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On this date, Jefferson Davis expresses his opinion on the subject of sucession. He is in favor of it and was the president of the Confederates.
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Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis presents resolutions as to why slavery should be allowed in the territories. He also gave reasons as to why the nation should protect slaveholders. His intention was to unite the Democratic party.
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Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Adress, in which he validated the Federal Government banning slavery in new territories. This was Lincoln's most influencial speech and many people believe it won him in presidency.
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The Pony Express begins going from Saint Louis, Missouri to Sacremento, California. It had 119 stations that were each 12 miles apart. They made it possible for more letters to be delievered in a more timely manner.
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The previous members of the American and Whig parties meet in Baltimore and form the Constituational Union Party. They elect John Bell to be their candidate for president and Edward Everett as candidate for vice president.
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In Richmond, Virginia the southern delegates were responsible for holding a convention. The party leaders urged a "wait and see" approach.
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Grace Bedell, an 11 year old girl, writes Lincoln. In her letter she tells him that a beard would make his face look better because it is so thin. Lincoln decides to let his facial hair grow out.
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Lincoln was elected as president in November 1860.
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South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the union.
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The South Carolina Congressmen resign due to secession.
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Kansas is admitted to the Union. It is the 34th U.S. state and was suppost to be a slave state. Much controversy led it to eventually become free.
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Jefferson Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America.
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The fisrt battle of the Civil War happens at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The battle lasted two days and was a victory to the Confederates.
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Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus.This meant that people could now be imprisoned without being seen by a judge and told what their crimes were.
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Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant capture Paducah, Kentucky without any blood . This gives the union control of the Tennesse River.
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This resolution is passed by Congress to give reasoning behind going to war. It states that the war is to preserve the Union, not to end slavery.
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Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army.
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The Union ship stops the United Kingdom mail ship, The Trent. They arrest two Confederate envoys, James Mason and John Slidell. This causes tension with the previously uninvolved Britain.
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Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjamin as his Secretary of War. This put him in charge of the Confederate army.
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Kentucky becomes the 13th Confederate state. This is really the turning point because the Confederate states are becoming larger and larger. This also means they are gaining more power and resources.
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Lincoln issues the first General War Order, telling all land and sea army forces to advance. McClellan ignores this.
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Battle that took place in Tennessee, 4332 casualties.
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Battle in Tennessee, 4332 casualties.
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Willie Lincoln dies of typhoid fever in the White House.
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This was a form of paper money introduced by Lincoln. It was the unified money for the United States and was used by the Union army.
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Battle of Shiloh at Pittsburgh Landing in Tennessee, 23,700 casualties.
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Davis and the Confederate Congress approve the conscription act. This calls any white males ages 18 to 35 to fight for the confederate army.
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The Union army is officially allowed to hire African Americans as laborers.
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The battle of Antietam is the bloodiest single day battle in American history. Neither side won the war but the Confederate retreat during the battle which made it a victory in Lincoln's eyes.
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Lincoln's plan for Emancipation is published in the Union newspapers. This gives the slave hope for their freedom.
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Lincoln signs the Emancipation and officially frees 3.1 million of the nation's slaves. This document only freed slaves that were not under Union control but allowed them to serve in the Union army.
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Lincoln signs the National Banking Act, making it a law. It put someone in charge of controlling currency and it led to the creation of local banks.
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The National Conscription Act is signed forcing able bodied males ages 18-35 into joining the Union Army.
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This battle took place from May 1st to May 4th, ending in a Confederate victory. Both sides lost many of their soldiers, the Union casualties were 17,500 men and the Confederate casualties were 13,000.
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This is the largest battle of the Civil War, taking place in a field in Getthsburg, Pennsylvania. General Meade's Union forces turn back Lee's Confederates during this battle.
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Following his defeat at Gettysburg, General Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Davis refuses the request.
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This battle took place in Lawrence, Kansas, the site of much previous violence over the issue of slavery.
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Lincoln declares Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated the last Thursday in November. This holiday is to celebrate the colonists and Native Americans coming together and sharing their resources.
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Lincoln's speech dedicating the military cemetary at Gettysburg. The address is not very long but it is considered the most influential speech. It boosted Northern morale and made them feel like there was a purpose behind the war.
