HowStuffWorks "American Civil War"

WHAT'S INSIDE: CIVIL WAR

The Civil War was a conflict that threatened to break the relatively new country of America apart. Here you can explore the causes of this conflict and how some of the major battles in this war played out.

Battles & Incidents
Confederate Leaders
Glossary
Slavery
Union Leaders
Post Civil War

Battles & Incidents
We all know about the importance of the battle at Gettysburg, but do you know about some of the other battles of the Civil War? This section contains articles that explain other major clashes in the American Civil War.
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Confederate Leaders
Confederate leaders, such as Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, led the Southern states in their fight for states' rights. This section contains information about the lives of Confederate generals and other Confederate leaders.
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Glossary
Do you know what dixie means, or what secession is? You can find out the meaning of terms associated with the Civil War in this American Civil War glossary.
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Slavery
Slavery was one of the most controversial aspects of American history. It brought the country of the United States to the brink of collapse in the 1860s, and the after-effects can still be felt today. You can explore the history of slavery in America in this section.
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Union Leaders
Union leaders, such as Ulysses S. Grant and George McClellan, led the American army in the fight to restore order to the Union. Here you can find information about important Union figures.
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Post Civil War
The years following the Civil War saw the nation mourn over the loss of a president, and struggle to pick up the pieces after a long and bloody war. You can learn about the rebuilding process that took place after the Civil War in this section.
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FEATURED: CIVIL WAR

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David Glasgow Farragut

Farragut, David Glasgow (1801 - 1870), a United States naval officer. Farragut, a naval hero of the Civil War, was the first to attain the rank of admiral in the U.S.