The Civil War

Subject: Social Studies  ·  Grade level: 8th

Causes, key battles, leaders, and what changed after Appomattox. From 1861 to 1865, Americans fought Americans in the bloodiest war in U.S. history. The Civil

In this lesson

• Causes of the war
• Key events of the war
• After the war: Reconstruction

Key terms

Secession

When states withdraw from the United States.

Confederacy

The Southern states that broke away (1861-1865).

Union

The Northern states that stayed in the U.S.

Abolitionist

Someone who wanted to end slavery.

The Civil War lesson on BrightPath

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