Major Features of the Civil War

American History

The American Civil War (1861-1865)

The American Civil War was the war between the southern and northern regions of the country, wherein the main conflict that was contested were the continued practice and legalization of black slavery. As the war broke out, the two factions that were created for the war were the United States of America or Union and the Confederate States of America or the Confederacy.

The war had numerous battles in various areas of the country; the first was the Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee 1862. In this battle, the Confederates carried an offensive attack against the Union forces, headed by General A. Johnston. However, Johnston's death during battle halted the war, as the command of the forces was transferred to General Beauregard. This short period of ceasefire allowed the Union to effectively create a defense strategy, eventually driving out the Confederates to Mississippi. Another battle that won in the hands of the Union forces was New Orleans, a Confederate territory. Outnumbered by the number of the Union forces in the said state, the Confederates were not able to retrieve New Orleans from Union control throughout the Civil War.

Other key battles fought between the Union and Confederates was the Battle of Bull Run in June 1862, wherein the Confederates won the battle after it offensively attacked the Union forces in Virginia, specifically, in Manassas. Right after the Battle of Bull Run, the Battle of Antietam in Maryland was one of the major battles that determined the Union's success in the Civil War. This battle became significant for both factions because it ultimately determined whether the Confederates were capable of handling and controlling the northern region. For the Union, meanwhile, this battle was crucial in that it determined whether the Union was able to defend its territory, as well as fight for control of the southern region as well. Thus, the battle involved numerous casualties and deaths; though the battle did not determine who won the conflict, the Confederates' failure to capture and gain control of the territory determined the Union's capability to control its region. Due to the battle of Antietam, succeeding battles between the Union and Confederates showed the former as being more aggressive; the battles of Perryville, Kentucky and Fredericksburg, Virginia showed Union success and eventual conflict among the Confederate leaders.

From this pattern of battle victories by the Union forces and considerable support from the Administration, the Civil War was immediately won by the North. The Confederates' failure to capture Washington D.C. proved that indeed, the war was already won by the Union forces.