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The Liberator goes into Print
William Loyd Garrison, from Boston Massachusetts was the writer of a weekly newspaper called the Liberator. This was an act against Slavery. In Garrisons first paper he said I will be as harsh as the truth and as uncompromising as justice, "I will not retreat a single inch, AND I WILL BE HEARD." The state of Georgia Offered a $5,000 reward for Garrison's Capture and some slave holders in the south demanded the end of the newspaper. -
Compromise of 1850 Passed
The compromise of 1850 was passed in September of 1850 and consisted of 5 laws that had to do with the issue of Slavery. Within it added California as a state and it said that any other new states would be free of slaves. It also passed a fugitive slave act that said anyone that helped a fugitive would be fined or Imprisoned It also set a boundary between Texas and New Mexico. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a book written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Stowe wrote the book in reaction of recently passed fugitive slave laws. The way the public viewed slavery was changed rapidly and the book established Stowe's reputation as a woman of letters. -
Kansas-Nebraska act passed
The Kansas-Nebraska act was an act passed in 1854 that dealt with popular sovereignty and gave new states' settlers the right to choose whether they wanted slavery or not. The Kansas-Nebraska act overturned the Missouri Compromise's use of boundary between free and slave territory. Stephen a Douglas Proposed it. The act led to what was known as the "Bleeding Kansas". -
James Buchanan sworn into office
James Buchanan was America's 15th president and was sworn into office in 1857. His term lasted for 4 years. As President he tried to maintain peace between Pro-Slavery and Anti-Slavery factions in the federal Government. But what happened was just the opposite, During his term, 7 states seceded and the nation was on brink of having a Civil War -
Dred Scott decision
Dred Scott was a slave from the free north that didn't mind his owners. Scott believed that he should be free since he was in the free North. The Supreme Court thought just the opposite. He was not entitled his freedom after a lot of time and effort spent fighting for it. -
John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
John Brown, an abolitionist against slavery, led a small group on a raid against federal army in effort to get rid of slavery. In his act he tried to arm slaves. He was charged for treason and later hung because of his raid. Some people considered him as a martyr. -
Lincoln elected 16th President
After beating all of his components on November 6,1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected 16th President and was the first one from the Republican party to be President. When Lincoln was announced president, most of the Southern States Seceded. By the time of Lincoln's inauguration, 7 states Seceded and they had formed the Confederate States of America. One month later the Confederates fired on Fort Sumter. This was the start of the Civil War. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
After Lincoln was elected president Seven states seceded, South Carolina being the first. The 7 states had called themselves the Confederate states of America and elected Jefferson Davis as their President. The new formed country used States Rights as a reason of leaving. They stated that they entered the Country voluntarily so they thought that they should be able to leave whenever they wanted. The North did not like the idea of them leaving and was one of many reasons for the Civil War. -
Battle at Fort Sumter
After the Secession of seven states from the Union. All of the southern property and military property belonged to the south. Fort Sumter was running low on supplies, so Abe Lincoln sent an unarmed group of men with supplies to the fort. While the group was on they way the confederates open fired on them. This event triggered the first battle of the Civil War. -
Battle of Bull Run
The battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War and occurred near the Bull Run Creek. On July 17, Union Commander Irvin McDowell sent a small force of men across Bull Run to test the Confederates. This act resulted in few casualties. After the "Test Run" McDowell along with 30,000 Union troops attacked a smaller group of confederates. The Union was expected to win, but what happened was just the opposite. -
Battle of Shiloh
Fought in South-Western Tennessee was the battle of Shiloh. On the first day of the battle, General P.G.T Beauregard and the Confederate army had the intention of driving the Union away the Union from the swamps and river of Owl Creek. General Grant's men from the Union instead went the other way to the North-West fooling the Confederates. This provided time for the rest of the Union army to show up. The Union won the battle of Shiloh. -
Battle of Antietam
Lee split his army into four parts to confuse McClellan. He ordered each part to move in different direction. The plan never had a chance to work. A confederate officer lost his copy of the orders describing the Confederate plan of attack. Two Union soldiers found them and brought them to McClellan. He didn't attack right away which gave Lee time to gather his troops . They met in a place called Antietam near Sharps burg Maryland. It was a Union Victory. -
Battle at Fredriksburg
The battle of Fredricksburg was fought in and around Fredricksburg and was between General Lee's Confederate army and Major general Ambrose Burnside of the Potomac from the Union. Burnside's plan was to get to the Richmond, which is the Confederate Capitol, before Lee's army could stop him. To do that the Union army would have to cross the Rappahannock river, Which the Confederates blocked off. On December 15 Burnside retreated his army. This was a 5 day battle, ending in a Confederate victory. -
Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect
The Constitution did not give Lincoln the power to end slavery, but it did give him the power to take property away from an enemy during wartime, and that was all he needed because enslaved people were considered property by law. On September, 1862 Lincoln announced that he would issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This act that would go into effect on January 1st, 1863 freed all slaves in Confederate territory. Some slaves in the South would have to wait for a Union victory to be freed. -
Battle at Chancellorsville
The Battle at Chancellorsville, occurred near Chancellorsville and is Widely said to be confederate general Robert E Lee's greatest victory during the civil war. Although he was facing an enemy twice his force and size, he surprisingly won. When Lee split his forces Joseph Hooker's Union army was forced to retreat along the Rappahannak River. Though it was Lee's best victory, one of his most trusted generals, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was mortally wounded during friendly fire in the battle. -
Battle of Gettysburg
With confidence, General Lee decided to invade the north for a second time after Chancellorsville on Northern soil. Lee hoped to gain recognition of the confederacy by Britain and France and strengthen there support. But in the end, after 3 days of fighting and over 46,000 casualties, The Confederates lost and Lee was forced to retreat his army back to Virginia ending in a Union Victory. -
Vicksburg Surrenders
General Ulysses S. Grant's army converged on Vicksburg.When they intruded into the city uninvited they surrounded a confederate army led by Lieutenant General John Pemberton. This was one of the smartest campaigns of the war. After the loss of the stronghold on the Mississippi the Confederate army was split into two, the East and the West. The city of Vicksburg was basically destroyed. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's march to the sea was a military Campaign in the Civil War. It was led by William Tecumseh Sherman, part of the Union army and occurred from November 15, 1864 - December 21. After capturing Atlanta he and his troops went on to take over Savannah. He destroyed many Military targets as well as infrastructure,Industry along with Civilian property. Sherman's bold move of operating deep in enemy territory was considered one of the greatest and most daring achievements during the war. -
South Surrenders at Appomattox Courthouse
After a short battle on the morning of April 9th, Near Appomattox Court House in Virginia, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army, meaning the north had won. Confederate soldiers would have to turn in their rifles, but they could return home right away and keep their horses and mules. They were also given food because many of them were very hungry. President Lincoln was very generous and just wanted peace. Slaves were then freed after the surrender.
