In the context of the American Civil War, the Union, or the United States, is sometimes referred to as "the North", … See more

Unlike the Confederacy, the Union had a large industrialized and urbanized area (the Northeast), and more advanced commercial, transportation and financial systems than the rural South. Additionally, the Union s… See more

The attack on Fort Sumter rallied the North to the defense of American nationalism. Historian Allan Nevins writes:
The thunderclap of Sumter produced a startling crystallization of Northern sentiment ..… See more

Historians have overwhelmingly praised the "political genius" of Abraham Lincoln's performance as president. His first priority was military victory. This required that he master entirely new skills as a strategist and diplom… See more

The Republican Congress passed many major laws that reshaped the nation's economy, financial system, tax system, land system, and higher education system. These included: the Morrill tariff, the Homestea… See more

Enthusiastic young men clamored to join the Union army in 1861. They came with family support for reasons of patriotism and excitement. Washington decided to keep the small regular army intact; it had only 16,000 me… See more