What brought the Civil War to an end in April 1865?

The Civil War ended in April 1865 primarily due to the surrender of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee, to the Union Army, led by General Ulysses S. Grant. This decisive event is often referred to as the "Surrender at Appomattox Court House." Here's a summary of the events leading to the surrender and the end of the Civil War:

1. Siege of Petersburg: By March 1865, the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia, and the nearby city of Petersburg were under siege by Union forces. As Union troops closed in, Lee's army faced dwindling supplies, desertions, and low morale.

2. Breakthrough at Petersburg: On April 2, 1865, Union forces launched a surprise assault on Confederate lines near Petersburg, breaking through the defenses. This breakthrough paved the way for Union troops to enter Petersburg.

3. Abandonment of Richmond: Faced with the fall of Petersburg, Confederate forces abandoned Richmond on the night of April 2. President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet fled southward.

4. Retreat and Pursuit: Lee attempted to retreat with his army westward toward Lynchburg, Virginia, but Union cavalry units under Generals Philip Sheridan and George Meade pursued closely.

5. Surrender at Appomattox: Realizing that further resistance would be futile and to avoid unnecessary bloodshed, Lee agreed to meet with Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

6. Terms of Surrender: During the meeting at Appomattox, Lee surrendered the Army of Northern Virginia to Grant. The terms of surrender were generous. Confederate soldiers were allowed to return home with their personal belongings, and officers were permitted to keep their sidearms.

7. Significance of the Surrender: The surrender at Appomattox marked a turning point in the Civil War. It effectively ended the largest and most organized Confederate army in the field, and other Confederate armies soon followed suit, surrendering or disbanding.

8. End of the Civil War: With the surrender of Lee's army and the subsequent collapse of Confederate resistance, the Civil War came to an end. Although sporadic fighting continued in some regions, the surrender at Appomattox is widely regarded as the decisive moment that brought the conflict to a close.

The end of the Civil War ushered in a period of Reconstruction, during which the United States grappled with the challenges of reuniting the country, abolishing slavery, and addressing the aftermath of the war.