The American Civil War officially ended in 1865, with the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee at Appomattox Court House on April 9. This conflict, which began in 1861, was primarily rooted in issues like slavery, states' rights, and economic differences between the North and South. The war resulted in significant loss of life and lasting divisions in American society. Following the war, the Reconstruction era sought to address the aftermath, including the integration of formerly enslaved people into society and the re-establishment of Southern states in the Union, shaping future civil rights movements.