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Period: to
Civil War
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The Election of 1860
During the election of 1860 the Democratic party split. Stephen Douglas and John C. Breckenridge were chosen as Democratic party leaders. The Republican convention was held in Chicago and Abraham Lincoln was nominated. He looked to remove slavery from all territories and establish a protective tariff on industry. In the end Lincoln was victorious and won 59% of the electorial votes and 39.8% of the popular vote becoming the nation's 16 president. -
Jefferson Davis Election
Jefferson Davis was the one and only president of the Confederate States of America. He came into office after resigning from the U.S. senate and was selected as President. During his four years in office Davis took control over. Unfortunately for the South, Davis was unsuccessful at combating the more organized and powerful Union. Davis' political efforts were unsuccessful as he spent more and more money on the war expenses and failed to focus on the South's collapsing economy. -
Fort Sumter
The battle at Fort Sumter occured in Charlestown SC, and lasted from April 10th to April 13th 2:30 P.M. Conflict began when Gen. Beauregard of the Confederate forces demanded the surrender of the Union garrison of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Union commader Anderson refused resulting in the Confederates to open fire and continue til the next afternoon until Anderson surrendered. Although there were no casualties the battle was signifigant as it marked the begining of the American Civil War -
Anaconda Plan
The Anaconda plan came was proclaimed after the Battle of Fort Sumter and the breakout of the Civil War. It was proposed by Union Gen. Winfield Scott and emphasized the blocking of southern ports and cut the seceding southern states into two. It was nick-named the anaconda plan because it wrapped around the southern states and was meant to strangle the Confederate army as if it was an Anaconda. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run occured in Virginia. It was the first major land battle of Virginia and each of the forces brought nearly 30,000 troops each. The Union army was controlled by Gen. McDowell who marched with his troops from Washington and were then attacked by the Confederates, The fighting last throughout the day and Union forces deteriorated leaving the south to victory. After the battle Lincoln realized the war would be long and costly. -
Monitor vs. Marrimack
The Battle of Monitor vs. Merrimack occurred in Hampton Roads Virginia. This battle on the water was significant because it was the battle of ironclad ships in history. The union brought a total of 4 ironclad warships while Confederate's brought 1. There was an estimated 433 casualties and the result was inconclusive. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam can be called the single most bloodiest day of American military history. Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan confronted the Confederate Army under Gen. Robert E, Lee. Eventhough Lee's troops were out numbered two-to-one they fought with full force while the Union moved there wounded back south. The Confederate troops retreated and the battle was undecisive, but more importantly there were a total of 23,000 casualties. -
Emancipation Proclimation
The Emancipation Proclimation granted all slaves in every state freedom. -
Battle of Fredricksburg
The Battle at Fredericksburg was a battle that lasted a 4 days and was one the largest engagements of Civil War evolving 170,000 troops and casualties were around 18,000. Union generals C. Feger Jackson and George Bayard, and Confederate generals Thomas R.R. Cobb and Maxey Gregg were killed. In the end Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson's Second Corps held off a strong Union assault against the right flank of the Confederate line in what
became a decisive Confederate victory. -
Battle of Vicksburg
After Gen. Ulysses S. Grant approached the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Union army entrapped the Confederate Army and Gen. Pemberton who later surrendered. This was called one of the most effective military campaigns of the Civil War. The surrendering of the Confederate army in Mississippi successfully split the Confederate troops in half and boosted Grant's reputation. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was possibly one of the most decisive battles of the American Civil War. Robert E. Lee concentrated his full strength against Maj. Gen. George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac at the crossroads county of Gettysburg. The forces engaged was around 83,000 for the Union and 75,000 for the Confederate's. July 4, Lee began withdrawing his army toward Williamsport on the Potomac River leaving the Union victorious. His train of wounded stretched more than fourteen miles. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant's first battle of the Civil War occurred in Wilderness, Virginia. Fighting was fierce but inconclusive as both sides attempted to maneuver in the dense woods. Union generals James S. Wadsworth and Alexander Hays were killed. Confederate generals John M. Jones, Micah Jenkins, and Leroy A. Stafford were killed. The battle was a tactical draw. Grant, however, did not retreat as had the other Union generals before him. -
Lincoln's Assaination
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's theater in Washington D.C. He died early the next morning suffering a point-blank gun shot wound to the head. Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth who was part of other conspirators, who carried the first Presidential assassination just 6 days after the surrendering of Confederate forces at Appomattox Courthouse.
