Annotated Timeline

  • Lincoln's First Election

    Lincoln ran against John C. Breckinwridge, John Bell, and Stephen A. Douglas. Abraham Lincoln secured the White House with little virtually no Southern support.
  • South Secedes

    South Carolina acts first. Occured following Lincoln's re election.
  • Confederate States of America Established

    Contained seven states: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. Jefferson Davis declared Confederacy over in 1865.
  • Writ of Habeas Corpus Suspended

    Lincoln feared anti war officials of Maryland would destroy rail lines.
  • 1st Battle of Bull Run

    Union forces were slow in positioning themselves, allowing Confederate reinforcments to arrive by rail.
  • First Income Tax

    Levied to help pay the Union's war effort.
  • 1st Consfication Act

    Permitted court proceedings for confiscation of any property used to support the confederate.
  • Trent Affair

    International diplomatic Incident that resulted in an interception of a British Mail packet being intercepted.
  • Monitor v. Merrimac

    Naval engagement at Hampton Roads, Virginia, which is a harbour at the mouth of the James River. This battle was notably history’s first duel between ironclad warships and the beginning of a new era of naval warfare.
  • Shiloh

    Major Battle in the Western Theater of American Civil War. The confederates achieved considerable success the first day, but ultimately were defeated the second day.
  • National Draft Law

    Helps to provide fresh manpower to the union army.
  • Homestead/Morrill Land Grant Acts

  • 2nd Confiscation Act

    Law that formed the legal basis for the presidents Emancipation Proclamation.
  • Harper's Ferry

    Historic town in West Virginia.
  • Anietam

    Was part of the Maryland Campaign andwas the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Union soil. It is the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with a combined tally of dead, wounded, and missing at 22,717.
  • Emmancipation Proclamation

    Executive order by the president to end slavery in the ten states that still had it.
  • Capture of New Orleans

    Captured by the Union.
  • Vicksburg

    The final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War. Vicksburg was sieged by General Grant and his army.
  • Capture of Atlanta

    William T. Sherman overwhelmed defending the city under John B. Hood.
  • Lincoln's Re-Election

    Abraham Lincoln ran against George B. McClellen. Even Lincoln feared he would lose. He was almost defeated due to his Emancipation of slavery.
  • Sherman's March to the Sea

    Most destructive campaign through human civilization. Lasted through Dec. 21.
  • Surrender at Appomattox

    Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Grant upon the realization that his army was tired and weak. Bloodiest conflict in the country's history.
  • Lincoln's Assasination

    Lincoln's assasination occured at Ford's Theater while he was attending a play. The plot was carried out by John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln was the first American president to be assasinated.
  • Capture of Richmond

    Richmond Falls to the Federalists.
  • 13th Ammendment

    Abolishment of slavery. Instituted by Abraham Lincoln.