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The '''American Civil War''', arguably the most traumatic experience in the nation's history, was a major conflict which took place from 1861 to 1865, involving the government of the [[United States of America]] against eleven Southern states which seceded from the Union and formed their own government called the [[Confederate States of America]]. In proportion to the total population, the Civil War was the most costly war ever fought in American history; more than 650,000 soldiers died in the war, two-thirds from disease and one-third from battle wounds, roughly 2% of the country's population at the time.<ref>https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/12-stunning-civil-war-facts/</ref>

The '''American Civil War''', arguably the most traumatic experience in the nation's history, was a major conflict that took place from 1861 to 1865, involving the government of the [[United States of America]] against eleven Southern states that seceded from the Union and formed their own government called the [[Confederate States of America]]. In proportion to the total population, the Civil War was the most costly war ever fought in American history; more than 650,000 soldiers died in the war, two-thirds from disease and one-third from battle wounds, roughly 2% of the country's population at the time.<ref>https://blogs.ancestry.com/cm/12-stunning-civil-war-facts/</ref>

The result of simmering tensions directly related to the issue of chattel [[slavery]], the country would split as a result of the emergence of the anti-slavery [[Republican Party]] in the North and the election of [[Abraham Lincoln]] to the presidency in 1860; the [[Democratic Party]] itself would split, with a pro-slavery wing controlling the South, and a northern wing largely indifferent to it.  The end of the war would see the South in an economic and physical wreck, followed by an abuse of power by the North during their subsequent decade-long occupation of the Southern states.  Incidents of violence and intimidation against blacks ensued throughout the country, and in the 20th century the [[eugenics]] movement promoted [[abortion]] among blacks which continues to this day.   

The result of simmering tensions directly related to the issue of chattel [[slavery]], the country would split as a result of the emergence of the anti-slavery [[Republican Party]] in the North and the election of [[Abraham Lincoln]] to the presidency in 1860; the [[Democratic Party]] itself would split, with a pro-slavery wing controlling the South, and a northern wing largely indifferent to it.  The end of the war would see the South in an economic and physical wreck, followed by an abuse of power by the North during their subsequent decade-long occupation of the Southern states.  Incidents of violence and intimidation against blacks ensued throughout the country, and in the 20th century, the [[eugenics]] movement promoted [[abortion]] among blacks which continues to this day.   

<small>''For the social, political, economic and diplomatic history see [[American Civil War homefront]].''</small>

<small>''For the social, political, economic and diplomatic history see [[American Civil War homefront]].''</small>

==Prelude to war==

==Prelude to war==

===Description of the North prior to 1860===

===Description of the North prior to 1860===

The chief characteristic of the North was its industrialization, which was rapid.  Plants to manufacture metal goods sprang up almost as fast as they were invented, and after manufacture they spread quickly.  One example was [[John Deere]], who in 1840 was manufacturing a new stainless-steel plow that he had invented barely three years before; by 1848 the plows were selling at the rate of a thousand a year.  By 1857, Deere and his partner had expanded with the manufacture of so much farm equipment that the Middle West was made the country's greatest wheat-producing area. Farm equipment also included the first examples of [[Steam power|steam-powered]] plows, and in 1859 there were contests as to who could build and deploy the best plow.  One such plow at a contest at Freeport, [[Illinois]] caused an official committee to declare the machine could "plow 25 acres a day at 62.5 cents an acre" versus a normal manual charge of $2.50 an acre.<ref>Nevins, pg 166-168</ref>

The chief characteristic of the North was its industrialization, which was rapid.  Plants to manufacture metal goods sprang up almost as fast as they were invented, and after manufacturing they spread quickly.  One example was [[John Deere]], who in 1840 was manufacturing a new stainless-steel plow that he had invented barely three years before; by 1848 the plows were selling at the rate of a thousand a year.  By 1857, Deere and his partner had expanded with the manufacture of so much farm equipment that the Middle West was made the country's greatest wheat-producing area. Farm equipment also included the first examples of [[Steam power|steam-powered]] plows, and in 1859 there were contests as to who could build and deploy the best plow.  One such plow at a contest at Freeport, [[Illinois]] caused an official committee to declare the machine could "plow 25 acres a day at 62.5 cents an acre" versus a normal manual charge of $2.50 an acre.<ref>Nevins, pg 166-168</ref>

Inventions were not limited to farming.  [[Locomotive]]s, [[sewing machine]]s, [[shoe pegger]]s, [[reaper]]s, [[auger machine|auger]]s, [[turbine]]s, [[hydraulics]], [[power loom]]s, [[rotary press]]es, and more seemingly raced out of factories.  [[Standardization]] was also an American invention, meaning replacement parts could be made and ordered to replace something broken within the machine instead of replacing the machine itself, as Connecticut's [[Samuel Colt]] first demonstrated with his new [[revolver]].  And to keep up with the exporting demand, Northern shipyards produced so many ships that they threatened to eclipse their chief rival, Great Britain.<ref>TL 1, pg 18</ref>  

