The American Civil War was a conflict fought from 1861 to 1865 between Northern states (Union) and Southern states (Confederacy) who seceded from the Union over issues including slavery and states' rights.
Think of it like a big family feud where siblings have a major disagreement about house rules. They can't agree, so they decide to split up into two separate households. But instead of just moving out, they fight over who gets what - this is similar to how the North and South fought during the Civil War.
Secession: The action of withdrawing formally from membership of a federation or body, especially a political state.
Abolitionism: Movement to end slavery that existed primarily in Northern U.S. before Civil War.
Reconstruction Era: The period after the American Civil War from 1865-1877 when attempts were made to solve political, social, and economic problems arising from reintegration of Southern states into Union.
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