The Civil War Redefines the Nation
Between 1861 and 1865, Americans fought their deadliest conflict, resulting in over 600,000 deaths. The war preserved the Union and abolished slavery, transforming American society. Constitutional amendments soon followed that fundamentally altered citizenship rights. Reconstruction policies attempted to integrate formerly enslaved people into society. The conflict’s scars remain visible in American politics and culture, reminding us how deeply division can wound a country.
