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Fort Sumter
Beauregard bombarded Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, starting the the Battle of Fort Sumter. Fort Sumter is significant because it is where the first shots of the civil war were fired. -
Union Naval Blockade
The Union blockade in the American Civil War was a naval strategy by the United States to prevent the Confederacy from trading. This was significant because the Union began its blockade of the southern states in an effort to prevent the trade of goods, supplies, and weapons between the Confederacy and other nations. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the American Civil War. This battle was significant because it shattered the Union's hope of winning the Civil War quickly and easily and was a major wake up call for the North. -
Trent Affair
The Trent Affair was a diplomatic incident in 1861 during the American Civil War that threatened a war between the United States and the United Kingdom. This event was significant because On November 8, 1861, Charles Wilkes, a U.S. Navy Officer, captured two Confederate envoys aboard the British mail ship, the Trent. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh began when the Confederate Army launched a surprise attack on Union forces under General Ulysses S. This battle was significant because it was one of the first battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War -
Battle of Antietam
This battle was fought in Washington County. Around 3,500 soldiers were killed and 17,000 wounded. It was also one of the deadliest wars. This battle was significant because it allowed Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation September 22, 1862
President Lincoln issued the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation in the midst of the Civil War. This is significant because he announced that if the rebels did not end the fighting and rejoin the Union by January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states would be free. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was an early battle of the civil war and stands as one of the greatest Confederate victories. This is significant because it was a major defeat for the Union Army. It signaled a low-point of the war for the Union. -
Vicksburg Campaign
The Vicksburg campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi. This is significant because it divided the confederacy and cemented the reputation of Union General Ulysses S. Grant. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a bloody assault by the Union army in Virginia. This battle is significant because it was a huge victory for the Confederacy and General Robert E. Lee during the Civil War. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the Civil War, costing the Union 23,000 killed, wounded, or missing in action. This is significant because it was the largest battle of the American Civil War as well as the largest battle ever fought in North America. This battle involved over 85,000 men. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address is a speech that U.S. President Abraham Lincoln delivered during the American Civil War at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, The significance of the speech is that he mentioned the principles of human equality. -
Overland Campaign May – June 1864
The Overland Campaign was a series of battles fought in Virginia during May and June 1864, in the Civil War. This is significant because it is one of the bloodiest campaigns in the war. Over 55,000 people were either injured or killed. -
Sherman’s March to the Sea November
Sherman's March to the Sea was a military campaign of the American Civil War conducted through Georgia. This is significant because it was to frighten Georgia's civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. -
Appomattox Campaign
The Appomattox campaign was a series of American Civil War battles. This is significant because led to Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender of his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. -
Lee’s Surrender at Appomattox
General Robert E.Lee decided to surrender his army in part because he wanted to prevent unnecessary destruction to the South. This is significant because This signaled the start of the end of the American Civil War.