From Crimea War to World War I (1853-1913) By beate93 Oct 1, 1853 Crimean War begins Feb 1, 1856 Crimean War ends Apr 12, 1861 American Civil War begins Decades of simmering tensions between the Northern and Southern United States over issues including states' rights versus federal authority, westward expansion and slavery exploded into the American Civil War. Period: Jan 1, 1865 to Dec 31, 1914 Golden age of war correspondence Apr 1, 1865 American Civil War ends Jul 19, 1870 Franco-Prussian War begins May 10, 1871 Franco-Prussian War ends May 28, 1871 Paris Commune Apr 24, 1877 Russo-Turkish War begins Jan 31, 1878 Russo-Turkish War ends Apr 25, 1898 Spanish-American war begins Aug 12, 1898 Spanish-American war ends