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The Raid on Harper's Ferry
Radical abolitionist John Brown led a small group to raid the armoury at Harper's Ferry. He wanted to use the weapons to inspire a slave uprising in the South. However, he was captured and then later hanged for treason.
This event caused a lot of anger in abolitionists. -
The South Secedes
When Lincoln was elected, the southern states knew that he opposed slavery. They did not want to give up their slaves so, starting with South Carolina, those states seceded from the USA. South Carolina politician David Harris "Secession is a desperate remedy, but of the two evils [secession and abolition] I do think it is the lesser." All seceded states: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, North Carolina -
The South Creates a Government
In Montgomery, Alabama, the seven seceded states create the Confederate Constitution. It was modeled after the constitution of the USA, but it safe-gaurded slavery and emphasised state-independence. Jefferson Davis is named President of the Confederate States of America -
Lincoln is Inaugurated
Lincoln is inaugurated to the office of the President. The southeners knew, when Lincoln was elected that he would oppose slavery, so they suceeded even before he was inaugurated. -
Flashpoint: Fort Sumter
Some federal forts still remained in southern territory, like Fort Sumter (which guarded the harbour of Charleston).
Fort Sumter was beseiged by the southern forces, and the fort's commander called for relief. Lincoln hesitated in doing so because if he sent a naval force, it would start a war. He did send ships though, but before they arrived, the Confederate forces had already begun its capture of the fort. -
First Battle of Bull Run
Lincoln pushed General-in-Chief Winfield Scott, to attack before his troops were fully trained and ready. They attacked at Richmond, the Confederate Capital, and lost. -
The Trent Incident
A British ship, carrying two Confederate officers who were on their way to Britain to gain recognition from Britain and France, was stopped by a Union ship and searched. The Confederate officers were captured and taken to Boston. However, the British government objected to this and threatened war. Eventually, the two countries came to an agreement and the moment passed. -
Moniter and Merrimac
Confederate engineers converted he U.S.S. Merrimac, into an iron-sided vessel rechristened the C.S.S. Virginia. On March 9, in the first naval engagement between ironclad ships, the Monitor fought the Virginia and tied, but not before the Virginia had sunk two wooden Union ships -
Battle of Antietam
Maryland. General Lee retreated to Virginia so the battle was considered a Union victory. -
Fredericksburg
Confederate victory. Union casualties: 12,653
Confederate casualties: 5,309 Union lost after 14 frontal assualts on Rebels at Marye's Heights -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln proclaimed that all slaves in the rebelling states were free.
However, the slaves still in the Union are not freed and the slaves in the South did not know about this. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The South came to attack Gettysburg (located directly North of Washington). Meades and his troops met the South and delayed them from getting to Gettysburg. The result was a Union victory.
Pickett's charge resulted in many Confederate casualties.
A flanking group of soldiers:
The Union charged with their bayonets because they were out of ammunition. Because they were on such a high hill, they gained much momentum from their charge at the South and the southern troops surrendered from fright. -
The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln makes this famous speech at Gettysburg. He never says anything about sides in his speech.
His speech was so short that he thought it was a failure, but the next day, papers across the North were full of praise for it. -
Union takes Richmond
The Union army is successful in driving out General Lee from the Confederate capitol Richmond. This is a major factor in the South's surrender. -
Lee Surrenders
General Robert E. Lee finally surrenders; therefore the Confederacy surrenders. The war is over and the Union have one. However, other Confederate leaders who did not know of Lee's surrender, continued fighting the Battle of Columbus and the Battle of West Point
