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Abraham Lincoln is officially elected as the 16th president of the United States with 180 electoral votes.
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Abraham Lincoln is officially inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States.
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Following a union attempt at resupply, Confederate Artillery fire their first shots upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. This event marks the informal beginning of the Civil War.
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Only three days after the attack at Fort Sumter, Lincoln requests a colossal 75,000 volunteers to fight for the Union. Additionally, Lincoln calls for an emergency Congress session on July 4th to facilitate wartime efforts.
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The Army of the Potomac launches a large attack upon general Robert E Lee's confederate forces along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Maryland. With 22,717 estimated casualties, it is known as the bloodiest day in American military history. Ending in a Union win, Lincoln now felt confident to issue his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation.
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Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, an Executive Order forbidding slavery across the entire United States, including the Confederacy. This resulted in the release of approximately 3.5 million enslaved persons.
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After failing to dismount Union defenders, Confederate General Robert E Lee loses a fierce battle in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This major loss for the Confederacy marks a heavy turning point in the Civil War and lead Lincoln to give his Gettysburg Address a few months later.
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Following the fierce battle at Gettysburg, Lincoln gives a famous speech dedicating the battlefield as a burial ground for those who were lost to war. The speech recognizes those who were lost and acknowledges the hard work put in to retain the Union.
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While watching a play at Ford's Theatre, Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by Confederate supporter John Wilkes Booth. He died the next day due to his extensive injuries.
