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The Republican Party is Formed
The Republican party was formed to try to fight the expansion of slavery in the west. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act is Passed
This act was put into place to try to solve the issue of slavery. It allowed the states' residents to vote on whether or not they wanted to be a slave state through popular sovereignty. -
Abraham Lincoln is Elected President
During the 1860 election, Republican, Abraham Lincoln, won the election even though he wasn't on the ballot in a lot of southern states because they were scared he was going to get rid of slavery. -
South Caroline Votes to Secede from the U.S.
South Carolina was one of the many states in the south who opposed getting rid of slavery so in order to do this, they wanted to leave the union (the United States) and form their own government where they could keep slavery. -
Confederate Forces Fire on Fort Sumter
The Confederacy believed that Fort Sumter belonged to them because it was on southern soil but the Union refused to abandon the fort, they attacked Fort Sumter for over 30 hours until the Union finally surrendered. -
Richmond Becomes the Capital of the Confederacy
Richmond, Virignia became the capital of the Confederacy because it was the largest state in the C.S.A. and it was close to Washington D.C. -
The First Battle of Bull Run is Fought
This was the first major battle of the American Civil War ending in a Confederate victory. This battle made the Union realize this war would be a lot longer and bloodier than they expected. -
General Jefferson Davis Elected President of the Confederate States of America
Before the Civil War, 7 states seceded from the United States, trying to avoid getting rid of slavery. They needed to form a government so they elected General Jefferson Davis to be president of the confederacy -
The Merrimac & The Monitor fight of the Virginia Coast
This was an important water altercation in the Civil War. It was the first dual between ironclad warships making a significant shift in naval warfare. -
The Battle of Shiloh
This battle is considered one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War. It ended with a Union victory despite the Confederate's surprise attack. -
Robert E. Lee Becomes Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
Lee became commander of the Amry of Northern Virigina after General Joseph E. Johnston was wounded in the Battle of Seven Pines. -
The Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam fought in Maryland is remembered as being the bloodiest single day battle in American history. This battle resulted in the Union victory and stopped General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North. This battle has almost 23,000 casualties and it also led to the Empancipation Proclamation -
President Lincoln Suspends Habeas Corpus
The writ of Habeas Corpus was a legal action that allowed a detained individual to challenge the legality of their confinement. Lincoln suspended it because of the threats to the Union and military operations -
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was a major battle in the Civil War that took place in Virginia with the outcome being an overwhelming Confederate victory. -
The Emancipation Proclamation Is Announced
Abraham Lincoln announced the Empancipation Proclamation which was an official issue stating that everyone who was being held as a slave shall be freed. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle that took place in Spotsylvania County, Virginia resulted in a big Confederate victory bringing the morale of the Confederate army up after facing huge losses like the death of General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. This victory is considered to be one of General Robert E. Lee's greatest wins. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
This was a three-day battle fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania between the Union (U.S.) and the Confederacy (South) resulting in the Union winning. This battle is known as the bloodiest battle in American history with other 50,000 casualties. -
The Confederates Surrender at Vicksburg
The Battle at Vicksburg lasted for 47 days before the Confederates finally decided to surrender. This marked a huge turning point in the Civil War because it gave the Union control of the Mississippi River and it split the Confederacy in half. -
New York City Drafts Riots
The New York City draft riots was a violent time period of rioting that lasted about 5 days. People were angry about the Enrollment Act that required men from ages 20-45 to be drafted in the war but wealthy men were able to avoid being drafted by paying a fee. -
Lincoln Gives his Gettysburg Adress
President Lincoln delivered a short speech to honor those who were fought and died in the Battle of Gettysburg. This speech was given on Cemetery Hill in the National Soldier Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. -
Atlanta is Captured
The Union was able to successfully capture Atlanta in a long battle that started on July 20th, 1864 and ended on Septemeber 2nd, 1864. This caused a huge shift because Atlanta was a major Confederate industrial and transportation area. -
Abraham Lincoln Defeats George McClellan in the Election of 1864
President Lincoln was easily able to beat General George B. McClellan in the election of 1864. The electoral college was in favor of Lincoln with the votes being 212-21 and winning over the popular vote by 55%. -
Sherman Starts his March to the Sea
"Sherman's March to the Sea" was a 250 mile March led by General William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union from Atlanta to Savannah Georgia. This was a very destructive march in attempt to limit the Confederacy's ability to fight. -
Congress Passes the 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendement abolished slavery and involuntary servitude in the U.S. This was approved and signed by President Abraham Lincoln. -
Freedman's Bureau is Created
This document was created to help recently freed slaves and other people who were affected by the war in the south. -
Lincoln Gives his Second Inaugural Address
Abraham Lincoln was rewarded with a second term as President of the United States and gave his second inaugural adress mentioning hope, reconciliaiton, and healing the nation. -
Richmond Falls to the Union Army
The Confederate capital of Richmond fell after a long 10 month siege led by General Ulysses S. Grant. Confederate officials evacuated as the Union army entered, eventually taking control. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders at Appomattox
After a long war, Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia finally decided to surrender to General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse in Virigia indicating the start of the downfall of the Confederate forces. -
President Lincoln's Assassination
President Abraham Lincoln who was the 16th president of the United States of America was assassinated on April 14th, 1865 in the Petersen House in Washington, D.C. by John Wilkes Booth. -
John Wilkes Booth is Killed
The man who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln is killed by federal troops 12 days after he shot Lincoln.