Top 10 Facts about The Civil War

In the American Civil War, the two sides that were fighting against one another were the Northern Yankees and the Rebels of the South. The Northern Yankees were form by the states that did not seceded. The North is also referred to as the Union. These states are all located in the northern part of country hints why they are called the Northern Yankees. The Rebels were the Confederate states that seceded from the Union to form their own country Call the Confederate States of America. The Southern states also were called Dixie which is the nickname for the South.

The Southern states for a few reasons but the main one was they wanted to protect slavery. Majority of the people that lived in the south own big plantations that needed workers. The main workers on the farm were salves that were bought to work. Another reason to why the South seceded was that the states wanted to protect their right of self governing themselves. This gave them the freedom to makeup many of the laws they went during this time. Having the fear of both situations is why they seceded in the year of 1860.

The states went to war for different reasons. The Confederate states wanted to defend slavery and protect their rights. The North was more focused on protecting the Union and keeping the country as one. This is usually the biggest misunderstood concept of the whole war because so many people have so many different ideas to why they went to war that miss these key facts. Each side have their reasons of why they did it and both gave it their all during the fight.

The North and the south both had outstanding generals during the Civil War. Each side having many Generals through out the war the top ones from either side were Robert E. Lee from the South and Ulysses S. Grant from the North. Robert E. Lee is known to have been the greatest general for the Confederate States leading them to many victories through out the war. Although the North had many head generals the one that would finally lead them to victory is Ulysses S. Grant who took his first command in 1861.

The first battle of the Civil War happened at Fort Sumter in the state of South Carolina. Starting on April 12, 1861 is the day the battle started which also was when the Civil War official began. The battle lasted two days ending on the 14 of April with a Confederate victory. Surprisingly there were no deaths during this battle. The Union commanding officer knew they could not hold out long. Knew that he came to surrendor letting the Rebels take control over the fort.

The bloodiest battle of the Civil war is the Battle of Gettysburg. This battle did not last long but long enough to take the lives of over 7,000 soldiers from both sides. Gettysburg is known for being the one of the major battles in the war due to the fact that is was not only the bloodiest but one of the first battles in the Union. Having such great lost at Gettysburg General Robert E. Lee is forced to retreat.

The last battle of The Civil War happened at Palmito Ranch a month after General Robert E. Lee surrendered. This was the last and final land action that occurred during the horrible time in America's history. Having all the fighting over with and the surrender of the Rebels to the Union The Civil War ended. The Union winning the war but at a great cost on both sides losing many soldiers in combat and due to infections from wounds.

The Civil Was the bloodiest in American history taking over 600,000 lives due to many reasons. New technology with fire arms came in to major effect during the battles of the war. New bullets and rifles with hundreds and thousands of soldiers standing only 50 to a 100 yards away firing at each other non stop till one gave up. This was also the first war that the Gatling gun was used and repeating rifles that were loaded from the rear not from the from like the typical musket rifle.

The affect of The Civil War had major impacts to both sides of the county. Once the North won the war slavery was banned , 13th Amendment, and the right for citizen ship was granted to all people. The South had a lot of cleaning up to due to the fact that most of the battles that took place in the war happened in the Confederate States. This left them in poverty with little to nothing in the end because of everything being destroyed.

We still face many differeces in our country today that relate all of the way back to The Civil war. From being bias to one side or the other to different state flags that still are flown today that have the Confederate battle flag on it some way. People who for the most part were against slavery say it is still hate that we have in our hearts but others will say its heritage and how they were raised. No matter what side you are for we are one country now and we all need to unite.