The Civil War: What Year Did It Start?

The American Civil War, also known as the War Between the States, was one of the bloodiest wars in American history. It was fought between the northern Union states, which had declared their secession from the United States of America, and the breakaway Confederate States of America. Much of the fighting in this war was centered around the slavery issue and the preservation of the United States as a unified nation, leading to an important question: What year did the Civil War start?

A Brief Overview of the Civil War

The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. This event is often referred to as the “opening volley” of the Civil War. Following this, President Lincoln declared a blockade of Confederate ports, prompting Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas to secede from the Union. Soon after, four more states (Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, and Delaware) joined the Confederacy. This was followed by the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared all slaves held in Confederate-controlled territory as free.

The War Continues

For the next four years, the north and the south battled it out in a series of battles and skirmishes. The most important of these battles included the Battle of Antietam (the bloodiest one-day battle in US history), the Battle of Gettysburg (the largest battle of the war), and the Siege of Vicksburg, where the Union forces were able to cut the Confederacy in two. In April of 1865, General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, officially ending the Civil War.

Conclusion

The American Civil War was a devastating conflict that cost hundreds of thousands of lives and reshaped the nation. The beginning of the war can be marked to April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Fighting would continue for the next four years, with the war finally ending with the surrender of General Robert E. Lee to General Ulysses S. Grant in April of 1865.