The year that marked the beginning of the American Civil War was 1861. The conflict ignited primarily over issues of slavery and states’ rights. Tensions had been escalating for years, especially after the election of Abraham Lincoln in late 1860, which prompted several southern states to secede from the Union. The war officially commenced on April 12, 1861, with the attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The Civil War had profound implications for American society, leading to the eventual abolition of slavery and reshaping the nation’s political landscape.