The Civil War in the United States, which lasted from 1861 to 1865, ultimately resulted in the abolition of slavery. The conflict arose primarily around the issue of slavery and its expansion into newly acquired territories. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, declared all slaves in Confederate states to be free. Following the war, the 13th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified in 1865, formally abolishing slavery throughout the entire nation. This monumental change not only transformed the lives of millions of African Americans but also marked a significant shift in American society and its legal framework.