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Southern Secession
Southern States left the union after Abraham Lincoln was elected in 1860.
South Carolina was the first state to secede on December 20, 1860.
From January 1, 1860 to February 1, 1861 6 states left the Union. The states included Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.
After the battle of Fort Sumter the final four states left the union. They were Tennessee, North Carolina, Arkansas and Virginia. -
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
He was the Senator for Mississippi from March 4, 1857- January 21, 1861.
He was the President of the Confederate States throughout the entire Civil War. He pu into power on February 18th, 1861
He was in charge of war plans but could not defeat the Union.
His popularity at the start of the war decreased after multiple Confederate losses and his poor decisions when it came to naming leaders. -
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln Biography
He was the 16th President of The United States and was inaugurated on March 4th, 1861.
Led American through the Civil War.
Was responsible for the abolishing slavery in the United States.
His election victory directly led to the start of the Civil War.
He was assassinated on April 15, 1865 by John Wilkes Booth in the Ford Theater.
He is considered as one of the greatest presidents in United Stares history. -
Blockades
President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that 3,500 miles of coast line would be blocked to prevent the South from trading.
This greatly hurt the Confederation war effort.
Blockade Runners from the South helped them trade goods by avoiding Union defense.
These blockades would lead to multiple Naval battles. -
Slaughter of Shiloh
Union army under General Grant moved into Tennessee to Pittsburgh landing.
Confederation army under General Johnston planned a surprise attack on the Union.
They succeeded on day one but eventually lost.
The Union won because on the second day General Buell brought reinforcements and overpowered the exhausted Confederate army.
The Confederation retreated to prevent the Union from advancing into northern Mississippi. -
Union Conquers New Orelans
Flag Officer David Farragut led his Union fleet up the Mississippi River and conquered New Orleans.
Farragut was not initially able to get his fleets past Fort Jackson and St. Phillip but eventually succeeded which directly led to New Orleans falling.
Conquering New Orleans allowed the Union to take control over of almost all of lower Mississippi, Baton Rouge and Natchez. -
Battle of Antietam
Union leader McClellan found a copy of Robert Lee's plan while on the road to Maryland.
McClellan attacked Lee at Antietam in what was one of the bloodiest battle single day battle in the war.
There were over 20,000 casualties overall.
This was a huge loss for the Confederation because the British and French were on the verge of publicly backing them and this changed their minds.
It also allowed President Lincoln to announce his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. -
Emancipation Proclaimation
Emancipation Proclaimation
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free all slaves from slavery in states not under Union control.
This outraged the Southerners.
Slave owners were not compensated for the loss of their slaves.
It allowed black soldiers to fight for the Union against the Confederation. -
General Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall JacksonHe is the regarded as the second best Confederate General behind Robert Lee.
He led Confederate force in the Battle of second Manassas in August 1862 and the Battle of Fredricksburg in December 1862.
He got his nickname during a battle where soldiers referred to him “like a stonewall”.
On May 2, 1863 during his last march of the Civil War ate the Battle of Chancellorsville he was wounded by friendly fire. He died 8 days later due to pneumonia on May 10, 1863. -
54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
The Regiment was authorized in March 1863 by the Governor of Massachusetts, John A. Andrew and was commanded by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.
These Black soldiers were paid $10 per month compared to the $13 the White soldiers got.
The Regiment is famous for its effort at Fort Wagner. Though 272 of the 600 men died and the Union did not win, the Regiments valor and courage would led to more African American men enlisting into the war. -
Seige of Vicksburg
Seige of Vicksburg
General Grant of the Union with his army from Tennessee fought for months and took control of Vicksburg.
With this Union victory the Confederacy was split into two.
Union victories at Champion Hill and Big Black Bridge had weakened the Confederate forces and allowed them to eventually take over Vicksburg.
This Union victory lead to General Grant becoming the General-in-Chief of the Union armies. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
Over 50,000 deaths in the bloodiest battle in the war.
Confederation attempted to dislodge the Union from the high ground spot they had.
On the July 2 General Lee gained land.
The Confederation lost a lot of lives on July 3 in what was known as Pickett's Charge.
On July 4 the Confederation retreated to Virginia and Lee's second attempt to invade the North had failed. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's Address
Speech by Abraham Lincoln.
One the most well known and famous speeches made by Lincoln.
He talked about the importance of equality in men and promoted the Declaration of Independence. -
Battle of Chattanooga
After a loss at the Battle of Chickamauga, Union General Rosecrans retreated to Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Confederate General Bragg wanted to capitalize on his victory at Chickamauga by pushing forward into Chattanooga and cutting off Union supplies into the city.
General Rosecrans wanted to withdrawal his troops and therefore giving up the strategically important city.
Rosecrans was quickly replaced by General George Thomas and the Union did not leave Chattanooga
General Grant set up “The Cracker -
Anderson Prison
Anderson Prison
Held more prisoners than any other Confederate prison during the Civil War.
During the 14 months while it was in use more than 45,000 Union soldiers were prisoners.
Due to overcrowding the prison was expanded.
Water became polluted and caused a mortality rate of 3,000 per month.
This prison is known for causing 40% of all Union POW deaths during the Civil War. -
Geneal Grant
On March 9, 1864 General Ulysses S. Grant was appointed General-in-Chief of the Union Army by President Abraham Lincoln.
He led Union forces in multiple battles included the Battle of Shiloh and Vicksburg.
He is known as the man who led to Union Army to victory in the Civil War.
Grant was a very popular man after the Civil War and he became the 18th President of the Unied States on March 4, 1869.
He would serve for 8 years until March 4, 1877 and would be succeeded by Rutherford B. Hayes. -
Burning Atlanta
Union forces under General Sherman wanted to neutralize a rail and supply hub that was very important to the Confederates.
The Union defeated the Confederate forces under John Hood and demanded them to evacuate the city of Atlanta.
After the Union took over Atlanta they burnt down most of the building, military or not.
This Union victory increased morale in the North and would aid in the reelection of Abraham Lincoln. -
Copperheads
On this date a Copperhead named John Mullualy was arrested for inciting resistance to the draft.
A group of radicals from the North who were mainly Democrats who wanted to war to end at any price.
Even allowing slavery back into the Union.
Some Copperheads wanted to North to resist war while others openly supported the South.
Some of the Copperhead leaders were tried for treason in 1864. -
Sherman's March
March to the Sea
General Sherman led 60,000 soldiers through Georgia in an effort to scare civilians from backing the Confederate cause.
His men stole food, stole livestock and burnt down homes of people who fought back.
On December 21st, 1864 Sherman and his army took control of Savannah, Georgia .
This was the beginning of the end of the Civil War. -
General Lee
Lee's Surrender
General Robert Lee began the Civil War he was named one of the first full Generals for the Confederate Army.
He is known as being the Confederate leader during the Battle of Gettysburg.
On January 31, 1865 Lee was promoted to General-in-Chief of Confederate forces.
He had to surrender at Appomattix which ended the Civil War.
After the war he was not arrested or punished but lost his right to vote.
