American Civil War

Definition

The American Civil War was a major armed conflict that took place in the United States from 1861 to 1865. It was fought primarily between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy) over issues including slavery, secession, and federal power.

Related terms

Emancipation Proclamation: A presidential proclamation issued by Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War that declared all slaves in Confederate territory to be free.

Reconstruction Era: The period following the Civil War when efforts were made to rebuild and transform Southern society and economy.

Secession: The act of withdrawing or breaking away from a larger political entity or organization, such as when Southern states seceded from the United States prior to the Civil War.