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The South Secedes
In January 1861, when Abraham Lincoln was elected president he was an opponent of slavery, so the South Carolina legislature was seen as a threat since they were a slave state. He called a state convention where the delegates voted to remove South Carolina from the United States of America. State by state, more conventions were held and seven states seceded from the United States. Eventually, these states formed the Confederate States of America. -
The South Creates a Government
In February 1861, at a convention in Montgomery, Alabama, the seven seceding states created the Confederate Constitution, a document similar to the Constitution of the United States. Then Jefferson Davis was named as the president of the Confederacy. -
The South Seizes Federal Forts
In February 1861, President Buchanan refused to surrender southern federal forts to the Confederate states, southern state troops seized them. At Fort Sumter, South Carolina troops stopped a supply ship trying to reach federal forces based in the fort. The ship was forced to retreat with its supplies undelivered. -
Lincoln's Inauguration
On March 4, during Lincoln's inauguration, he promised in his speech that he will not interfere with slavery in places it already existed. Though he also said that he would not accept secession and the seizure of federal property. Overall Lincoln hoped to overcome the crisis without war. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
On April 12 1861 the civil war officially started with shots fired on the fort. When President Lincoln was sending food to the Fort Sumter, he informed the state in advance to avoid hostilities. But South Carolina feared that it was a trick, and Robert Anderson the commander was asked to surrender and even though he offered to, he only offered after he had used his supplies. His offer was rejected and eventually Fort Sumter surrendered to South Carolina. -
Four More States Join the Confederacy
The attack on the fort provoked four other states, Arkansas, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia to join the Confederacy making it a total of 11 states in the Confederacy. With Virginia's secession, Richmond was named the Confederate capitol. -
West Virginia Is Born
After the Civil War, Virginia voted to secede but the majority of the citizens in West Virginia opposed. Leading Delegates to meet at Wheeling and on June 11, they nullified the Virginian ordinance of secession and announced the Restored Government. Even though Confederate forces occupied a portion of West Virginia during the war, West Virginia still got approved and made into a state by President Abraham Lincoln on June 20, 1863. -
Four Slave States Stay in the Union
In June 1861 the border states, Maryland, Delaware, Kentucky, and Missouri, where slave states but did not join the Confederacy and did not declare a secession on the Union. West Virginia separated from Virginia to join the Union which caused a separate government. -
First Battle of Bull Run
In July 1861 was the first battle for the armies in Virginia. The Union led by McDowell marched from Washington to go against the Confederates. Fighting occurred throughout the day while the Confederate army was driven back. The Confederates fought back and attacked the right side of the Union's army force. The Union army retreated and reached Washington safely. -
General McDowell Is Replaced
In July 1861 Lincoln realized the threat of the unexpectedly long lasting war and knew the army needed to be more organized so he replaced McDowell with General George B. McClellan. -
A Blockade of the South
In July 1861 the Union navy army needed to be trained to block the Confederates. Their training was completed in July and an effective blockade occurred. The Confederate army built small and fast ships to have an advantage over the Union’s vessels.