The U.S. Civil War officially concluded in 1865, following the surrender of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9. This pivotal moment marked the end of four years of intense conflict over issues such as slavery, states' rights, and national unity. The war resulted in significant loss of life, with estimates ranging from 600,000 to 750,000 soldiers perishing. Its conclusion laid the groundwork for the Reconstruction era, where efforts were made to reintegrate the Southern states into the Union and address the rights of freed slaves in America.