Common Lit: "A Nation Divided: North vs. South" by Us history.org

The American Civil War was fought within the United States from 1861 to 1865. The election of President Abraham Lincoln in 1860 increased tension between the North and South. Lincoln's political party was interested in stopping the spread of slavery, which was a central institution in the South. By May 1861, 11 Southern states had withdrawn from the U.S. and formed the Confederate States of America; the remaining Northern states was known as the Union. What followed was one of the bloodiest wars in American history. It also provides a guided reading mode, assessment, discussion questions, and teacher's guide. [Free account registration required for specific tools.]