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The American Civil War
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The Election of 1860
The election of 1860 was run by Republican canidate, Abraham Lincoln, and Democratic canidate, John C. Breckinridge. At this time, sectionalism was prominent with Democrats all voting south and Republican all voting north. Just a month after Abraham Lincoln's signing into office, southern territories began seceding left and right, starting with South Carolina. -
Jefferson Davis
The first and only president of the Confederate States of America. However, he came up short as a leader due to his inability to contain the economy, and flaws in military strategy. Although, he was still considered to be a Civil War hero to many Southeners, despite his lack of success. -
Robert E. Lee
General of the Confederate army, and one of the most well known military figures in American history, General Lee is considered to be one of the most tacitful men on the battlefield. Despite being asked to be the leader of the Union army, Lee wished to stay true to his home state Virginia and became General of the Confederacy. With his tactical skills, Lee would come close to winning the war until the Anaconda plan caught up to him and his loss to General Grant at the Appomatox Courthouse. -
Fort Sumter
The first shots of the Civil War are fired at Fort Sumter. Lincoln attempted to send provisions to the Charleston base, but recieved southern fire instead. In turn of the attack, more southern states started to secede along the side of South Carolina and joined the Confederacy. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Eventual General of the Union Army, Grant is credited for tne win of the battles that end the Civil War. With the Anaconda Plan in effect, Grant reached his way to the capitol of the South, Richmond and would eventually lead to Lee's surrender at Appomatox Courthouse. Because of his heroic deeds, Grant would eventually serve as President of the US for two full terms. -
Winfield Scott and the Anaconda Plan
Winfield Scott, also going by the names of "Old Fuss and Feathers" and "Grand Old Man of the Army" served as a General longer than any other man in US Military History. His Anaconda Plan undergone by the Union would aid in the defeat of the Confederacy to win the war. The plan was to cut off all supplies to the South by taking over major ports and the Mississippi. Disallowing the Confederacy from recieving any supplies and cut off their way of communication was super effective. -
Battle of Bull Run
Union troops marched down to Manassas Junction in hope to end what they thought would be a short war. While they were coming close to victory, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson of the Confederacy marches in with troops that send the Union into panic as they retreat back to Washington. It was soon recognized that the war would be a lot longer than anyone would imagine. -
Thomas Stonewall Jackson
General Thomas Stonewall Jackson was the man behind the Confederate Victory at the First Battle of Bull Run. He recieved his nickname Stonewall from the Second Battle of Manassas (The Second Battle at Bull Run). With his excellent skills as a General, and as one of the most well known Generals of the Confederate Army, his valor proved worthy through out the Civil War, despite the Confederate loss. -
George McClellan
McClellan was a General for the Union during the Civil War. His role was a sketchy one though, for he had a bad reputation throughout the war. He was the winner of the turning point battle at Antietam. However, he had scarcely won it. He could have prevented it from being the bloodiest battle in American history by giving full details of his battle plan to his commanders and use his two extra corps. Regardless, his victory at Antietam would allow Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Monitor and Merrimac
Argued to be one of the most important naval battles in the Civil War, Monitor and Merrimac was named after the iron clad ships that revolutionized naval warfare, rather than the traditional location of the battle. The battle ended up receiving world wide attention, and caused countries such as Britain and France to build iron ships, or monitors, rather than traditional wooden ones. The battle itself however, never had a determined winner in the end. -
Battle of Antietam
The battle of Antietam was the first major battle on Northern terrioty. With over 23,000 casulaties on both sides, thw Union's took a crucial win over the Confederate Army led by Gen. Lee. With the victory, the Southern push to Northern territory was stopped and also stopped Britain and France from aknowledging the Confederacy as a nation. Without this win, the Union may have not won the war as this battle was a large turning point for the North. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln proposed to free all slaves just after the win of the Battle of Antietam. It initially freed 5000 slaves, with more and more freed as the North captured the South. This proclamation had brought more hope for the North, and gave the public a reason for the fighting when popularity on the war was low. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg laid heavy casualties on the Union, with more than double of that of the Confederacy. The battle was a full out assault on Stonewall's troops, but all repelled. The Union lost, and the objective to eventually reach the Confederate capitol, Richmond, was out of sight. With the win for the South, the Confederacy gained more morale to help keep the fight in them for longer, -
Battle of Vicksburg
This battle was the final battle in the Vicksburg campaign. With Grant retrieving a Union victory, this battle would successfully cut off communication with the South due to the loss of their Trans-Mississippi department. Also, the Union established hold of the Mississippi river for the remainder of the war, with the Anaconda Plan seeming to work very well for the Union. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Considered historically to be the turning point in the war, this battle stopped Lee from further invasion of Northern territory. With approx. 50,000 casualties total, Lincoln would eventually lead up to a memorial for those lost at battle. The win would make the North ecstatic, whilst the South viewed it simply as a setback. -
Gettysburg Address
As one of the most best-known speeches in American history, the Address delievered by Lincoln had invoked the principles of human equality to the people. The goal of the speech however, was to regain Northern support for the war. Lincoln attempted to sustain Union spirits because of the many anti-war and anti-Lincoln groups sprouting up. -
Sherman's March
The Savannah Campaign led by Gen. Sherman greatly devestated the South in many ways. His march through Georgia successfully undertook the capitol Atlanta and the port Savannah which devestated Confederate economy. This battle didn't only hurt the South's economy, but also their morale, which helped induce the war's victory the next year. -
Appomattox Courthouse
The final engagement between Grant and Lee would prove Grant as the overall victor. Lee has outnumbered by Grant because of his two hidden corps, and when brought attention to Lee, he immediately surrendered. The signing of the surrender documents only disbanded the Northern Virginia Army, however, this army was the largest brigade in the South, effectively calling it a Southern surrender, -
Lincoln Assassination
Shot in Ford's theatre while watching a play, John Wilkes Booth would be the first man to assassinate a President. The country mourned his death, and his burial in his hometown Springfield would be done by transportation by train, which many people gathered around to watch as Lincoln's body passed by. His death was a setback, but brought the people together for the grieving of the passed President.
