American civil war

American Civil War

  • Union Naval Blockade

    Union Naval Blockade

    This event lasted from 1861 to 1865. This was a naval strategy by the United States to prevent the export of cotton and the smuggling of war material into the Confederacy.
  • Fort Sumter

    Fort Sumter

    Fort Sumter was the first battle of the American Civil War. South Carolina was attacked by the Confederates. This allowed them to create a valuable hole in the Union blockade of the Atlantic seaboard.
  • First Battle of Bull Run

    First Battle of Bull Run

    The Union lost and this battle showed them that the war would not be easily won and they needed to train their armies and leaders more. This also gave the South a boost of confidence.
  • Trent Affair

    Trent Affair

    A U.S. Navy Officer, captured two Confederate envoys aboard the British mail ship, the Trent. Great Britain accused the United States of violating British neutrality, and the incident created a diplomatic crisis between the United States and Great Britain during the Civil War.
  • Battle of Shiloh

    Battle of Shiloh

    This battle was a crucial success for the Union Army, led by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's Army of the Tennessee. It allowed him to begin a massive operation in the Mississippi Valley later that year. The Union gained part of the Mississippi River and western Tennessee.
  • Battle of Antietam

    Battle of Antietam

    This battle gave Lincoln the confidence to make the Emancipation Proclamation, which prevented foreign powers from entering the war for slavery, provided a rationale for the war, and allowed blacks to enlist in the army.
  • Issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation

    Issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation

    The Emancipation Proclamation was significant because it strengthened the Union both militarily and politically. The slaves had confirmed that this war had become a war for freedom.
  • Battle of Fredericksburg

    Battle of Fredericksburg

    This battle lasted from December 11th to the 15th. This was A. E. Burnside's first battle as a general. Although the Union greatly outnumbered the Confederates, they suffered twice as many casualties. This battle signaled the low-point of the war for the Union.
  • Vicksburg Campaign

    Vicksburg Campaign

    This was the campaign by Union forces to take the Confederate stronghold of Vicksburg, Mississippi. This Campaign divided the confederacy and cemented the reputation of Union General Ulysses S. Grant.
  • Battle of Chancellorsville

    Battle of Chancellorsville

    This battle took place near the small town of Chancellorsville, Virginia and lasted from April 30th to May 6th. Robert E. Lee divided his army in the presence of a much larger enemy force and resulted in a Confederate victory. This also ruined the Union's plan to invade Richmond.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Battle of Gettysburg

    This battle was fought July 1st to 3rd. It took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This was when Robert E. Lee's plan to invade the North and force an immediate end to the war, failed. Which resulted in a Union victory.
  • Gettysburg Address

    Gettysburg Address

    This was a speech given by President Abraham Lincoln. In the speech, he stated the principles of human equality contained in the Declaration of Independence and connected the sacrifices of the Civil War with the desire for “a new birth of freedom" in the Union.
  • Overland Campaign

    Overland Campaign

    Previous campaigns were designed to capture Richmond, the Overland Campaign was designed to destroy the Army of Northern Virginia. Grant let 100's of his own wounded lay in the blistering sun to suffer and die to try and protect his position and reputation.
  • Sherman's March to the Sea

    Sherman's March to the Sea

    This event lasted from November to December. The purpose of Sherman's March was to frighten Georgia's civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. They stole food and livestock and burned the houses and barns of people who tried to fight back.
  • Appomattox Campaign

    Appomattox Campaign

    This even ended on April 9th of the same year. This was the last battle of the Civil War with a Union victory. This led people to believe that the Union had already won the war.
  • Lee's Surrender at Appomattox

    Lee's Surrender at Appomattox

    The battle of Appomattox led to Lee's surrender of his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant.