The Civil War was more than just a series of battles. It was a nationwide catastrophe that had a profound impact on all aspects of American society.
Men were taken from farms, factories, and plantations and sent to fight one another leaving women and children to tend to the home front. Huge casualties on both sides meant that everyone was directly affected by the carnage, even those living far from the scene of battle. In the areas where battles did occur, homes, farms, schools, and bridges were leveled.
All in all, war led to the dislocation of American society on an unprecedented scale.