In the late 1700s, the United States fought in the Revolutionary War to earn Independence. In the mid 1800s, the newly independent country was very divided in its beliefs.

The states in the south believed differently from the north, which was called The Union, and soon left to form The Confederate States of America. During the years of 1860 to 1865, there were many battles and important changes to our country. Read on to learn more about...

The Civil War

1860

In the winter of 1860, a new president named Abraham Lincoln was elected. He was against slavery, as were many people in the northern states.

However, some states disagreed. One state, called South Carolina, left the union because they disagreed with the president.

1861

In early 1861, more states in the south left the union. They formed their own army, and by April, the Civil War had officially started. The states in the South were fighting with the states in the North.

There were lots of battles between the North and the South, like "The Battle of Big Bethel" in Virginia

and "The Battle of Wilson's Creek" in Missouri.

1862

1862 was the second year of the war. The fight extended beyond the land and into the sea. In one of the most famous battles, "The Battle of the Ironclads", was a fight between steam-propelled Naval warships in Norfolk, VA. The Monitor was the ship of the Union, and the Merrimac was the ship of Confederacy.