The American Civil War

The American Civil War

Wednesday, April 4th

Putnam County Junior High

for 7th Graders only

The American Civil War is said to be one of the bloodiest wars in American history. The war, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, was between the Confederate States of America and the remaining states of the Union. In 1861, seven of the slave states in the South decided to secede from the United States and form the Confederate States. They attacked Fort Sumter and the confederacy grew to 11 of the 34 states. Historian Jim Gibbons will discuss the events that took place before, during, and after the Civil War and how it claimed the lives of over 700,000 American soldiers. Gibbons will explain how after the war, slavery was abolished in the country and national unity was restored. He will also discuss the importance of Juneteenth and how it commemorates the emancipation of African American slaves. Gibbons will explain the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, signed by President Joe Biden in 2021, to officially make June 19th a National Holiday of Freedom. McNabb library branch will be hosting this event.