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Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation in order to free the slaves in all southern states (CSA). This was a political move in order to upset the south, but he did not include the border states because they would turn to the Confederacy and they were crucial in the war for the Union. The greatest significance is that slaves escaped and joined the Union army (180,000) which made up roughly 10% of the forces for the North. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
This was one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War with 30,000 combined casulties from the North and South (4th ranked). Within the top 5 bloddiest battles, 1/4 of the casulties resulted. This took place in Spotsylvania Country, Virginia. A significant detail is that Confederate forces accidentally shot Stonewall Jackson lowering Souther morale and killing one of the south's best generals adn Lee's "right arm." It ended on May 6, 1863. -
Battle of Vickburg
On the Western Campaign, Grant made a milestone for the Union forces. Ending a day after the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Vickburg was a much needed Union victory because it divided the south in two and took away the Mississippi River from the Confederacy (one of the Union's goals). It help secured Lincoln's second presidency and boost morale of North. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle was the bloodiest throughout the entire war ( 51,000 casulties from North and South combined), but it was one of the Union's victories. It help secure Lincoln's second presidency and boost morale of North. Lee lost aproximately 1/3 of his army. -
Battle of the Wilderness
This was the 5th bloodiest battle in the civil war with 29,800 casulties. Essentially, it was a tie between the two forces but days later it led to another one of the bloodiest battles in the war (30,000 casulties in the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House). -
Lincoln re-elected
These come from the victories at Gettsyburg and VIcksburg. Because he was re-elected, he could inact his reconstruction plans. HOwever, he was killed before being able to do so. -
General Sherman's March to the Sea (Savannah Campaign)
Using the tactic of total war, General William Tecumseh Sherman leveled and burned everything in his path in Georgia. The main goal was to meet up with Grant and sandwich the Confederate Army. This was a brutal tactic and left the south in economic ruin. It was so bad that it took half a century for the south to get back on their feet. -
Atlanta falls
Atlanta was a large railroad area for the south and when Sherman arrived, he burnt and melted down railroads tracks therefore cutting off the South supplies even more. The main goal was to meet up with Grant and sandwich the Confederate Army. His tactic to invade without extra supplies was one of the most gutsy of the time. -
Battle of Appomattox Courthouse
Lee (Confederate) surrendered to Grant (Union) in Virginia. It was the end to the near 4 year war that cost over 600,000 plus casulties and left the nation broken as ever. From the end of war began reconstruction. -
Lincoln's assasination
The Great Emancipator was assasinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's theatre within days of the end of the war. His plan (10% plan) for reconstruction would not take place. Vice President Andrew Johnson becomes president.