The Georgia Civil War refers to the conflict that took place in the state of Georgia during the larger American Civil War from 1861 to 1865. Georgia was a key battleground due to its strategic location and resources, including railroads and cotton. Major battles, such as the Battle of Atlanta, were fought in the state, significantly impacting the war's outcome. In 1864, Union General William Tecumseh Sherman led his famous March to the Sea, a military campaign aimed at crippling the Confederate war effort. This campaign involved widespread destruction of infrastructure and supplies, which aimed to demoralize the Southern population and hasten the end of the war.