War of Secession (Viva California)

Known in the United States as the War of Secession and in the former Confederate States of America as the War of Northern Aggression this was the first of a series of bloody wars that rocked North America.

Beginning with the declared secession of South Carolina, and followed shortly thereafter by states south and east of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, the War of Secession was hard fought.

Historians cite the major turning point in favor of the CSA as being the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Vicksburg.

The Battle of Vicksburg was supported by Texan mercenaries, which lead to the defeat of union forces. Had they succeeded, supply lines to the CSA would've been severed. With this vitory, southern forces were able to rally against the "Aggressors."

In the Battle of Gettysburg, Pickett's charge of Cemetary Hill routed the Northerners, paving the way for a string of victories that greatly strengthened the Southern position for a time.



By the time of elections in 1864, public opinion had turned against Abraham Lincoln and George B. McClellan was elected president. Shortly thereafter a peace was arranged and borders with the south were fixed as shown in the map at right.

The CSA was recognized by Britain as a sovereign nation, still wounded by the loss of the Oregon Country.