to give up. The Civil War had been started.

Brothers Fighting Brothers
This war did not only divide the country but the families as well. This would be the most bloody war Americans would ever fight. More Americans would be claimed in this war than any other in American history. At the start of the war people in the North and South thought that the war would only last a few weeks or months at the most. But this war would last for four long and bloody years claiming thousands of lives. Even Robert E. Lee, who was asked to command the Union troops first, was torn apart by this conflict. He loved the United States, but could not bring himself to fight against his homeland, Virginia. Border states seemed to suffer the greatest divisivness. West Virginia was formed by breaking away from the state of Virginia during 1863, a direct result of opposing sentiments.

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Major Battles and Turning Points of the War The two major events of the Civil War were the Battle at Gettysburg and the Fall of Vicksburg, both occurred on July 4, 1863. After these battles, Lee's army was depleted, the Mississippi River was under Union control, and the South suffered its first major defeats. The South was quickly running out of food, supplies, and men. The South never really recovered. Other significant battles included the Battle of Shiloh which was the turning point in the western campaign. After Shiloh there was really no capable Confederate commanders left in the western theater. Other major battles include the First and Second Battles of Manassas, the Wilderness Campaign, the Battle of Lookout Mountain, Chickmauga, the Battle of Fredricksburg, the Battle Chancellorville, the Battle of the Ironclads, and the Battle of Antietam.

The End of the War
The average age of soldiers on both sides was twenty-five years old. More soldiers died during the Civil War due to diease than combat. Northern soldiers More soldiers stood a 1 in 8 chance of dying due to illness and a 1 in 18 chance of dying in battle. Confederate soldiers faced a 1 in 5 chance of succumbing to disease and a 1 in 8 chance of dying in combat. It was not a romantic war, but won of deprivation, death, and destruction.

The surrender of Lee's army is considered the end of the war. Grant and Lee met at Appomatox Court House on April 9,1865 where Grant agreed to allow the Confederates to leave with their horses and guns so that they could farm and hunt. The South was totally devastated and was left to fend for themselves. Civilians in the South bore the brunt of this bloody saga. This created bitterness for years and years. Some would argue that it is only in recent times that the South is beginning to once again become an equal partner in these great United States.