About the Cover


fall 2022 front cover.jpg (389961 bytes)The Phrase "civil war" means a war that takes place within a country, between citizens of that country. There are civil wars happening today in different parts of the world, in different countries around the world. The American Civil War was not the first to happen in the world. England and other nations had already had them and unfortunately these will not be the last one. Are we heading that way?

In April 1861, the American Civil War began. It lasted from 1861-1865, triggered by the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Lincoln wanted to end slavery and keep the Union together.

The conflict between the North (the Yankees, Union States) and the South (the Rebels, Confederate States) started because of their different ways of living. The North wanted the South to give up their farms, build factories, and abolish slavery. Congress treated the slaves as personal property and would not take away rights of ownership. Thus, America began the conflict that would tear a nation apart.

Four long years later, the war that pitted brother against brother was finally finished. In between, more than 620,000 Americans died, with disease killing twice as many as those in battle. About 50,00 survivors returned home as amputees. More than 4 million slaves gained their freedom.

The United States lost a president, was torn in two, and was finally put back together again. Most of the battles took place in the South and the recovery from the destruction took many years.


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