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Civil War
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Jefferson Davis speaks for slavery
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. He wanted to unite the Democratic party. -
Jefferson Davis
Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederates States of America. He is elected at the Weed convention in Montgomery, Alabama. -
Cooper Union Address
Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Adress, in which he validated the Federal government banning slavery in new territories. This was Lincolns most influential speech, and many think it won him the presidency. -
The Pony Express
The Pony Express begins going from Saint Louis, Missouri to Sacremento, Cali. It had 119 stations that were each 12 miles apart. They made it possible for more letters to be delivered in a more timely manner. -
Consitutional Union Party Forms
The former members of the American and Whig parties meet in Balitmore and form the Constitutional Union Party. They elected John Bell to be their candidate for president and Edward Everett as candidate for vice president. -
Grace Bedell
An 11 year old girl named Grace Bedell wrote Lincoln a letter. She tells him that a beard would make him look better because it was so thin. -
Lincoln Elected President
Lincoln is elected the 16th president. -
Southern Succession
Seven senators and twenty three reps issue a manifesto urging southern sucession. It also recommended forming a Southern Confederacy. -
South Carolina
South Carolina is the first state to secede from the Union after Lincoln becomes president. -
Congressman
The South Carolina Congressmen resign due to succession. However, their names remian on the roll because the Union still does not pay any attention to succession. -
South Carolina's Declaration
South Carolina created their version of the Declaration of Independence. -
Kansas
Kansas is admitted to the Union. It becomes the 34th US state. -
Fort Sumter
The first battle of the Civil War happens at Fort sumter in South Carolina. It was a Confederate victory. -
Lincoln's Suspension
Lincoln suspends the whit of habeas corpus. This meant that peple could now be imprisoned without being seen by a judge. -
The Crittenden-Johnson Resolution
This resolution was passed by Congress to give reasoning behind going to war. Itw as said that war was to preserve the Union. -
Tennesee River
Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant, capture Paducah Kentucky. This gave the Union control of the Tennesee River. -
Lincoln appoints McClellan
Lincoln appoints McClellan as commander of the Union Army. He replaces him. -
USS San Jacinto
This Union ship stops the United Kingdom mail ship, The Trent. They arrested two Confederate envoys, James Mason, and John Slidell. -
Judah Benjamin
Jefferson Davis appoints Judah as his Secretary of War. This put him in charge of the Confederate Army. -
Kentucky
Kentucky became the 13th Confederate state. The Confederate states started to become larger. -
McClellan ignores Lincoln
Lincoln issues the first General War Order, telling all land and sea army forces to advance. McClellan ignores this. -
Greenbacks
This was a form of money introiduced by Lincoln. It was the unified money for the US and was used by the Union Army. -
Conscription
Davis and the Confederate Congress approve the conscription act. This calls forward any white male ages 18-35 to fight for the confederate army. -
Internal Revenue Law
This law would give the government funds to use towards the civil war. It put a tax on inheritance, tobacco, and incomes over $600. -
Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll created Alice in Wonderland. He created this for Alice Liddell and her sisters one day when they were going on a picnic. -
African Americans and the Army
The Union army is officially allowed to hire African Americans as laborers. The slaves were then allowed to help in the army that was being fought to free them. -
Antietam
The battle of Antietam is the bloodiest single day battle in American history. Neither side one but the Confederates retreated which seemed like a victory in Lincoln's eyes. -
Emancipation
Lincoln's plan for Emancipation is published in the Union newspapers. This gave the slaves hope for their freedom and even more of a reason behind the war. -
Grant againt the Jews
Grant issues an order to ban Jewish people from serving under his command. -
Lincoln hangs Indians
Lincoln orders 39 Sioux Indian men to be hanged. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln signs the Emancipation and offically fress 3.1 million of the nation's slaves. -
National Banking Act
Lincoln signs the National Banking Act. It put someone in charge of controlling currency and it led to the creation of local banks. -
Conscription Act
The National Conscription Act is signed forcing able bodies males aged 18-35 into joining the Union Army. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle took place from May 1st to May 4th, ending in a Confederate victory. General Stonewall Jackson died during this battle. -
Gettysburg
This is the largest battle of the Civil War, taking place in a field in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This was a Union victory. -
Lee Resigns
Following his shameful defeat at Gettysburg, General Lee sends a letter of resigniation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Davis refused the request. -
Battle of Lawrence
This battle took place in Lawrence, Kansas, the site of much previous violence over the issue of slavery. The north views this as one of the most vicious battles of the war. -
Thanksgiving
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. -
The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's speech dedicating the military cemetary at Gettysburg. The address is not very long but considered the most influencial speech of Lincoln's. -
The Escape
