The Civil War was a gruesome four year fight. The war ended in the spring of 1861. Robert E. Lee surrendered the last major army to Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865. This was not quite the end, the final battle was fought at Palmito Ranch., Texas, May 13, 1865. More lives were lost in the Civil War than in any other war, 620,000. The rebellious states turned Union. The Civil War is very important, because of the Union winning, Lincoln was assassinated. This was the first assassination made on a president. Slavery ended in the Southern states after the war. Justice was being served for the African Americans, Emancipation Proclamation . Women began playing a bigger role.