A Nation Divided
The conflict between the Union (North) and Confederacy (South) began with differences in the land. The South had rich, fertile soil, warm weather and an ideal environment for growing crops, including tobacco, cotton, and rice. Its thriving agricultural society was built on the labor of slaves. The North’s land was not as fertile and its economy was based on trade and industry. Many Northerners came to view slavery as wrong, immoral, and unjust while many Southerners felt that slavery was a necessity for maintaining their agricultural society.

A Divided Nation

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The Civil War was the bloody result of escalating disputes between the “free states,” where slavery was prohibited, and 15 “slave states,” where it was permitted. Between 1861 and 1865 (the duration of the war) there were more casualties than in any previous war, with over 650,000 deaths of Union and Confederate soldiers.

Civil War Battles

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Boys’ War
Throughout the Civil War there were so many young soldiers that the war was often referred to as the “Boys’ War.” Over two million Union soldiers (from the North) were 21 years old or younger, as were large numbers of Confederate youth (for whom we have no official records). It was common for boys to be involved in actual battles. Boys under the age of 15 were often recruited as drummers, fifers, or buglers, but in many cases, they were forced into combat. In the heat of battle the youngest soldiers often stayed towards the rear of the regiment.

 

Black Soldiers
Approximately 180,000 black men served as Union soldiers and fought for the North during the Civil War. Two-thirds of these soldiers were actually escaped southern slaves committed to fighting for freedom. Black soldiers made up 166 all-black units, which were mostly led by white commanding officers. They participated in 39 major Civil War battles, and about 35,000 died over the course of the war. The Confederate government of the South opposed the use of black soldiers until the spring of 1865, when General Robert E. Lee decided to use black soldiers in his Confederate Army. However, the war ended before his plan made an impact.

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