<span> The South was placed under military rule and divided into military districts. Southern states then had to apply for readmission to the Union. </span><span>The nation was reunited and the southern states were not allowed to secede. </span><span> The Federal government proved itself supreme over the states. Essentially this was a war over states rights and federalism and the victor was the power of the national government </span><span>Slavery was effectively ended. While slavery was not officially outlawed until the passage of the 13th amendment, the slaves were set free upon the end of the war. </span><span>Reconstruction, the plan to rebuild America after the war, began.</span>
