The main conflict

The American Civil War (1861-1865) is one of the most expensive and deadly wars that has ever been carried out on US territory. The war was caused by growing tensions between Southern and Northern states over the institution of slavery, over other financial and political matters, and over the expansion of the Union to include new states.

In 1861, the Republican Abraham Lincoln was set to assume the Presidency in early March. Lincoln was a known opponent of slavery, and fearing that he would restrict their rights in this matter, a nu...