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John Hunt Morgan, a confederate calvary leader, and some of his men escape the Ohio state prison. They escape by cutting a hole in the cell and crawling through the ventilation system.
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The first 500 prisoners of war arrive at the Confederate prison camp, Andersonville. This was the harshest prison camp of the Civil War.
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President Lincoln appoints Gen. Grant to command all of the armies of the United States.
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Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864. This act states that the inscription "In God we Trust" must be on all coins that are to be used as US currency.
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The New York World and the New York Journal of Commerce publish an article stating that Lincoln has drafted 400,000 more soldiers into the Union Army. The public decided it was not true when they found that only two papershad published the news.
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The Arlington National Cemetary is established by Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton. It is created using 200 acres land from Robert E Lee's home, Arlington House.
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Lincoln signs away the fee that someone could pay to aviod being drafted into the Union Army.
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Confederate spy Belle Boyd is arrested by Union forces.
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Lincoln is re-elected in 1864. His victory is overwhelming because of how many votes he received over George B. McClellan.
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A group of Confederate operatives that call themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan set fires in more then 2o places. This is their unsuccessful attempt at burning New York down.
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At Waynesboro, Georgia forces the Union to prevent Confederate troops from interfering with General Sherman's plan to destroy part of the South by marching to Savannah, Georgia. Union suffers three times as many casualties as the Confederacy.
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The Confederate forces capture Fort Stedman from the Union forces. About 2,900 of Lee's men are killed and 1,000 are captured during the counter attack.
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Confederate President Davis and his cabinet flee the confederate capital, Richmond Virginia as Union forces near it. The very next day it is captured by the Union.
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General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appottamax courthouse. This marks the end of the Civil War.
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John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Fords Theater during a performance of My American Cousin. Lincoln is pronounced dead early the next morning.
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John Wilkes Booth is captured in a barn in Virginia at the Garret's farm. He is shot and killed by Boston Corbett.
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General Granger arrives in Texas and tells them about the Emancipation Proclamation. It is now celebrated as a holiday called Juneteenth.
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The four conspirators in Lincoln's assassination are hanged. These men are David Harnold, George Atzerodt, Lewis Payne, and Mary Surratt. John Surratt escapes to Canada and later makes his way to Egypt so he does not pay for his involvement in Lincoln's death.
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Major Henry Wirz is hanged. He was the leader of the atrocious war camp, Andersonville. He becomes the only soldier hanged for war crimes.
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The 13th Amendment is ratified by three-quarters of the states. This amendment permenantly abolishes slavery in the United States.
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Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan to resist reconstuction as well as to repress the freed African Americans.
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The last issue of the Liberator is published. The newspaper has now become unnecessary because the slaves have been freed.
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The first day light bank robbery takes place in Libery, Missouri. This was carried out by Jesse James and his gang.
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The American Society for the Prevention of Cruely to Animals is founded in New York by Henry Bergh.
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Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, known as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime.
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The 14th amendment is ratified. This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans.
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Following the Civil War,Tennessee becomes the first state readmitted to the Union.
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Congress passes the legislation making General of the Army a rank. Ulysses S. Grant is the first to hold that title.
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The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time.
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The first train robbery takes place. The Reno brothers get away with $13,000.
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Jesse James and his gang robs a bank in Lexington, Missouri. They get away with $2,000.
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African American males are given the right to vote in Washington D.C. Congress over came President Johnson's veto to give African Americans this right.
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Nebraska offically becomes a state and is part of the Union.
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Jesse James robs a bank in Savannah, Missouri.
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The first reconstruction Act sets up five military districts in the South, each under the control of a military commander.
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African Americans stage a ride on street cars in New Orleans to protest segregation.
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President Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. This would be the second to last state added to the United States of America.
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Johnson vetoes the third reconstruction act which spells out election procedures in the South and reasserts congressional control over the Reconstruction. Congress overrides Johnson's veto.
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Johnson suspends Stanton as Secretary of War after the two clash over reconstruction plans. Johnson places Ulysses S. Grant in the position.
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The United States oficially takes possesion of Alaska from Russia. $7.2 million is paid for it.
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Congress looks into impeaching Johnson for his lack of effectiveness and unwillingness to follow through with reconstruction.
