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January 1861 -- The South Withdraws
-Abraham Lincoln was against slavery so he was thought of as a threat to the South Carolina Legislature.
-During a state Convention delegates voted to remove South carolina from the United States Union.
-The secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of six more states, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina were threatened as well.
-Those eleven states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. -
February 1861 -- The South Seizes Federal Forts
When President Buchanan -- Lincoln's predecessor -- refused to surrender southern federal forts to the seceding states, southern state troops seized them. At Fort Sumter, South Carolina troops repulsed a supply ship trying to reach federal forces based in the fort. The ship was forced to return to New York, its supplies undelivered
President Buchanan refused to surrender to seceding states but the southern state troops had seized them. -
February 1861 -- The South Creates a Government
-At a convention in Montgomery The seven seceding states created the Confederate Constitution and Jefferson Davis was named provisional president of the confederacy. -
March 1861 -- Lincoln's Inauguration
-On March 4th, Lincoln became the new president and stated that he had no plans to end slavery in the states where it already existed, but explained that he would not tolerate secession and he hoped to solve the issue without any warfare. -
April 1861 -- Attack on Fort Sumter
-President Lincoln planned to send supplies to fort sumter and alerted the state in advance. Robert Anderson offered to surrender after his supplies was exhausted. His offer was rejected and on April 12, shots were fired on the fort sparking the civil war. -
April 1861 -- Four More States Join the Confederacy
The attack on Fort Sumter prompted four more states to join the Confederacy. With Virginia's secession, Richmond was named the Confederate capitol. -
June 1861 -- West Virginia Is Born
Residents of the western counties of Virginia did not wish to secede along with the rest of the state. This section of Virginia was admitted into the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. -
June 1861 -- Four Slave States Stay in the Union
Despite their acceptance of slavery, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri did not join the Confederacy. Although divided in their loyalties, a combination of political maneuvering and Union military pressure kept these states from seceding. -
July 1861 -- First Battle of Bull Run
-Due to Public Demand Winfield Scott decided to Advance On the south before training his troops. Irvin Mcdowell was ordered to advance on troops stationed at Manassas Junction and attacked on July 21 with initiate success but reinforcements were called and resulted in the victory of the South. -
July 1861 -- A Blockade of the South
To block the coast from the Confederacy effectively the navy had to improve. By July they had made a difference and had an effective blockade but in return the South made smaller ships that were faster and could outmaneuver Union Vessels.
