The Battle of Gettyburg
The Civil War began in 1861. The primary political reason for the conflict is centered around State's rights. Many Southern States felt that the Federal Government controlled too much power.
Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860 led many Southerns to believe that the Federal Government would exercise its power to end slavery in new territories.
Southerners also feared that once slavery was outlawed in new territories, a Congressional majority would build against slavery in the Union as a whole.
Southerners went to war to preserve their believed right to owning slaves.
Background Information
Once the Civil War began, both the North, and the South thought the war was going to last only a few weeks with minimal loss of life on either side.
The South fired upon Fort Sumter in April 12 of 1861. To no one's suprise, The South captured the beleaugered Fort several days later. It wasn't until July 21st, 1861 that there was another skirmish between the North and the South.
The First Battle of Bull Run, or First Manassas would be the first battle in the Civil War where casualties were taken by eitherside.
The North believed that superior numbers and supplies would allow an easy capture of the South's capital in Richmond, VA. The North was soon shocked by a decisive victory at Manasss by the South.
From that point on, the South's superior military leadership and bold tactics allowed for the rebellion to persist. It wouldn't be until 1863 at Gettysburg that the North would have a decisive military victory over the South.