The key outcomes of the American Civil War included the abolition of slavery, significant shifts in political and social structures, and the Reconstruction era that followed. The Emancipation Proclamation and the 13th Amendment formally ended slavery in the United States, fundamentally altering the nation’s social fabric. The war also resulted in the assertion of federal power over states' rights, reshaping the balance of government authority. Additionally, the conflict spurred economic transformation, particularly in the South, transitioning from agrarian dependence to industrial growth. The unresolved issues of race relations and civil rights continued to influence American society long after the war ended.