Civil War

Abraham Lincoln

November 6, 1860 - Abraham Lincoln, who had declared "Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free..." is elected president, the first Republican, receiving 180 of 303 possible electoral votes and 40 percent of the popular vote.

United States FlagThe admission of Kansas as our 34th state in January, 1861 led to a flag of 34 stars. At this time was our official flag for all.  Among the 34 states in January 1861, seven Southern slave states individually declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America.

A Nation Divided

The Confederate States of America then formed their own rebel flag. It evolved over time.

First national flag: "The Stars and Bars" (1861–1863)

Second national flag: "The Stainless Banner" (1863–1865)

Third national flag: "The Blood-Stained Banner" (1865)

Battle flag

The war had its origin in the fractious issue of slavery, especially the extension of slavery into the western territories. After four years of combat, which left over 600,000 Union and Confederate soldiers dead and destroyed much of the South's infrastructure, the Confederacy collapsed and slavery was abolished in the South.

Abolition of Slavery