Inventions were not limited to farming.  [[Locomotive]]s, [[sewing machine]]s, [[shoe pegger]]s, [[reaper]]s, [[auger machine|auger]]s, [[turbine]]s, [[hydraulics]], [[power loom]]s, [[rotary press]]es, and more seemingly raced out of factories.  [[Standardization]] was also an American invention, meaning replacement parts could be made and ordered to replace something broken within the machine instead of replacing the machine itself, as Connecticut's [[Samuel Colt]] first demonstrated with his new [[revolver]].  And to keep up with the exporting demand, Northern shipyards produced so many ships that they threatened to eclipse their chief rival, Great Britain.<ref>TL 1, pg 18</ref>  

The South was largely agrarian.  A Southern boast, "Cotton is king!" became very true by the 1850s, as cotton was grown, harvested, and shipped to market in vast quantities.  The number of bales in 1849 was 2 million; by 1859 it had jumped to 5.7 million, amounting to more than half of all American exports and seven-eighths of the total amount of cotton in the world.<ref>TL 1, pg 10</ref>

The South was largely agrarian.  A Southern boast, "Cotton is king!" became very true by the 1850s, as cotton was grown, harvested, and shipped to market in vast quantities.  The number of bales in 1849 was 2 million; by 1859 it had jumped to 5.7 million, amounting to more than half of all American exports and seven-eighths of the total amount of cotton in the world.<ref>TL 1, pg 10</ref>

Southern politics was controlled by owners of large [[slavery|slave]] plantations, the small minority of well-to-do planters.  They practiced a cultivated chivalry, a code of honor among equals with high levels of dueling. Proud parents, when their son came of age, would present him a handsome set of dueling pistols. The code called for a gallantry towards white women, while it was common to have many children by their black slaves; these children became slaves too.   

Southern politics was controlled by owners of large [[slavery|slave]] plantations, the small minority of well-to-do planters.  They practiced a cultivated chivalry, a code of honor among equals with high levels of dueling. Proud parents, when their son came of age, would present him a handsome set of dueling pistols. The code called for gallantry towards white women, while it was common to have many children by their black slaves; these children became slaves too.   

Cotton was in high demand for textile factories in Europe and profits were high on plantations with 50 or more slaves.  Most of the profits went toward purchase of new farmland (because cotton rapidly depletes the fertility of the soil) and more slaves, as well as cheap clothing for the slaves.  Relatively little was spent on machinery or on luxury goods.  More likely money went to gambling, and racehorses.  High prestige occupations included plantation ownership, the law and medicine. Doctors were hired to keep the slaves healthy.  There were very few colleges in the region, apart from a few small state schools and military academies. One [[Mississippi]] planter, Jefferson Davis, remarked that only in the South "did a gentlemen go to a military academy who did not intend to follow the profession of arms."<ref>TL 1, pg 12</ref>

Cotton was in high demand for textile factories in Europe and profits were high on plantations with 50 or more slaves.  Most of the profits went toward purchase of new farmland (because cotton rapidly depletes the fertility of the soil) and more slaves, as well as cheap clothing for the slaves.  Relatively little was spent on machinery or on luxury goods.  More likely money went to [[gambling]], and racehorses.  High-prestige occupations included plantation ownership, the law and medicine. Doctors were hired to keep the slaves healthy.  There were very few colleges in the region, apart from a few small state schools and military academies. One [[Mississippi]] planter, Jefferson Davis, remarked that only in the South "did a gentleman go to a military academy who did not intend to follow the profession of arms."<ref>TL 1, pg 12</ref>

But the South had several serious drawbacks.  Its population at 1860 was roughly 9 million people, of whom more than 3 million were slaves.  There were only 18,000 manufacturing plants of any kind in the South, as opposed to the North's more than 100,000.  Of these, only two were capable of producing [[rolled iron]], one which produced [[gunpowder]], and none capable of producing [[firearms]]; there were twenty-seven gun manufacturers in [[Massachusetts]] alone.  More than 70% of all [[railroad]] mileage was north of the Ohio River; the South had the remainder.

But the South had several serious drawbacks.  Its population at 1860 was roughly 9 million people, of whom more than 3 million were slaves.  There were only 18,000 manufacturing plants of any kind in the South, as opposed to the North's more than 100,000.  Of these, only two were capable of producing [[rolled iron]], one which produced [[gunpowder]], and none capable of producing [[firearms]]; there were twenty-seven gun manufacturers in [[Massachusetts]] alone.  More than 70% of all [[railroad]] mileage was north of the Ohio River; the South had the remainder.