American Civil War Map

About American Civil War Map

This American civil war map shows regions and the political divisions of the US States and battle locations during the American Civil War (1861–1865). The US Civil War Map includes all of the fifty US States which were divided into the Union States, the Confederate States and the Border States. The US Civil War Map uses colour to clearly identify areas of the nation that were part of the Union States, Confederate States and the Border States.

These Southern states declared themselves part of the Confederacy during the US Civil War. On this map, the Confederate States (in green) are opposed to the Union States (in alternative colour), which consisted of the Northern and Western states (like New York, Pennsylvania and Illinois). The middle states of Kentucky, Missouri and Maryland (Border States) were more or less equally divided in their sympathy during the conflict.

This American Civil War Map shows the states during the time of the Civil War. Star marked battle locations are within the states where the battles took place. Some of the famous battles that are noted on this map include Gettysburg, PA; Antietam, MD; Vicksburg, MS; Shiloh, TN and many other important events of the American Civil War. The battle markers allow for the identification of the battles that took place and the sequence in which they occurred.

This US Civil War Map is ideal for students, teachers, historians, and anyone else that is interested in finding out more about the geographical area of the US during the civil war. The US Civil War Map provides a comprehensive overview of the area and clearly highlights all of the key areas and borders involved in the conflict.

American Civil War

The American Civil War (1861-1865) was one of the most significant events in U.S. history. The conflict, which pitted the Northern states (the Union) against the Southern states (the so called Confederacy), mirrored the causes of the Revolution, namely slavery, states rights, and regional economic differences, which had dominated national politics for fifty years. The war fundamentally altered the course of American politics, ending the institution of slavery and asserting the Federal Government's supremacy over the states.

Causes and Origins of the Conflict

The American Civil War was a long time coming. Frustration between sections of the country had been brewing for decades and the issue of expanding slavery to the western territories was becoming increasingly contentious. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850, which attempted to create a rough balance between the slave states and the free states, ultimately failed. The Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which granted territories the right to decide slavery through popular sovereignty, only served to stoke the fires of the coming conflict. In a matter of years, the fighting between pro-slavery and anti-slavery groups in Kansas—known as Bleeding Kansas—would turn violent and bloody. In 1860, a little known Abraham Lincoln would be elected president, running against the expansion of slavery. In short order, 11 Southern states would secede from the Union and form the Confederate States of America.

Outbreak of War and Early Developments

The Civil War began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired the first shots hitting Fort Sumter in South Carolina. What started as a war to preserve the Union turned quickly into a conflict to win the independence of the Confederacy. The First Battle of Bull Run (also known as the First Battle of Manassas by the Confederacy) was a bloody Union defeat, quickly dispelling any illusions that the war would be a short one. As both sides organized larger armies, the conflict would eventually involve more than two million soldiers.

Major Campaigns and Turning Points

Several battles and campaigns played important roles as turning points in the American Civil War. The bloodiest day in American history was during the bloodiest battle of the war, fought at Antietam in September 1862. At Antietam over 22,000 soldiers were killed or wounded in one day. This battle found its greatest impact when it gave President Lincoln the strength to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves in the territories of the rebelling states. Two of the most important turning points of the war took place during the summer of 1863. The first was the Union armies halting the invasion of the North by Confederate General Robert E. Lee at the Battle of Gettysburg in July, and the second was the Union capture of Vicksburg in August. The capture of Vicksburg gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, effectively splitting the Confederacy in half. The Union army had a series of victories. These battles took the starch out of the Confederacy and took a lot of the momentum out of the war for them.

Life During the War

It examines the experiences of both military and civilian populations throughout the country during the Civil War. The Union Army contained approximately 2.1 million men who served while the Confederate Army contained about a million. The conflict had the highest number of military fatalities in the history of the United States, approximately 620,000 to 750,000 men. Civilians throughout the country suffered including a severe lack of food, shelter, clothing, and adequate medical care. Civilians, especially women, participated in the war efforts through their work in hospitals where they served as nurses and in sewing bee's where they sewed clothing, especially shoes, for Union soldiers. Many people supported the war through the purchase of war bonds and supplies. The work of African Americans during the war was also significant with nearly 180,000 enlisting in the Union Army, as well as large numbers of laborers.

The End of the War

The end of the Civil War occurred in April 1865 when General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant near Appomattox Court House, Virginia. Although victory for the Union in this final battle was received as triumphant news, it was shortly eclipsed by the assassination of President Lincoln in a Washington playhouse. In the post-battle era that followed, the nation embarked on a difficult and transformative era of reconstruction, attempting to unite the broken pieces of a single, harmonious United States.

Reconstruction and Lasting Impact

After the Civil War, the United States entered a period called Reconstruction (1865–1877). It was a time for the country to heal from the wounds of war, and also a time for newly freed slaves to find their place in society. When the 13th Amendment was ratified in 1865, slavery was abolished throughout the United States. The 14th Amendment granted full citizenship to EVERY person born or naturalized within the United States, including those previously enslaved. The 15th Amendment went a step further and granted African American men the right to vote. Despite the work of many abolitionists and civil rights advocates during this time, the period of Reconstruction was met with significant resistance that has far-reaching impacts on social and racial dynamics in the United States today.

The American Civil War still has an impact today in the United States. The war helped solidify the powers of the federal government, brought an end to slavery, and continued the fight for equal rights and opportunities for equality for all African Americans within the broader civil rights movement. The Civil War is viewed by many as the most significant event in American history as it highlights the divisions in the country and the drastic measures required to transform them.