What significant event occurred when Confederate Army general Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865?

The surrender of Confederate Army General Robert E. Lee on April 9, 1865, at Appomattox Courthouse is a pivotal moment in American history, symbolizing the end of the Civil War. This event marked the effective collapse of the Confederacy and led to the subsequent surrender of other Confederate forces. Lee's surrender was significant not only because it signified the culmination of a brutal conflict that had lasted four years but also because it set the stage for the reunification of the nation. The surrender occurred in a tense atmosphere, but Lee’s decision to lay down arms was aimed at preventing further unnecessary bloodshed and beginning the healing process for a fractured nation. It is often regarded as a turning point in American history, and from this surrender, many subsequent efforts were initiated toward Reconstruction and healing of the national divines.