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Lincoln Elected
Abraham Lincoln is elected President, with Hannibal Hamlin as his Vice President. -
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American Civil War
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South Carolina Secedes
As a consequence of Lincoln’s election, the South Carolina legislature vote to secede from the Union. Other states would soon follow their lead and mark the beggining of the Civil War. -
Confederacy Formed
Seceding States form under one flag. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. They formed the Confederacy. -
Lincoln Inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the sixteenth President of the United States. -
Fort Sumter Falls
In order to rally the North and oppose the South from seceding, Lincoln reupplies Sumter with more forces. When the South attacks the North become more sympathetic to the cause; the North has something to fight for and enter the war mow willingly. -
First Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)
With an advantage of 40 scores of armed men, General McDowell leads 30,000 men against General Johnston's Southern troops in an attempt to crush the rebels and proceed to Richmond. The South claim victory and Northern morale decreasees. The Union starts the war with a disadvantage and McDowell is replaced by General McClellan. -
Emancipation Proclomation Conceived
Abraham Lincoln adresses the idea of Issuing a law to free all black slaves within the rebelling states. -
Fort Henry and Fort Donelson
General Grant captures two forts on the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. The Confederates are forced out of Kentucky. -
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The Peninsular Campaign
(Yorktown, Seven Days' Battle, Fair Oaks) -
Monitor vs. Merrimack
The Union and the South both create ironclad ships. This marked the first ironclad battle in history. Both ships exchanged fire for a day and came to a draw. The flaw in the design was the lack of firepower. Defensively, both ships were revolutionary. However, did not have the munition or power to pierce the compitions hull. -
Shiloh
General Lee commisioned a surprise attack on Grant's troops camped by the west bank of the river. With the element of surprise the Southern troops held the upper hand on the first day. THe following day Union reinforcements arrived and managed to pull through with a victory. Heavy casualties were inflicted on both sides. ( Union: 13, 000 South: 11, 000) -
Capture of New Orleans
Southern forces suffer heavy loss when Farragut sinks 11 of their ships and claims a strategic position in New Orleans. -
Second Battle of Bull Run (Manassas)
MClennon is replaced by General Pope who is defeated once again at Manassas. After the Battle Pope is replaced by MClennon. -
Antietam
Heavily outnumbered, Lee's troops face McClellan ina devastating battle. Over 23,000 casualties are endured by both sides combined ( more than all previous American wars combined) Lee then retreats to Virginia, his homestate. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
General Burnside attacks Lee's defensive position and suffers a major loss. -
Emancipation Proclomation Issued
With the victory at Antietam, Lincoln announces that on 1/1/63, all slaves in the Confederate states were henceforth free. This did not include border states unfortunately. Lincoln then encourages the freed slaves to join the Union force and fight for the cause. -
Chancellorsville
Jackson is mistakenly shot by his own men and General Hooker is defeated by Lee. -
Battle of Gettysburg
THe SOuth changes tactics and decides to bring the fight to the North. This is the first battle on Northern soil in the Civil war. Lee's goal was to obtain gettsyburg since it was such a strategic position. It was essential for northern trade and had access to many important roads. THe main reaon Lee wanted to take it was because it was above Washington. With Gettsyburg under his control Lee could capture Washington and win the war. Unfotunately for the south the Union line did not break. -
Battle of Vicksburg
After a long siege, Vicksburg surrenders to Grant. All of Mississippi River is now in Union control. The North has a hold on Confederate land and is starting to gain an advantage over the South. -
Battle of Chattanooga
Grant is reinforced by Eastern troops and pushes back the Southern troops, giving them the time necessary to prepare the assault on Atlanta. -
Wilderness & Spotsylvania
Lee halts Union troops at the Wilderness, but Grant resumes march to Richmondin spite of huge losses (55,000 men to South's 31,000), Grant was set on standing his ground even if it took all summer. -
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Petersburg
Grant focuses on important railroad junction and communication posts outside of Richmond. The long siege within Petersburg begins and troops reside in a 50 mile bunker. -
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Atlanta to Savanah
THe Confederate states do not seem to budge and the end of the war seems far off. General Sherman then destroys Atlanta and sends troops on 300 mile destructive march to the sea. Railroads are torn up, buildings are destroyed and crops are burned in an attempt to break the will of the South. -
Lincol is Re-elected
Lincoln is re-elected president with 55% of the popular vote. -
Surrender
Robert E. Lee recongnizes defeat and refuses to let his troops suffer any longer. He surrenders and the Confederate states are given generous terms. Additional Information: http://www.historycentral.com/CivilWar/Surrender.html -
Lincoln's Assasination
While watching a play at Ford's Theatre, John Wilkes Booth went into Lincoln's box and shot him in the back of the head. Booth was later found and killed. Abraham Lincoln died the next morning in a house across the street.
