The American Civil War (1861–1865) was a four-year conflict fought between the United States government (the Union or “the North”) and 11 Southern states that seceded to form the Confederate States of America (the Confederacy or “the South”). The primary cause of the war was the long-standing dispute over the institution of slavery, specifically its expansion into newly acquired western territories. The war resulted in a Union victory, the preservation of the United States as an indivisible nation, and the abolition of slavery across the country. Key Historical Phases of the Conflict
1860 1861 1863 1865 |——————–|——————|——————| Lincoln Attack on Gettysburg & Lee Surrenders Elected Fort Sumter Vicksburg at Appomattox 1. The Triggers of Disunion