Human Cost: The Civil War resulted in a staggering loss of life and widespread suffering. Both the Union and the Confederacy experienced significant casualties, with estimates of over 600,000 soldiers killed and countless civilians affected by the conflict.
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Emancipation and the End of Slavery: The Union's victory led to the abolition of slavery in the United States. The ratification of the 13th Amendment to the Constitution in 1865 formally abolished slavery nationwide.
Reconstruction Challenges: The period following the war, known as Reconstruction, aimed to rebuild the Southern states and integrate former slaves into society. Reconstruction faced challenges such as the resistance of white Southerners to change, the struggle for civil rights, and the establishment of new political and social systems.