Civil War Leaders: Key Figures from Both Sides

The Civil War was profoundly influenced by the leaders who commanded both the Union and the Confederacy. For the Union, President Abraham Lincoln stood as a symbol of determination to preserve the nation, authoring the Emancipation Proclamation that reshaped the war's purpose. General Ulysses S. Grant emerged as a decisive military leader, leading Union forces to crucial victories. On the Confederate side, President Jefferson Davis guided the secessionist states, while General Robert E. Lee was esteemed for his tactical brilliance despite limited resources. These main characters played pivotal roles in the Civil War, shaping the strategies and outcomes of this defining American conflict.