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Kansas-Nebraska Act passed
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed on May 30, 1854, by President Franklin Pierce. It organized the territories of Kansas and Nebraska and allowed the residents of each territory to decide the issue of slavery through popular sovereignty, effectively repealing the Missouri Compromise -
Republican Party is formed
The Republican Party was founded in 1854 by anti-slavery activists who opposed the Kansas–Nebraska Act, which allowed for the potential extension of slavery to the western territories. The party supported economic reform geared to industry, supporting investments in manufacturing, railroads, and banking. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville, while a Confederate victory in the American Civil War, is significant for several reasons. It showcased General Lee's strategic brilliance and audacity, but also resulted in the loss of his most trusted lieutenant, Stonewall Jackson. This victory, and Jackson's death, were pivotal in setting the stage for Lee's subsequent invasion of the North and the Battle of Gettysburg. -
Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter
On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces initiated the American Civil War by firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. This act of aggression, ordered by General P.G.T. Beauregard, signaled the start of a major conflict after several Southern states seceded from the Union. -
New York City draft riots
The New York City draft riots, a series of violent disturbances in 1863, were a significant event in American history, stemming from the Enrollment Act that mandated military service for men between 20 and 45. The riots, primarily fueled by working-class discontent and racial tensions, resulted in widespread violence, including attacks on military and government buildings, as well as African American communities. -
First Battle of Bull Run is fought
The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the First Battle of Manassas, was the first major land battle of the American Civil War and took place on July 21, 1861. It was fought near Manassas, Virginia, between Union and Confederate forces. The battle resulted in a Confederate victory, and it shocked many in the North who had expected a quick and decisive Union victory. -
Abraham Lincoln elected president
With an electoral majority comprised only of Northern states that had already abolished slavery, and minimal support in the Democratic-dominated Southern slave states, Lincoln's election as the first Republican president thus served as the main catalyst for Southern secession and consequently the American Civil War. -
Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election
Lincoln's re-election ensured that he would preside over the successful conclusion of the Civil War. Lincoln's victory made him the first president to win re-election since Andrew Jackson in 1832, as well as the first Northern president to ever win re-election. -
South Carolina votes to secede from the United States
South Carolina voted to secede from the United States on December 20, 1860, primarily due to concerns that the election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican who opposed the expansion of slavery, would threaten the institution of slavery and the Southern way of life. -
Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Provisional Government of the Confederacy on February 9, 1861, and then re-elected for a six-year term on November 6, 1861. He was chosen due to his political prominence, military reputation, and moderate stance on secession, which leaders hoped would unite Southern support. -
Lincoln suspends habeas corpus
During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus to counter threats to national security and maintain control during the war effort, particularly in areas near the capital and critical transportation lines. He argued that in times of rebellion, the public safety required measures that might not be permissible during peacetime, even if they conflicted with constitutional rights. -
The Merrimac and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast
The Battle of Hampton Roads, fought between the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia (formerly USS Merrimack), was a pivotal moment in naval history. It was the first-ever clash between ironclad warships, signifying a shift from wooden ships to armored vessels in naval warfare. While the battle itself ended in a stalemate, it demonstrated the effectiveness of ironclad technology and ushered in a new era of naval warfare. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, fought in April 1862, was a pivotal moment in the early stages of the Civil War, marking a significant Union victory and ultimately contributing to their control of the Mississippi River Valley. While not immediately decisive, it set the stage for future Union successes in the Western Theater. -
Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
1862 On June 1 Lee is given command of the Army of Northern Virginia, the main Confederate army in the eastern theater of the war. Union troops are poised at the gates of Richmond. Lee commences a series of counterattacks at the Seven Days Battle that drives the enemy away from the Confederate capital. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, was a crucial turning point in the Civil War, both militarily and politically. While a tactical stalemate, the Union's ability to stop the Confederate invasion of Maryland provided President Lincoln the opportunity to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. -
Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address
On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The speech, a concise two-minute address, honored the Union soldiers who died in the Battle of Gettysburg and reaffirmed the nation's commitment to the principles of equality and democracy. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was a decisive Confederate victory that significantly impacted the course of the American Civil War. While strategically important for Confederate morale and a prelude to later successes at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg, it was also a devastating defeat for the Union, leading to a decline in northern morale and a political crisis. -
Emancipation Proclamation is announced
The Emancipation Proclamation was announced by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863. It declared that all persons held as slaves within the rebellious Confederate states were "thenceforward, and forever free". The Proclamation did not free slaves in the border states or areas of the Confederacy already under Union control. -
Congress passes the 13th Amendment
The passage of the 13th Amendment by Congress on January 31, 1865, was a pivotal event, officially abolishing slavery in the United States and its territories. It marked a transformative moment, not only ending slavery but also setting the stage for broader civil rights protections for African Americans. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg is considered a major turning point in the American Civil War, primarily because it halted Confederate General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North and marked a turning point in the war's momentum. The Union victory at Gettysburg, combined with Ulysses S. Grant's victory at Vicksburg, effectively shifted the war's balance in favor of the Union. -
Confederates surrender at Vicksburg
The Confederates surrendered at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863. Confederate General John C. Pemberton surrendered his forces to Union General Ulysses S. Grant after a 47-day siege. This surrender marked a significant turning point in the Civil War, as it gave the Union control of the Mississippi River and effectively split the Confederacy in two -
Sherman begins his March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea, coupled with his Atlanta Campaign, may have tipped the scales of victory toward the Union in the Civil War. The destruction wreaked by the operation caused significant Confederate economic loss and diminished Confederate morale, generating deep resentment in Southerners. -
Freedman’s Bureau is created
3The Freedmen's Bureau provided assistance to tens of thousands of formerly enslaved people and impoverished whites in the Southern States and the District of Columbia in the years following the war. It helped freedpeople establish schools, purchase land, locate family members, and legalize marriages -
Lincoln gives his second inaugural address
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address is significant because it marked a turning point in American history, offering a message of reconciliation and healing following the Civil War. It moved beyond blame and towards a future of unity, urging the nation to "bind up the nation's wounds". The speech also grappled with the meaning of the war, interpreting it as divine punishment for the sin of slavery. -
Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy
Richmond, Virginia, became the capital of the Confederate States of America on May 26, 1861, and remained so until its fall on April 3, 1865. This move was significant because Richmond served as the political center of the Confederacy, a major manufacturing hub for the war effort, and a symbol of Southern resistance. -
Richmond falls to the Union Army
The fall of Richmond to the Union Army in April 1865 was a decisive turning point in the Civil War, signaling the Confederacy's imminent collapse. As the Confederate capital, Richmond's capture represented a major blow to their cause, both militarily and psychologically. The city's destruction by fire during its evacuation further emphasized the war's end was near. -
Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox
The surrender of Robert E. Lee to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Courthouse on April 9, 1865, marked the end of the American Civil War. While not the official end of the war, the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, Lee's most important command, signaled the collapse of Confederate resistance and paved the way for the war's conclusion. -
Lincolns Assisination
Wilkes Booth assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre. This Assassination was driven by his belief in the Confederacy and his hatred for Lincoln's policies. Booth was then hunted for 12 days before being killed by Union soldiers. -
John Wilkes Booth is killed
John Wilkes Booth was shot by Union soldier Boston Corbett. The shooting occurred when Booth was cornered in a barn during a manhunt following the assassination of President Lincoln. Corbett claimed Booth was aiming his pistol at him, leading Corbett to fire a shot that wounded Booth, and he later died. -
Atlanta is captured
Both ended in defeat and led to the fall of Atlanta in September. The capture of such a valuable Confederate stronghold boosted Northern morale, helped ensure the reelection of President Abraham Lincoln in November, and precipitated the downfall of the Confederacy.