American Civil War: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 14, 2026

News •

Sultana Disaster Museum sheds light on Civil War-era maritime tragedy • Nov. 13, 2026, 6:02 AM ET (The Memphis Commercial Appeal)

First map of Mason-Dixon Line dividing North from South in U.S. decades before Civil War going up for auction • Oct. 29, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (CBS)

U.S. Supreme Court to review 1868 federal ban on home distilling of liquor • Oct. 19, 2026, 4:06 PM ET (Honolulu Star-Advertiser)

Craig Symonds, Prizewinning Military Historian, Is Dead • Oct. 17, 2026, 3:00 AM ET (New York Times)

The American Civil War was a four-year war (1861–65) between the United States and 11 Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed the Confederate States of America.

Facts

Also Known As	War Between the States
Date	April 12, 1861 - April 26, 1865
Location	United States
Participants	Confederate States of America • United States
Context	Dred Scott decision • Missouri Compromise • Harpers Ferry Raid

Top Questions

What caused the American Civil War?

The American Civil War was the culmination of the struggle between the advocates and opponents of slavery that dated from the founding of the United States. This sectional conflict between Northern states and slaveholding Southern states had been tempered by a series of political compromises, but by the late 1850s the issue of the extension of slavery to the western states had reached a boiling point. The election of Abraham Lincoln, a member of the antislavery Republican Party, as president in 1860 precipitated the secession of 11 Southern states, leading to a civil war.

How many people died during the American Civil War?

It is estimated that from 752,000 to 851,000 soldiers died during the American Civil War. This figure represents approximately 2 percent of the American population in 1860. The Battle of Gettysburg, one of the bloodiest engagements during the Civil War, resulted in about 7,000 deaths and 51,000 total casualties.

Why are Confederate symbols controversial?

The modern usage of Confederate symbols, especially the Confederate Battle Flag and statues of Confederate leaders, is considered controversial because many associate such symbols with racism, slavery, and white supremacy. The flag was revived as a popular symbol in the 1940s and ’50s by the Dixiecrat Democratic splinter group and others who opposed the American civil rights movement.

Who won the American Civil War?

The Union won the American Civil War. The war effectively ended in April 1865 when Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. The final surrender of Confederate troops on the western periphery came in Galveston, Texas, on June 2.

Who were the most important figures in the American Civil War?

Important people during the American Civil War included Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States, whose election prompted the secession of Southern states; Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy; Ulysses S. Grant, the most successful and prominent general of the Union; and Robert E. Lee, Grant’s counterpart in the Confederacy.

Did You Know?

It is estimated that from 752,000 to 851,000 soldiers died during the American Civil War, a figure that represents approximately 2 percent of the American population in 1860.