what happened before the battle of petersburg?

Question

politically, slavery issues, etc Civil war

Answer 1

Are you asking about the American Civil War? Gee, just a few things to say there . . .

Try this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Civil_War

For more in-depth reading, try:
"From Manassas to Apppomatox" by Gen James Longstreet
"The American Civil War" by Shelby Foote
and any one of hundreds of bollks written about the Civil War, to include almost any High School History book