The American Civil War took place in 1861 to 1865 in the southern United States; also in eastern, central and southwestern regions. The outcome of this bloody civil battle was the defeat of the seceding CSA. The primary leaders in the War were the well known Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis. Both of these men were corageous leaders, and huge names of their time, as well as ours. Casualties of the war include:
Killed in Action: 110,100
Total dead Toll: 359,500
Wounded: 275,200
The war claimed more American lives than any other conflict in history, with approximately 560,000 total killed which at the time was a stagerring 1.78% of population and over 970,000 casualties which again is a staggering 3.09% of the population. Often times debated, the causes of the civil war, and even the name of the war itself, are still really left up in the air.
When Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860 seven states existed: These states were: South Carolina (December 20, 1860), Mississippi (January 9, 1861), Florida (January 10, 1861),
Alabama (January 11, 1861), Georgia (January 19, 1861), Louisiana (January 26, 1861), and Texas (February 1, 1861). Lincoln was not even on the ballot in nine states in the South. Several Leaders from South Carolina had long been waiting for an event that might unite the South against the anti-slavery forces. As soon as the election returns were certain, a special South Carolina convention declared "that the Union now subsisting between South Carolina and other states under the name of the 'United States of America' is hereby dissolved." By February 1, 1861, six more Southern states had seceded. As a result on February 7, the seven states adopted a provisional constitution for the Confederate States of America and established their capital at Montgomery, Alabama. On March 4, 1861, less than a month later, Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as President of the United States. He stated on this date that he had no intention to invade southern states, but would use force to maintain possession of federal property. The South, especially South Carolina, ignored this plea by Lincoln, and as a result on April 12, the South fired upon the Federal troops there were stationed at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The firing continued until the troops surrendered. This significant event is what many feel was the start of the American Civial War.