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The first republican president is elected, with 40% of the popular vote and 180 of 303 possible electoral votes. Lincoln argued that slaves should have freedom and equal rights which created much contraversy.
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South Carolina is frist to secede from Union, after the vote on secession occurs. Soon after, comes Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas.
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Elected president of the Confederate Army is Jefferson Davis, a former U.S Army Officer
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Confederate Army opens fire on Fort Sumter at 4:30 am in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War has officially begun.
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Robert E. Lee, 25 year distinguished veteran of the U.S Army, is offered command of the Union Army. However, he declines as he is unable to fight against is state; thus proving, that loyalty to state is more important than loyalty to the union
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Virgina secedes from the Union, then followed by Arkansas, Tennesse, and North Carolina.
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President Lincoln issues proclamation, preventing rural Southern states from the ability to be well supplied during the war.
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Robert E. Lee resigns from the U.S Army. He then travels to Richmond, Virginia where he is offered command of the military and naval forces of Virginia, and accepts.
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Union army experiences defeat at Bull Run, just southwest of Washington. Union troops fall back into Washington as Lincoln realizes the length this war may be. General Thomas Jackson earns the name, "Stonewall", as his brigade resisted Union attacks.
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Two Confederate officials sailing to England are captured; however, England demands their release and threatening war. Lincoln eventually gives in come December.
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Gen. Ulysses S. grant is victorious in capturing Forty Henry, in Tennessee, and ten days later Fort Donelson. He earns the name, "Unconditional Surrender" Grant.
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Confederate's ironclad ship, "Merrimac", sinks two Union ships, changing naval warfare forever. Wooden ships become obselete.
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Confederate's surprise attack Grant's unprepared troops at Shiloh on the Tennessee River, resulting in 10,000 Confederates and 13,000 Union killed. Lincoln resisted to the pressured advice to relieve Grant.
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Union Army again retrears to Washington after 75000 of them are defeated by 55000 Confederates under General Stonewall Jackson.
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McClellan's troops are neaerly defeated in the Batlle of Seven Pines; however, General Johnston of the Confederate Army is horribly wounded.
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Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command replacing Johnston, leaving McClellan unimpressed.
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Lincoln hands down position of general-in-chief to General Henry W.
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General E. Lee and army are stopped at Antietam, Maryland by McClellan and numerically superior Union Forces. Lee withdraws to Virginia at nightfall after 26000 men are left dead or wounded.
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Lincoln creates a preliminary proclamation of emancipation creating possibility of freeing slaves.
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Army of Patomac , under newly appointed commander General Burnside, is defeated at Fredricksburg in Virginia with a loss of 12653 men. Confederate losses are less than half of Union losses
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Lincoln issues final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in terrotories held by Confederates and encourage the enlistment of African-American soldiers.
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Gen. Hooker, replacement for Burnside, is defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia. Hooker retreats, with both sides suffering great losses.
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Stonewall Jackson dies due to wounds, which is a huge loss for the south
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Gen. E. Lee launches his second invasion in North, (75000 Confederates) which will lead to Gettsyburg.
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Confederates are left defeated in Pennsylvania after the three day battle starting on the first of July.
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Union is now in control of mississipi after last Confederate stronghold surrenders to General Grant. Confederacy is effectively split into two.
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General Rosecran of the Union Army is captured under the Confederates in Chattanooga, Tennessee due to a Confederate victory at Chickamauga
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Lincoln makes a two minute speech at a ceremony dedicating the Battlefield
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Union forces under Grant defeat the Confederates ending the rebel seige of Charranooga. The battle lasted two days starting on the 23rd.
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Beginning of a massive coordinated campaign involving all Union troops
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During an offensive against fortified rebels at Cold Harbour in Virginia Grant makes a huge mistake resulting in 7000 Union casualties
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A nine month seige of Petersburg begins when Union troops miss and opportunity to capture Petersburg and cut off Conederate rail lines.
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Lincoln is re-elected president, after two Union victories in September and October, with 55% of the popular vote.
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After a decisive Union victory, Gen. Sherman being a march to the sea along with 62000 men. He reaches Savannah, offering Lincoln the town as a Christmas present, leaving behind a 300 mile path of destruction all the way from Atlanta.
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U.S congress approces the thirteenth ammendment to abolish slavery. It is yet to be ratified.
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A peace conference occurs with Lincoln and Confederate V.P Alexander Stephens, but fails and the war continues.
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Lee's lines are broken through at Petersburg after Grant's forces begin to advance. Lee evacuates Petersburg after Confederate Gen. Ambrose P. Hill is killed. Richmond is then evacuated, and the next day the Union flag is raised.
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Robert E. Lee surrenders to Grant and troops at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia.
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Lincoln and his Mary attend the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre. At 10:13 pm, Lincoln is shot by John Wilks Booth.
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At 7:22 am Lincoln is dead.
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John Wilkes Booth is shot dead in a tabacco barn in Virginia
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Lincoln is laid to rest in Oak Ridges Cemetary, where he suppossedly said to his wife Mary, "I could spend the rest of my life here."
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The thirteenth ammendment is finally ratified, and slavery is abolished.
