Original: Although the Union states included the Western states of California , Oregon , and ( after 1864 ) Nevada , as well as states generally considered to be part of the Midwest , the Union has been also often loosely referred to as '' the North '' , both then and now .
Simplified: The Union states included the Western states of California , Oregon , and ( after 1864 ) Nevada . They also included states usually thought to be part of the Midwest .