* Initially, there was a great deal of enthusiasm for the war effort. Many Northerners believed that the war was a moral crusade to end slavery and preserve the Union. They were willing to make sacrifices to support the war effort, including sending their sons to fight and paying higher taxes.
* As the war dragged on, however, morale began to decline. The war was costing a great deal of money and lives, and there was no clear end in sight. Many Northerners became frustrated and disillusioned, and some even began to call for peace negotiations with the South.
* Despite the challenges, the North eventually prevailed in the war. This was due in part to the North's superior industrial capacity, as well as the leadership of President Abraham Lincoln and the military genius of General Ulysses S. Grant.
In the South:
* Initially, there was a great deal of optimism in the South. Southerners believed that they were fighting for their independence and way of life, and they were confident that they would ultimately defeat the North.
* As the war progressed, however, the South began to suffer from a number of problems. The North's blockade of Southern ports made it difficult for the South to import goods, and the South's economy began to collapse. Confederate soldiers were often poorly equipped and underfed, and many died from disease or malnutrition.
* By the end of the war, the South was devastated. The South had lost over 600,000 soldiers, and its economy was in ruins. The South had also been defeated politically, and it would take many years for the region to recover.