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Confederate states of America is Formed
The Confederate States of America consisted of Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Georgia. These 11 states seceded from the Union because they feared the newly elected President Lincoln would free their slaves. This weakened the United States considerably, and set the stage for the Civil War. -
Lincoln's Inauguration
Southerners were outraged over Lincoln's election. Lincoln tread lightly, to prevent having a war on his hands. In his inaugural address, he promised he would try to maintain the Union, and not try to start a war. -
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Attack on Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter, a federal outpost in Charleston South Carolina, was attacked by Confederate troops, starting the Civil War. It forced Lincoln to admit that the Union was no longer "unbroken," and forced citizens to choose sides. The war was on! -
First Battle of Bull Run
The first major battle of the Civil War, and a Confederate win. Also known as the first Battle of Manassas, a nearby railroad junction important to the Confederacy, this battle showed the Union that the war wouldn't be won quickly. -
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Battle of Pea Ridge
In this battle, Cherokee Indians aided the Confederates, in hope of gaining more freedom. However, although outnumbered, the Union gained a victory at Pea Ridge. The Union's hold on the Mississippi was safe. -
USS Monitor v. CSS Virginia
It was the first major clash between two Ironclad warships. Though neither ship received much damage, the Monitor forced the Virginia to withdraw. It was revolutionary warfare, and it signaled the end of wooden warships. -
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Battle of Shiloh
Near Shiloh Church, General Grant's army slept, only to be sprung upon by rebel soldiers. Despite the element of surprise, the Confederates were pushed back into Mississippi. This win gained the Union a greater hold on the Mississippi River valley. -
First U.S. Conscription Act
It was the first time in history that America had drafted citizens. It cut morale, and angered the country. Anyone with enough money and/or influence could dodge the draft, so the Civil war was fought by poor men for the rich man's morals. The working class were forced to fight for people they feared would take their jobs. People already questioning the war became skeptical and bitter. Lincoln lost popularity, when he needed all he could get. -
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Union Captures New Orleans
New Orleans was the largest city in the Confederacy, and the key to the Mississippi River. It had to fall if the Union wanted to starve the South economically. Admiral David Farragut, under cover of night, and with 18 ships, decided whisking past the forts defending the city was the only safe way to breach the city. With only mild damage, the ships made it past. The Union captured the city and the mouth of the Mississippi. -
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Seven Days Battle
A series of clashes in which the Confederate army forced the Union army to retreat from near Richmond, one of the Seven Days' Battles was described by Confederate General D.H. Hill as "murder". One of many tries on the Union's part to capture the Confederate capital, Lincoln was angered at the failed attempt. General Lee was proving his worth as a tactician, and General McClellan was proving his indecivness as a general. Something needed to change. -
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Second Battle of Bull Run
Prickling over the defeat in the Seven Days' Battles, Lincoln ordered General John Pope to attack Richmond. "Success and glory are in the advance," Pope told his men. He was wrong. They met with Stonewall Jackson at the Second Battle of Bull Run. The Union forces were crushed on the third day, giving the Confederates a major victory. -
Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest single day battle in U.S. history, more soldiers were killed or wounded at the Battle of Antietam than the deaths of all Americans in the American Revolution, War of 1812, and Mexican American War combined. McClellan kept four divisions of soldiers in reserve, waiting for Lee's reserves for counter-attack. Lee had none, and so McClellan let a chance to destroy Lee's army slip past him. In spite of this, Antietam stopped Lee's northward advance. It was an important Union win. -
Emancipation Proclamation
One of the most important documents in American history, the Emancipation Proclamation freed all of the slaves in rebellious states. In other words, Confederate owned slaves were freed, but slaves in border states still a part of the union weren't. This weakened the Confederacy. They relied on slave labor, and with no slaves, the south would starve to death, economically. And, eventually, those slaves could fight for the Union, against their former masters: a harsh blow to the South. -
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Siege of Vicksburg
"Vicksburg is the Key," said Lincoln. Because of its position on the Mississippi River, Vicksburg was a vital trade route and supply line. Capturing it would give the Union Mississippi, and physically divide the Confederacy. Gen. Grant shelled the city until "the fate of the Confederacy was sealed when Vicksburg fell." -
West Virginia Becomes a State
With differing opinions and differing loyalties, West Virginia was the only state to form by seceding from a Confederate state. It seceded from Virginia in 1861, and was admitted into the Union two years later. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
The major turning point for the Union, Gettysburg weakened the Confederacy hugely. It made Northerners think that the war could be won, and prompted Lincoln to give the Gettysburg Address. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln praised the bravery of Union soldiers and renewed his commitment to winning the Civil War in this speech. Given at the dedication ceremony of the Gettysburg battlefield cemetery, the Gettysburg Address reminded the Union that the war was being fought for liberty, equality, and democracy. -
Lincoln's Second Inauguration
The Civil War was winding to a close, and Lincoln would be able to finish what he never intended to start. While he had relied on victories in the war to get himself reelected, his inaugural adress was not gleeful; it was mournful of death, yet triumphant that the war would soon be over. Little did he know that in the assembled masses listening to his speech were his future murderer and his accomplices. The war had just begun. -
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
Lee surrendered to Grant in the town of Appomattox Courthouse. Lee's men were allowed to keep their horses, and Lee, his sword. Grant and Lee shook hands, and after 620,000 deaths and four years, the Civil War was over. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Five days. Lincoln only got five days to be joyful, to be celebrating, to live. For, five days after the surrender at Appomattox Court House, John Wilks Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head. He then lept from the balcony and shouted "sic sempre tyrannis," meaning 'thus always to tyrants'. It happened at Ford's Theatre, on Good Friday. Lincoln died the next day. He was the first American President to be assassinated. It was a tragic event that shook the American public forever.
