The Civil War influenced the beginning of American Realism by shifting literature away from romanticized, idealized portrayals of life toward more truthful, detailed depictions of ordinary people and real social conditions.ExplanationBefore the Civil War, much of American literature was dominated by Romanticism, which often focused on emotion, imagination, and heroic ideals. The brutal realities of the Civil War — death, destruction, political conflict, and social change — made these idealized portrayals feel disconnected from actual life. Writers began to focus on,Everyday life and ordinary characters instead of idealized heroes.Accurate social settings that reflected post-war America.Moral and psychological complexity rather than simple good-versus-evil themes.This new approach, known as Realism, aimed to represent life “as it is,” showing the struggles, flaws, and resilience of people during a rapidly changing America.