Hello, I'm an expert in history, and I'd be happy to help you understand the significant events that occurred between 1861 and 1865.
During this period, the most notable event was the
American Civil War, which lasted from 1861 to 1865. This was a
civil war fought between the
Northern (Union) states, which generally supported the federal government, and the
Southern (Confederate) states, which sought to preserve the institution of
slavery and had declared secession from the United States.
The war began in April 1861 when
Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter, a Union fort in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. This marked the beginning of a long and bloody conflict that resulted in the deaths of over 600,000 soldiers and an unknown number of civilian casualties.
The war was characterized by several key battles, including the
Battle of Gettysburg in 1863, which is often considered the war's turning point. The
Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, declared the freedom of all slaves in Confederate-held territory and was a significant step towards the abolition of slavery.
The war ended with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia in April 1865, which effectively marked the end of the Confederacy.
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