How long was American Civil War?

American Civil War lasted 4 years (1861 – 1865) across 4 major phases.

Duration Overview

Duration

4 years

Start

1861 AD

End

1865 AD

Opening (1861) 264 days

1861 AD – 1861 AD

Fort Sumter. Bull Run. Both sides realize it won't be quick.

Escalation (1862) 1 years

1862 AD – 1862 AD

Shiloh, Antietam, Fredericksburg. Emancipation Proclamation.

Turning Point (1863) 1 years

1863 AD – 1863 AD

Gettysburg. Vicksburg. Confederacy split. Tide turns permanently.

Total War (1864-65) 1 years

1864 AD – 1865 AD

Sherman's March. Grant grinds Lee. Richmond falls. Appomattox.

That's 4 years — about 1461 days. Short enough that people alive at the start could remember the end.

How long was American Civil War?

4 years (April 12, 1861 – April 9, 1865). 620,000-750,000 dead — more Americans than all other US wars combined until Vietnam.

When did American Civil War start and end?

American Civil War began in 1861 and ended in 1865, spanning 4 years.