While America has seen many battles and wars, the Civil War was one of, if not the greatest, wars of all time. The Civil War defined the kind of nation America would be. It also forever changed the lives of slaves and set the tone for how America would be run. Two parts of America, the free North and the South, which still favored slave ownership, exploded into a massive altercation that followed the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency in 1860. 11 Southern states separated from the Union, completely turning away from the idea of ​​a single American nation. Say no to plagiarism. Get a custom essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayAfter the separation of the states, Abraham Lincoln, who had only been in power for a few weeks, declared that acts of secession were illegal, he also asked Congress to mobilize five hundred thousand men to stop and destroy what appeared to be an aggressive act of rebellion. The first shots of the war were fired in April 1861 at the famous Fort Sumpter, and what happened next became a national tragedy of unimaginable proportions. An estimated 600,000 people were killed and nearly millions injured. Large parts of the South were nearly destroyed by fierce battles. the Union nearly collapsed under the determination of Confederate forces. Jefferson2 The war began slowly. After the Battle of Bull Run in Virginia in July 1861, it was certain that the word would be long and exhausting for both sides and would last perhaps months or even years. Many great battles raged throughout the United States between the Union and the Confederates. most major battles took place in Virginia. The Confederate Army, winning many victories against the poorly led Union Army, was led by Confederate General Robert E. Lee. Confederate General Lee invaded Maryland in September 1862. In Maryland, he suffered a very significant loss during the Battle of Antietam, the bloodiest altercation of the war. The following year, General Lee defeated the powerful Union army at Chancellorsville and invaded Pennsylvania, which also led to the Battle of Gettysburg. over 50,000 men died and were injured and ultimately died due to lack of medical knowledge and supplies. General Lee was forced to leave and retreat to Virginia, and was never able to invade the north again. Keep in mind: this is just a sample. Get a personalized article from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay Union General Ulysses S On July 4, 1863, Grant captured the important Confederate city of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River and on the same day, war news of the victory at Gettysburg was sent and received at Washington. Although the Union won important battles, the war was far from over. General Grant began his 1864 land campaign and fought many important battles. He hoped to destroy Lee's army using a strategy of attrition.,