What year did the American Civil War start?

The American Civil War started in 1861. This conflict arose primarily over issues such as slavery, states' rights, and economic disagreements between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy). The war officially began on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina.

Understanding the significance of this date is crucial to American history, as the Civil War had profound effects on the nation, leading to the abolition of slavery, significant social changes, and a reevaluation of civil rights in the subsequent Reconstruction era. The other years presented pertain to key events in American history—1776 marks the Declaration of Independence, 1865 signifies the end of the Civil War, and 1900 falls outside the era of the Civil War, making 1861 the only correct choice regarding the war's start.