- The end of major combat operations in the American Civil War. With the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, the largest and most powerful Confederate army, the Confederacy effectively collapsed. Remaining Confederate armies soon surrendered, and the Union emerged victorious.
- The end of slavery in the United States. The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, had already freed slaves in Confederate territory, but it was not until the surrender at Appomattox that slavery was finally abolished throughout the United States.
- The beginning of Reconstruction. The surrender at Appomattox marked the beginning of the Reconstruction era, a period of rebuilding and reconciliation in the aftermath of the Civil War. Reconstruction lasted until 1877, and during this time, the United States underwent significant political, economic, and social changes.
The long-term effects of the surrender at Appomattox have been debated by historians for many years. Some of the most significant long-term effects include:
- The rise of the United States as a world power. The victory in the Civil War established the United States as a major military power, and it also paved the way for the United States to become the dominant economic power in the world.
- The end of the plantation system in the South. The defeat of the Confederacy and the abolition of slavery led to the end of the plantation system in the South. This had profound economic and social implications for the region, and it also contributed to the rise of industrialization and urbanization in the United States.
- The establishment of the principle of equal protection under the law for African Americans. The ratification of the 14th and 15th Amendments to the United States Constitution after the Civil War established the principle of equal protection under the law for African Americans. This was a major step forward in the struggle for civil rights in the United States, but it also led to backlash and resistance from white Southerners.
The surrender at Appomattox is considered one of the most significant events in American history. It marked the end of a bloody and divisive war, and it paved the way for the United States to become the powerful and prosperous nation that it is today.