The American Civil was a war between different states of the US after Abraham Lincoln was elected as president. After this election, 11 states from the south formed the Confederacy and declared their wish to secede from the US as a show of discontent with their new president. The remaining 25 states supported Abraham Lincoln and this led to a war that lasted for almost four years. It is important to note that though the election of Abraham Lincoln led to the direct confrontation which resulted in the civil war, there are several underlying factors that actually aggravated the situation.
One of the causes of this war was the issue of completely abolishing slavery which the Northerners and the Republican Party were supporting. This push for complete abolishing of slavery made the Southerners feel as if they were second-class citizens; and so when the Republican Party came to power through Abraham Lincoln the Southerners felt the need to do something. Another cause of this war was sectionalism where there were great disparities between the economies, social and political structure of the North and the South.
After the war was over, there were several lasting impacts on the United States. Among these is the fact that the Civil War ended with the Northerners winning which meant that the Federal Government had shown its superiority over State Governments. Also the war helped bring an end to slavery in the United States. The end of slavery left a legacy that has been practiced up to date both in the United States and internationally. Also when the war was finally over, the United States of America remained united as the southern states were not allowed to secede.
Works Cited
McPherson, James. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era. New York: OUP, 2003. Print.
