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Fort Sumter
Years of growing hate between North and South resulted in Civil war on April 12, 1861, when Confederate forces fired on a Union fort in Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter surrendered 34 hours later. Union forces would try for nearly four years to take it back, though the battle already ended in a defeat for the Union. This battle marked the beginning of the Civil War. -
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Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war that was fought in the United States from 1861 to 1865. As a result of the long-standing battle over slavery, war broke out in April 1861, when Confederate forces attacked Fort Sumter in South Carolina, shortly after U.S. President's Abraham Lincoln Election. -
First Battle of Bull Run
On July 21, 1861, Union and Confederate forces battled in the first major battle of the Civil War. They fought near a river named Bull Run, hence the name of the battle. 35,000 Union forces battled 20,000 Confederate forces. After fighting on defense all day, The Confederacy rallied together and broke the North's right flank, sending the Union in a panicked retreat to Washington. The victory gave the South confidence, and it shocked many of the North, finally realizing this war wouldn't be easy. -
Battle of Antietam
Due to a mistake by the Confederacy, the Union is able to defend an impending attack near Antietam Creek. After fighting all day with no results, the Confederacy retreated, due to numerous deaths and wounded. McClellan of the Union decided not to attack the retreating army, which led to him being fired by Lincoln, and the Union taking the victory. It was known as the single bloodiest day in all of American history. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Many have been telling Lincoln to free the slaves, though he denied for three reasons. He did not believe he had the power, some Union states opposed it, and he didn't wish to lose the Border states. After the North winning the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln decides to mark it as the ultimate victory. He releases the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in the Confederacy. -
Formation of the 54th Mass.
The formation of the 54th Mass was a mass of colored people in the army, which was also allowed by the Emancipation Proclamation. About 180,000 colored soldiers joined the army. They were organized into all-colored regiments led by white officers, and usually given the worse jobs and paid less. -
Defeat of Vicksburg
The Battle of Vicksburg was a battle that the North had to try and gain control of the Mississippi, which would effectively split the South in two, known as the "Anaconda Plan". The Union ended up winning the battle -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a battle known as the "turning point" of the Civil War. It was fought for 3 days, which ended in a victory for the North. With high confidence, General Lee of the Confederacy decided to try and invade the North, though was stopped by the Union army, led by General Meade. -
New York City Draft Riots
In 1863, Congress passed a law making all men between 20 and 45 years old join the military. On July 13, the government’s attempt to enforce the draft in New York caused an uproar. Blacks, or anyone trying to stop the rioters were killed or beaten. The rioters were later shot down by the Union army. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by Lincoln to honor the deaths of the people who fought in Gettysburg, where they were buried in a cemetery. It was 272 words long, and spoken in 2 minutes. It is one of the most famous speeches of all time. -
Sherman's March To The Sea
Union General Sherman led soldiers on a 285-mile march. The reason of this was to frighten Georgia’s civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. Sherman’s soldiers did not destroy any of the towns in their path, but they stole food and livestock and burned the houses and barns of people who tried to retaliate. This tactic later became known as "total war". Sherman also bent the railroad tracks beyond use and did anything to damage the Confederate army. -
Creation of Freedman’s Bureau
Lincoln created this Bureau to oversee the transaction of African American slaves to freedom. -
Surrender at Appotmatox Courthouse
The Battle of Appotmatox Courthouse was the last battles fought in the Civil War, resulting in the Confederacy surrender to the Union. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending the a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Wilkes shot him to avenge the defeat of the South. -
Congress passes the 13th Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment of the Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, meaning if it was against your free will, except as punishment for a crime. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment of the Constitution granted citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States,” which included former slaves recently freed. -
15th Amendment
This amendment stated that everyone had a right to vote despite race, color, or previous condition of servitude. Southerners found a way past this by making citizens pay fines to vote, knowing the whites could afford, though the colored could not. -
End of Reconstruction
The Compromise of 1876 effectively ended the Reconstruction era. Southern Democrats' promises to protect civil and political rights of blacks were not kept, and the end of federal interference in southern affairs led to widespread distreatment of blacks voters. -
Supreme Court Case Plessy vs Ferguson
Plessy v. Ferguson was a U.S. Supreme Court case issued in 1896. It was about African Americans being allowed schools, restaurants etc. as long as they were equal in quality to the same as white schools, restaurants, etc.– a doctrine that came to be known as "separate but equal".
