The Civil War began on April 12, 1861 when the Confederate soldiers bombed fort Sumter, which was under Union Control. The Civil War ended on April 9, 1865 when Robert E. Lee a general in the Confederate Army surrendered at McLean House in the village known as Appomattox Court House in Virginia. April 9th is considered the official date when the war ended however, there were still some fighting that happened afterwards. Hopefully this helps.