Historical Event
Civil War
The Civil War, fought from 1861 to 1865 primarily in the United States, was a pivotal conflict between the Northern states (Union) and the Southern states (Confederacy) over issues including slavery and states' rights. African Americans played a critical role in the war, with many escaping slavery to join the Union Army, contributing to battles and the eventual liberation of enslaved people through the Emancipation Proclamation of 1863.
Why This Matters
The Civil War is significant to the Transatlantic Reconnection narrative as it catalyzed a re-examination of freedom and resistance, linking the struggles of African Americans in the United States with contemporary struggles for autonomy and human rights in Africa. By understanding the shared histories of resistance against oppression, both groups can forge stronger ties in their collective journeys toward equity and justice.
Timeline Context
Road to Freedom
See journey timeline
Related People
54th Massachusetts Regiment
1863–1865
Abraham Lincoln
1809–1865
Andrew Johnson
1808–1875
Benjamin Butler
1818–1893
Border Ruffians
?–?
Enslaved workers of Magnolia Plantation
?–?
Frederick Douglass
1818–1895
Free-Staters
?–?
Gullah Geechee community leaders
?–?
Harriet Tubman
1822–1913
John Brown
1800–1859
Lewis Hayden
1811–1889
Penn Center founders
?–?
Richard Vanderhorst
?–?
Robert Gould Shaw
1850–1931
United States Colored Troops (USCT)
?–?
William Harvey Carney
1840–1908
William Henry Miles
1888–1975
William Lloyd Garrison
1805–1879
William Still
1821–1902
Related Heritage Sites
African American Civil War Memorial
Washington, DC
Andersonville National Historic Site
Andersonville, GA
Andrew Johnson National Historic Site
Greeneville, TN
Antietam National Battlefield
Sharpsburg, MD
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Appomattox, VA
Boston African American National Historic Site
Boston, MA
Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
Middletown, VA
Christian Methodist Episcopal (CME) Church — National Headquarters
Memphis, TN
Fort Monroe National Monument
Hampton, VA
Fort Scott National Historic Site
Fort Scott, KS
Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park
Charleston, SC
Frederick Douglass National Historic Site
Washington, DC
Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor
Beaufort, SC
Harpers Ferry National Historical Park
Harpers Ferry, WV
Harriet Tubman National Historical Park
Auburn, NY
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park
Church Creek, MD
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park
Kennesaw, GA
Magnolia Plantation and the Slave Street
Cloutierville, LA
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Manassas, VA
Monocacy National Battlefield
Frederick, MD
Pea Ridge National Military Park
Garfield, AR
Petersburg National Battlefield
Petersburg, VA
Robert Gould Shaw and Massachusetts 54th Regiment Memorial
Boston, MA
Shiloh National Military Park
Shiloh, TN
Springfield Armory National Historic Site
Springfield, MA
Vicksburg National Military Park
Vicksburg, MS
Related Lessons
Black Reconstruction: The Congressmen, the Legislation, and the Collapse
Unit 4
Serving and Sacrificing: Black Military Service from Reconstruction to World War II
Unit 4.5
Black Political Representation: From Reconstruction to the Senate Floor
Unit 7
The Political Convention & Public Voice (1820–1840)
Unit 4
Freedom's Soldiers: African Americans and the Civil War
Unit 4