The Civil War
The Civil War was a war between the North and the South in the US. It lasted from 1861-1865. 11 southern states seceded from the union due to several reasons, from states rights to slavery.
The start of the Civil war was when Confederates fired on Fort Sumter. General Robert E. Lee was the head of the Confederate forces opposite General Ulysses S. Grant who lead the Union army. Under Robert E. Lee were Generals Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, George Pickett, James Longstreet, and J. E. B. "Jeb" Stuart. Besides General Grant the Union had Generals William T. Sherman, and George B. McClellan.
The first major battle in the Civil War was the Battle of Manassas also known as the Battle of Bull Run. At this battle almost 2,900 Union soldiers and 1,900 confederate soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. Early in the war the Confederates had the advantage with victory's at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Even though the Confederates were winning the Union army had major victory at Vicksburg before going into Gettysburg. The turning point in the Civil War was the Battle of Gettysburg. After 3 days of fighting the Union army came out on top and gained momentum for the rest of the war. After the fall of Richmond, the South's capital, the war was basically over. On April 9, 1865 Robert E. Lee surrendered his forces to the Union army pretty much ending the war. At end of the war the Union army had lost about 380,200 men and the Confederate army had lost about 289,000 men. This war cost the most lives of any other war in American history. Also over 200,000 men from each side were wounded in action. The Civil War played a very important role in America's history. Without the Civil War our country might be divided or not even a country anymore.
The start of the Civil war was when Confederates fired on Fort Sumter. General Robert E. Lee was the head of the Confederate forces opposite General Ulysses S. Grant who lead the Union army. Under Robert E. Lee were Generals Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, George Pickett, James Longstreet, and J. E. B. "Jeb" Stuart. Besides General Grant the Union had Generals William T. Sherman, and George B. McClellan.
The first major battle in the Civil War was the Battle of Manassas also known as the Battle of Bull Run. At this battle almost 2,900 Union soldiers and 1,900 confederate soldiers were killed, wounded or missing. Early in the war the Confederates had the advantage with victory's at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. Even though the Confederates were winning the Union army had major victory at Vicksburg before going into Gettysburg. The turning point in the Civil War was the Battle of Gettysburg. After 3 days of fighting the Union army came out on top and gained momentum for the rest of the war. After the fall of Richmond, the South's capital, the war was basically over. On April 9, 1865 Robert E. Lee surrendered his forces to the Union army pretty much ending the war. At end of the war the Union army had lost about 380,200 men and the Confederate army had lost about 289,000 men. This war cost the most lives of any other war in American history. Also over 200,000 men from each side were wounded in action. The Civil War played a very important role in America's history. Without the Civil War our country might be divided or not even a country anymore.
Heading West
Before and during the Civil War Americans started moving west and after the war people were encouraged to move out west. As people started going west they started running into several problems, native Americans. There were many battles and even small wars between the two groups. One of these wars was called the Red Cloud War.