-
Antietam and the Emancipation Proclamation
The long Battle of Antietam proved to be the single bloodiest battle of the Civil War. While not technically a success, it did end in a Southern retreat, allowing Lincoln to spin it as one. He used this as a precedent for the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all Southerm slaves. While this did little to actually free slaves(the South, of course, did not acknowladge this proclamation), it made the Unions cause a moral one, increasing army morale and turning global opinion against the South. -
The Battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg
These battles proved to be the turning point of the war. In Gettysburg,the last offence Confederacy General Lee would ever make was brutally repelled. In Vicksburg, the Union ended Confederate control of the Mississippi river, esentially severing the spine of the South. The Confederacy would be on the retreat for the rest of the war. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Shortly after winning the Civil War, Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilks Boothe at Ford's Theater. This ended any hope of a short, conflict free reconstruction that Lincoln may have been able to shepard the U.S. through. It also resulted in the inferior Andrew Johnson taking office, excacerbating the problem. Oh noes! -
13th Amendment is Passed
This ammendment officially ended slavery in the united states. This was the first of the three reconstruction ammendments. This was the first step towards complete equality for African Americans, although it would still be many, many years before this journy would be completed. -
Civil War Ends
Union General Grant corners Confederacy General Lee at Appomatox Court House, forcing him to surrender. This ended the bloodiest war in American History. It also kicked off the tumultuous Reconstruction period, which would last longer than the war itself. -
Johnson Issues Reconstruction Plan
Johnson's plan was very similar to Lincolms. It offered wide amnesty to Confederate participaters in the war and required oaths of allegience to the Union to be readmitted. Johnson also ordered the creation of new, all white sate governments in the South. This minimalistic, generous plan did not sit well with Republicans and resulted in a political power struggle. -
Southern States Pass Black Codes
These laws where the result of Southern State's unwillingness to grant freed slaves any more freedom than they had to. these laws were highly restrictive, limiting former slave's rights to own property, attest in court, and even travel. This served to effectively restrain African Americans to sharecrop farming, a position not much higher than slavery. -
Congress Issues its Own Plan for Reconstruction
Congress, having overriden Johnson's veto, began its own version of reconstruction. This plan was much harsher, dividing the South into 6 millitary zones and requiring a larger percent of voters to swear allegience to the Union before a state could be readmitted. They also forced the Southern states to ratify the reconstruction ammendments if they wished to be readmitted. -
Johnson's Impeachment
Congress had become tired of Johnon's countless vetoes of there attempts at reconstruction. While they couldnt make a move against him on the grounds that he disagreed with him, they finally had an excuse after he dismissed a secretary from his cabinet, which had been made illegal. Unfortunately for congress, the Senate did not find him guilty during the impeachment trial. However, Johnson woyuld never again challange congress on the issue of reconstruction. -
Reconstruction Ends
Historians consider this the end of the Reconstruction period. This is mostly because this is when the millitary occupation of the Southern states ended. However, it would take another half a cetury to fully reconstruct the south.