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Period: to
Succession from the Union
In order:
South Carolina December 20, 1860
Mississippi January 9, 1861
Florida January 10, 1861
Alabama January 11, 1861
Georgia January 19, 1861
Louisiana January 26, 1861
Texas February 1, 1861
Virginia April 17, 1861
Arkansas May 6, 1861
North Carolina May 20, 1861
Tennessee June 8, 1861 -
Departure of Fort Moultrie
Major Robert Anderson left Fort Moultrie at Charleston, South Carolina to Fort Sumter without any command from any superiors. He believed the presence of the 1st U.S. Artillery at Fort Sumter would prompt a delayed Confederate reaction. The garrison at Fort Sumter was also at a heavy disadvantage due to President James Buchanan's military spending cut. -
Confederate States Sign Constitution
The current states of the Confederation sign the constitution, which outlines state's rights and shows unity in the South and its states, but political differences do arise. This is something that was obviously lacking in the North, but their politics were more organized and unified. -
First Shots
South Carolina militia under the confederate flag fired upon the Union Garrison at Fort Sumter after repeated requests of acquiescence to the governor’s request of surrender only to be declined every time by Anderson. -
34 Hour Barrage and Union Surrender
The barrage lasted 34 consecutive hours and was completed 13 April 1861 after a pitiful Union return fire, which consisted of no explosive rounds with conservation of their provisions.
The southern civilians all cried out with joy and the pundits were overjoyed to see the Confederates do something with the insubordinate Union garrison
The Fort Sumter flag remained immortalized in Union civilian’s hearts as it provided a rallying call to destroy the South. -
Union Advantage: Population
Lincoln addresses Congress and requests the enlistment of a Union Army and Congress authorizes a call for 500,000 men of the 22 million people that already live in the North vs. the 9 million in the South of that 1/3 were enslaved. -
Union Draft
For the first time in American History, a mandatory draft is issued in the North requiring every man to serve or pay $300. The riots in the North are extreme and show that morale in those who are drafted is really low, which is another disadvantage of the Union. The South was fighting for freedom, an ideology and a way of life. The Union was fighting forcefully in unfamiliar land of the South.
