Civil War (apr 12, 1861 – may 9, 1865)

Description:

The Civil War was a violent conflict between the Northern and Southern states and was a direct result of the rising tensions over the institution of slavery. Above all, the Civil War would decide if the Union would be preserved or if it would be fatally split apart.

Causes:
-Cultural differences between the industrial North and agricultural South
-Rising tensions over slavery between the South and Norther abolitionists
-Bleeding Kansas
-Election of Abraham Lincoln
-Secession of the Southern states

Historical Impact:
-Passing of 13th, 14th, 15th amendments
-Abolition of slavery
-Continuation of slavery-type practices in the South, such as shared-cropping
-Black Codes in the South maintain white superiority
-Formation of the KKK
-Formation of the Freedman's Bureau
-Abraham Lincoln's Assassination
-Reconstruction
-Conflict between Andrew Johnson and congress over the direction of Reconstruction