Civil War

  • South Carolina votes to secede from the United States

    South Carolina votes to secede from the United States

    South Carolina General Assembly was called to discuss leaving the United States. They voted unanimously to succeed from the US which ultimately helped cause the Civil War
  • Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address

    Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address

    This was his speech he gave during his Oath of Office as the next President of the United States. This was important because he told the South he was not trying to strip them of their slaves but said he would tax them.
  • Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter

    Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter

    Confederate soldiers laid fire down on Fort Sumter and started the Civil War. This gave the confederates the upper hand because it put a massive in the Union blockades.
  • Lincoln suspends habeas corpus

    Lincoln suspends habeas corpus

    During the early stages of the war Lincoln removed the restrictions on military forces that the Habeas Corpus had set. This gave the military the power to detain and arrest anyone who was deemed harmful to the military efforts.
  • Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy

    Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy

    City of Richmond in Virginia was names as the capitol of the Confederacy. The capitol was moved here in recognition of Virginia strategic importance.
  • First Battle of Bull Run is fought

    First Battle of Bull Run is fought

    The Battle of Manassas was the first battle of Bull Run and was known as the end of illusions. This was the first major battle of the Civil War and it showed everyone across America that this was not going to be a small war and that there would be great loss.
  • Jefferson Davis elected President of the Confederacy

    Jefferson Davis elected President of the Confederacy

    Jefferson Davis was elected president of The Confederate States of America and was going to be serving a six year term. He was the only person to assume this position.
  • The Merrimack and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast

    The Merrimack and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast

    This was a naval engagement at Hampton Roads. It was noted as history's first duel between iron clad ships, a new invention at the time. The winner was indecisive.
  • Battle of Shiloh

    Battle of Shiloh

    This was an early battle in the war and one of the first major engagements the two armies had. The confederates launched a surprise attack on the Union forces but the Union still won the fight.
  • Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia

    Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia

    Robert E. Lee is put in command of the Army of Northern Virginia to defend the city of Richmond from Union soldiers. He held command of this army until the end of the Civil War.
  • Battle of Antietam

    Battle of Antietam

    Also known as the battle of Sharpsburg, the Battle of Antietam was a battle during the Civil War that pushed back Confederate forces from invading Maryland. Maryland was important because it was one of the greatest threat territories to Washington DC.
  • Battle of Fredericksburg

    Battle of Fredericksburg

    This was the lowest part of the war for the Union, even though they greatly outnumbered the Confederates they suffered almost double the losses and it was a major defeat for them.
  • Emancipation Proclamation is announced

    Emancipation Proclamation is announced

    Lincoln made the decision after 3 years of fighting in the civil war that any slave in the Rebellious states were officially set free. This was a huge step in the Civil Rights movement because it is the first time that slaves had been legally freed across the country.
  • Battle of Chancellorsville

    Battle of Chancellorsville

    Battle lasted until May 6, 1863. This was another major battle in the Civil War taking place in Virginia. This was a major victory for Lee and the confederates.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Battle of Gettysburg

    Union and Confederate forces fought in Gettysburg, PA. This was known as a turning point because the South tried to do a very large attack on the North and end the war but failed and it gave the North the upper hand.
  • New York City draft riots

    New York City draft riots

    After a new draft law was put in place, low income workers in New York City rioted and protected for five days in some of the bloodiest and most destructive riots in our country's history.
  • Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address

    Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address

    This was Lincoln's official speech honoring the fallen soldiers from the Battle of Gettysburg. With over 23,000 deaths on the Union side this was one of the more bloody battles that Lincoln needed to address.
  • Atlanta is captured

    Atlanta is captured

    During the Civil War, Atlanta was being used as a center of military operations and it was a very valuable place for the confederates. The Union soldiers attacked them and took over Atlanta.
  • Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election

    Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election

    During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln defeated his opponent in the election by a landslide winning 212-21 in the Electoral College and 55% popular vote.
  • Sherman begins his March to the Sea

    Sherman begins his March to the Sea

    Union General Sherman marched across Georgia and burned the industrial part of Atlanta and pulled away Confederate supply lines.
  • Congress passes the 13th Amendment

    Congress passes the 13th Amendment

    Congress officially abolished Slavery in the United States and this was also passed by the Senate and House of Representatives.
  • Freedmen's Bureau is created

    Freedmen's Bureau is created

    An agency that was established to protect and support freedmen in the South including recently freed slaves.
  • Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

    Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

    After the war, Lincoln addressed the country saying that the fighting was over and that there would be mutual forgiveness between the North and the South. He also showed his gratitude in the fact that the Nation's crisis was over.
  • Richmond falls to the Union Army

    Richmond falls to the Union Army

    After nine months the Confederate border broke and was invaded by Union troops, leaving the Capitol, Richmond defenseless.
  • Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox

    Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox

    Robert Lee surrendered all of his troops to the Union army and ended the civil war. His reason for surrendering was to prevent any extensive damage to the South.
  • Abraham Lincoln's Assasination

    Abraham Lincoln's Assasination

    Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head during a play by John Wilks Booth. He was shot through the head and died the next morning. His killer was killed by Union soldiers 12 days later when he was tracked down to a Virginia farm.
  • John Wilkes Booth is killed

    John Wilkes Booth is killed

    12 days after he murdered Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth was tracked down to a small farm in Virginia where he was killed by Union soldiers.

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