The American Civil War: How a Nation Divided Itself and Came Back Stronger

The American Civil War, which occurred between 1861 and 1865, was a revolutionary event that irrevocably altered the United States. In the course of the war, which was fought between the Union (North) and the Confederacy (South), fundamental topics such as slavery, states’ rights, and the struggle to maintain the Union were discussed extensively. According to a quote attributed to President Abraham Lincoln, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” The war served to determine whether or not that house, which was the United States of America, could remain.

What Caused It to Take Place?

For many decades, tensions between the North and the South had been steadily increasing. In contrast to the South, which depended significantly on enslaved labor for its agricultural economy, the North went through a period of rapid industrialization during which it became more hostile to slavery. In the year 1860, when Abraham Lincoln, a person who was opposed to the growth of slavery, was elected president, the southern states believed that their way of life was in danger. Due to their decision to separate and establish the Confederacy, the Civil War was…