American Civil War Books

About American Civil War

The American Civil War (1861–1865) was a transformative and brutal conflict fought between the United States (Union) and 11 Southern states that seceded to form the Confederate States of America. The primary cause was the expansion of slavery and the growing sectional divide between the North and South over states’ rights, economic differences, and political power. The war began with the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861 and unfolded in massive, often deadly battles such as Gettysburg, Antietam, and Chickamauga. It was the deadliest war in American history, resulting in more than 600,000 deaths. Technologically, the war introduced ironclad ships, rail-based troop movement, and early trench warfare. Key figures included Abraham Lincoln, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863, redefining the war as a fight against slavery, and generals like Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. The war ended with Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House in April 1865. Shortly afterward, Lincoln was assassinated. The Union’s victory preserved the nation and led to the abolition of slavery with the 13th Amendment. However, the Reconstruction era that followed brought significant social and political turmoil, and racial inequality persisted for decades. The Civil War profoundly shaped American identity, governance, civil rights, and national memory.