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Compromise of 1850
It was offered by Henry Clay. Stated that California would become a free state and the rest of the land from the Mexican Cession would be decided by popular soveirenty. The Texas and New Mexico border issue was solved. Also, slaves were no longer allowed to be traded, the slave trade ended in D.C. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin
Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin was an anti-slavery novel that showed people the cruelty of slavery. It has sold over 2 million copies and was the second best selling book of the 19th century, behind the bible. -
Bleeding Kansas
From 1855-1861, fighting occured between people in Kansas. The Kansas-Nebraska act used popular soveirenty to solve the debates over slavery. Both of the states voted and both of them claimed victory so the people from the states clashed. -
Dred Scott Decision
A decision made by the supreme court which stated that Adrican-American people, enslaved or free, could not be American citizens. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
From August 21 to October 15, Lincoln and Douglas held debates over who would get a spot in the Senate. They held 7 debates. Lincoln lost but the debates really brought slavery to the forefront of politics. -
Raid on Harpers Ferry
From October 16 to October 18, the raid on Harper's Ferry took place. John Brown raided Harper's Ferry. It was an attempt to start an armed slave revolt. -
Election of 1860
Before the election, the issue of the south seceding was not very important. After Lincoln became president howvever, 11 of the southern states seceded and Lincoln had to find a way to keep the Union together. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina is the first state to secede from the Union -
Mississippi Secedes
Mississippi secedes from the Union -
Florida Secedes
Florida secedes from the Union -
Alabama Secedes
Alabama secedes from the Union -
Georgia Secedes
Georgia secedes from the Union -
Louisiana Secedes
Louisiana secedes from the Union -
Texas Secedes
Texas secedes from the Union -
Confederate States of America are formed
The southern states that seceded formed the CSA -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Southern forces were attempting to seize as man Union forces in the south as possible. Lincoln told southern leaders that the north would not fire unless fired upon. The south fired the first shot and the war had begun -
Battle of Bull Run (Battle of Manassas Junction)
Northern forces marched from Washington D.C. expecting a quick victory. After initially pushing southern forces back, the south charged at the at the Union soldiers with their "rebel yell" forcing the Union soldiers to retreat. -
Emancipation Proclimantion
Location: White House
Details: Lincoln understood that taking a stand against slavery would make Britain and France less likely to aid the South. The E.P. freed all slaves within any state in rebellion against the U.S. This allowed African Americans to join the military and led to the 13th Amendment. -
Monitor Vs. Merrimack (Battle of Hampton Roads)
The south had covered an abandoned northern ship with iron in effort to break Union blockade. Two ships that battled in the battle of Hampton roads. One was confederate and the other Union. Both ships met ignominious ends. -
Battle of Shiloh
Led by Grant, North defeated south in bloodiest two day battle of the civil war. -
Capture of New Orleans
Union troops took possession of New Orleans, completing the occupation that had begun four days before. The capture of this southern city was a huge blow to the South. Southern military strategists planned for a Union attack down the Mississippi, not from the Gulf of Mexico -
Antietam
It was the first battle fought on northern soil. Though the north failed utilize its superior numbers to crush the south it was able to check the Confederate advance into the north. After a streak of Union defeats, this victory gave Abraham Lincoln the political cover he needed to issue his Emancipation Proclamation. -
Fredericksburg and Chansellorsville
Location: Fredrickburg and Chancellorsville, VA
Details: At Fredrickburg Gen. Burnside mistakenly thought he could charge up a hill and overtake the Confederates. The Union suffered heavy losses and Burnside resigned as General.
At Chancellorsville the Confederates scored another victory but at a high cost (Pyrrhic). Gen. Stonewall Jackson was shot and died 8 days later. -
Siege at Vicksburg
Went from December 1862 to January 1863.
Location: Vicksburg, Mississippi
Details: Over nine months, Grant led a seize on Vicksburg, finally gaining victory on July 4, 1863. The North now gained control of the Mississippi River, thus splitting the Confederacy in two. Following this victory, President Lincoln named Grant Commander of the U.S. Army. -
Gettysburg
Date: July 1-4, 1863
Location: Gettysburg, PA
Details: Northern and Southern forces met by accident at Gettysburg. The first two days saw the South push the North back to Cemetery Ridge. On the third day, Lee sent Gen. Pickett over the ridge where they were easy targets for the North. The South had to retreat. The failed charge was known as "Pickett's Charge". -
Shermans March to the Sea
Date: Nov. 15 - Dec. 21, 1864
Location: Georgia
Details: The campaign began with Sherman's troops leaving the captured city, Atlanta, GA on Nov. 15 and ended with the capture of part of Savannah on Dec. 21. His forces destroyed military targets as well as industry, infrastructure, civilian property and disrupted the confederacy economy/trans networks.
