3 reasons to remember the American Civil War (1861-1865)

1 the first "Industrial" War and harbinger of thinks to come from trecnhes and (primitive) machine guns to balloons to bloody proofs that the "old ways of war "weren"t efective anymore (think about Frederickburg or Pickett's Charge )The Fitst World War only validated what should have been glarigly and bloody oblvious since the American Civl War
2. Liberation of African Americans.Without the Civil War their manunicion would happen in much later date if ever and in much shower rate that in reality
3, It proved that a governement :"elected by the people with the people, for the people" could face off with suceess a crisis of that magniotude against the expectatuions (and hopes) of some foreigh governements (think about Lord Russel in England and Napoleon III in France). There is no coincidence that the Second Electoral Reform (with a much expanded franchise) in Great Brtain happened AFTER Union's Victory had convinced many persons (think about Gladstone) that " Democracy works"