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The Bombardment of Fort Sumter
When the south seceded union troops in southern territories were forced to surrender. Major Robert Anderson moved his troops to Sumter and was told to surrender or the Confederates would open fire. General P.G.T Beauregard surrounded Union Major Robert Anderson in Charleston Harbor and bombarded the fort. This event marked the beginning of the Civil War and put the north in a position where they needed to invade. It also angered many Americans in the north. -
Battle of Manassas
The battle was caused by the south bombarding Fort Sumter and placing their capital in Richmond Virginia. The Union wanted to capture Richmond as soon as possible. Union soldiers met Confederate soldiers at a small creek in Virginia called Bull Run. civilians came to watch the battle expecting a show and for the Union soldiers to win. The battle started as expected but the confederates won. This showed people that the war was going to be long and bloody. The Union would not give up on the war. -
The Battle of Antietam
The battle was caused by Lee wanting to deal a big blow to the north by invading MD. He thought that they could deal a major blown to the US if he could capture American soil and if it worked he could potentially keep going and end the war. The battle was a Union victory at a high cost. At the beginning the Union blasted Rebs with canons. Then Burnside and his men repelled the Rebs from Maryland. This battle was very crucial because it made the war about ending slavery and it boosted our moral. -
Emancipation Proclamation
After the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln saw a chance to make the war about ending slavery. He thought that if the Union could win such major battles he could win the war. He decided to write the Emancipation Proclamation which would end slavery in all Confederate states. The South laughed at this and thought "we're not apart of your country so you cant tell us what to do." Before this Lincoln just wanted to bring the Union back together. This made the war passed the point of no return. -
Gettysburg
The battle started when General Lee was going to march to Harrisburg and swing south to D.C. That didn't work out, however he met Buford in a small town called Gettysburg. They began to fight and Buford held out until troops arrived. Then the Union took the shape of a hook. The second day was a series of Union victories followed by some losses. Lee decided to attack the heart of the Union's lines at Cemetery Hill. General Pickett led the failed charge. This was a major moral boost for the North. -
General Sherman's March to the Sea
During the Election of 1864, Lincoln's chances of winning looked bleak. He decided to try to devastate the south. He gave Grant the permission to wage total war on the south. Sherman proposed a March to the Sea. They would start in Atlanta and march to Savannah. The Union army met little resistance and destroyed everything in their path. They took anything useful to the Rebs and stole food from farmers. They cut the states in half. When news of success came to the U.S. Lincoln won the election. -
Lee's Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
The Union chased Lee and his men all around Virginia slowly weakening his already weak army. They took position at Appomattox Courthouse and were sieged by Grant and his men. After they ran out of supplies the surrendered. There, Grant offered generous terms for their all out surrender. Union soldiers started cheering and Grant hushed them and said, "These are your countrymen again." This ended the war and brought the Union back together. It also freed slaves across the country.
