Name the U.S. war between the North and the South.

Why This Matters

This question asks you to name the U.S. war between the North and the South. The answer is the Civil War, also called the War between the States. Either name is accepted by USCIS.

The Civil War lasted from 1861 to 1865 and was the most devastating war in American history. It was fought between the Northern states (called the Union) and the Southern states (called the Confederacy). The Northern states wanted to keep the country united and eventually fought to end slavery. The Southern states wanted to form their own separate nation so they could keep slavery and protect what they called states' rights.

The war began after several Southern states seceded, meaning they officially left the United States, following the election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860. Lincoln opposed the spread of slavery, and Southern leaders feared he would try to end it. The first shots were fired at Fort Sumter in South Carolina in April 1861. Over the next four years, more than 600,000 American soldiers died, more than in any other war the country has ever fought. The war ended in 1865 when the Confederate army surrendered. The Union was preserved, and slavery was abolished through the Thirteenth Amendment. The Civil War fundamentally changed America by ending slavery and strengthening the power of the federal government.

Key Facts

• The Civil War (1861-1865) was fought between the North (Union) and the South (Confederacy)
• It is also called the War between the States
• More than 600,000 soldiers died, making it the deadliest American war
• The war ended slavery and preserved the United States as one nation
• Abraham Lincoln was President during the Civil War

Common Mistakes

• Saying "the Revolutionary War", that was fought against Britain, not between the North and South
• Saying "the War of 1812", that was also fought against Britain
• Not knowing the alternative name, "the War between the States" is also correct

Study Tip

The key phrase in the question is "between the North and the South." Only one war fits that description: the Civil War. If you hear "North and South," always think Civil War. This question connects to Questions 74, 75, and 76, so studying them together saves time.