Overview
The American Civil War was a pivotal conflict in the United States, fought between the Union and the Confederacy from 1861 to 1865, resulting in the abolition of slavery and a more centralized federal government. The war was sparked by decades of controversy over slavery, culminating in the election of Abraham Lincoln as President. The Confederacy, formed by seven Southern slave states, sought to preserve and expand slavery, while the Union, led by Lincoln and the Republican Party, aimed to preserve the unity of the country and end the institution of slavery. The war lasted four years, claiming the lives of an estimated 620,000 to 750,000 soldiers and civilians, and ultimately leading to the defeat of the Confederacy and the abolition of slavery.