John Hunt Morgan, and confederate calvary leader, and some of his men escaped the Ohio state prison. They did it by cutting a hole in a cell and crawling through the ventilation system. They returned to the South and Morgan picks up hi calvary activities. -
Andersonvllle
The first 500 prisoners of war arrive at the Confederate prison camp, Andersonville. This was the harshest prison camp of the Civil War. Many didn't survive due to the conditions. -
The Coinage Act
Congress passed the Coinage Act of 1864. This act states the inscription "In God we Trust" msut be on all coins that are to be used as US currency. -
Consciption Hoax
The New York World and the New York Journal of Commerce publish an article stating that Lincoln had drafted 400,000 more soldiers into the Union Army. -
Arlington National Cemetary
The Arlington National Cemetray is established by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. It was created using 200 acres land from Robert E. Lee's home. -
Lincoln's Conscription Law
Lincoln signs away the fee that someone could pay to avoid being drafted into the Union Army. -
Confederate Spy
Confederate spy Belle Boyd is arrested by Union forces. He is held at the Old Capital Prison in Washington D.C. -
Gold
Helena, Montana is founded. Four prospectors look here as their last attempt at finding gold after weeks of looking in the Rockies. -
Lincoln's re-election
Lincoln is re-elected in 1864. His victory is overwhelming because he won by a lot of votes over McClellan. -
Burning New York
A group of Confederate operatives that call themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan set fires in more than 20 places. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
At Waynesboro, Georgia forces the Union prevent Confederate troops from interfering with General Sherman's plan to destroy part of the South by matvhing to Savannah, Georgia. The Union suffered 3 times. -
Fort Stedman
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. -
Richmond
Confederate President Davis and his cabinet flee the confederate capital Richmond, Virginia as Union forces near it. The next day, it was captured by the Union. -
Appottamax
General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appottamax courthouse. This was the end of the Civil War. -
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Fords Theater during a performance of My American Cousin. Lincoln was pronounced dead early the nex morning. -
Booth is captured
John Wilkes Booth is captured in a barn in Virginia at the Garret's farm. He is shot and killed by Boston Corbett. -
Juneteenth
General Granger arrives in Texas and tella them about the Emancipation Proclamation. It is now celebrated as holiday called Juneteenth. -
Conspirators
The four conspirators in Lincoln;s assassination are hanged. These men are Davide Harold, 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. -
Henry Wirz
Major Henry Wirz is hanged. He was the leader of the horrible war camp, Andersonville. He is the only soldier who has been hung for war crimes. -
13th Amendment
This amendment permenantly abolishes slavery in the United States. -
KKK
Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan to resist reconstruction a well to repress the freed African Americans. -
The Liberator
The last issue of the Liberator is published. The newspaper has now become unnecessary because the slaves have been freed. -
Jesse James
The first day light bank robbery takes place in Liberty, Missouri. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is founded in New York by Henry Bergh. -
Nickel
Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, known as the nickel. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment is ratified, which gave civil rights to all freed African Americans. -
Tennesee
Following the Civil War Tennesee becomes the first state readmitted to the Union -
General of the Army
Congress passes the legislation making General of the Army a rank. Ulysses S, Grant is thr first to hold that title. -
Atlantic Cable
The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlanic telegraph communication for the first time. -
Train Robbery
The first train robbery takes place, the Reno brothers get away with $13,000. -
Jesse and Gang
Jesse James and his gang rob a bank in Lexington, Missouri. They get away with $2,000. -
African American Males
African American males are given the right to vote in Washington D.C. Congress over came President Johnson's veto to give the African Americans this right. -
Jesse James
Jesse James robs a bank in Savannah, Missouri. -
First Reconstruction Act
The first reconstruction act sets up five military districts in the South, each under the control of a military commander. The Army Appropriations Act is passed, lessening Johnson's control of the army. The final act passes is the Tenure Office Act which states that Johnson cannot remove cabinet members without the Senate's consent. -
Ride ins
African Americans stage a ride on streetcars in New Orleans to protest segregation. -
Alaska
Pres. Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. This would be the second to lasr state added to the United States. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Johnson vetoes the 3rd reconstruction act which spells out election procedures in the South and reasserts congressional control over the Reconstruction. Congress overrides Johnson's veto. -
Johnson suspends Stanton
Johnson suspends Stanton as Secretary of War after the two clash over reconstuction plans. Johnson places Ulysses S. Grant in the position. -
Alaska is formerly acquired
The U.S. officially takes posession of Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million. -
Impeachment
Congress looks into impeaching Johnson for his lack of effectiveness and unwillingness to follow through with reconstruction. -
Grange
Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry. Today this order is known as the farmer organization Grange.