The American Civil War – 10 Numbers You Should Know

In every country, people figure out reasons to temporarily or permanently hate each other.  The United States is no exception.  The 19th-century American Civil War pitted a group of southern states (the Confederacy) against their northern counterparts (the Union).  Why? The southern states believed in the right of states to pursue economic self-determination.  In particular, they hoped to preserve their agricultural economy and not have it threatened by policies guided by the more industrialized North.  And how exactly was the agricultural economy maintained? Through slavery.

As such, the American Civil War ultimately boiled down to one hot button issue.  Though time has passed, certain wounds remain obvious, especially when carelessly exposed.  In fact, a deeper understanding of current political discourse (if you really want that for whatever reason) is greatly facilitated by a little insight into the Civil War and its aftermath.  With that in mind, here are 10 numbers you should know.

 

4 million

The estimated number of African Americans who were enslaved at the start of the Civil War.  The total population of the U.S. at the time was around 31 million.  In other words, slaves represented close to 13% of the U.S. population.

 

11

The number of southern states that seceded from the United States (the Union) to form the Confederate States of America.  Included were Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

 

5

The number of border states.  These were slave states that did not secede from the Union.  Included were Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri.  The fifth was West Virginia, which actually formed from part of Virginia and became a Union state in the middle of the war.  Kentucky and Missouri were given representation in the Confederate States Congress.  All border states contributed large numbers of soldiers to both sides of the war.

 

4

The number of years the war lasted.  The first shots were fired by the Confederacy on April 12, 1861.  The target was Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, a longstanding federal garrison that suddenly found itself in “foreign” territory.  Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox Court House in Virginia.

 

3

The number of days the Battle of Gettysburg lasted.  From July 1-3, 1863, the Confederate attempt to invade the North (Pennsylvania) was successfully thwarted by Union troops.  The unfortunate result was over 50,000 casualties.  Although the battle occurred in the middle of the war, it is typically viewed as a key turning point.

 

272

The word count of the Gettysburg Address, President Abraham Lincoln’s iconic speech and one of the most influential speeches in American history.  Delivered on November 19, 1863, four and a half months after the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln honored the perished and resolved that they would not have died in vain.

 

620,000

The approximate number of soldiers who died in the Civil War.  Some estimates have the number closer to 750,000.  Either way, the figure is similar to American deaths in all other wars combined.

 

13

The number of the Constitutional amendment that was proposed during the Civil War.  Eventually ratified on December 6, 1865, this amendment abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime.

 

14

The number of the next Constitutional amendment that stemmed from the Civil War and its aftermath.  Ratified on July 9, 1868, it granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States, including formerly enslaved people.  All citizens were guaranteed “equal protection of the laws.”

 

15

The number of the last Constitutional amendment directly attributable to Civil War repercussions.  Ratified on February 3, 1870, it prohibited the denial of the right to vote based on race, color, or previous condition of servitude.

 

Of course, these numbers capture only a tiny sliver of a story that in many ways continues to be told.  Just be sure, as always, to check your sources.