Civil War Era

Election of Abraham Lincoln

Nov 6, 1860

Abraham Lincoln won the election as the Republican candidate. He was elected despite no support from the entire South.
This caused several Southern states to secede.

Crittenden Compromise

Dec 18, 1860

The senator from Kentucky tries to prevent the Civil war. He offered a compromise where a constitutional amendment would recognize slavery. Abraham Lincoln defeated it.

Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

Fort Sumter was a federal fort surrounded by Confederates. Lincoln sent some supplies to them. The confederates then shelled the fort until they surrendered,

Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

Bull Run was a creek in Virginia. The Union army was on its way to besiege Richmond but were stopped by “Stonewall” Jackson. The Union fled but the Confederates didn’t pursue. Only a few hundred people died on each side. The Union was stopped from advancing to Richmond and was an eye opener to war.

Battles of Fort Henry

Feb 6, 1862

Ulysses S. Grant won this battle in Tennessee. It was the 1st important Union victory in the Western theater. It helped eventually capture the Missisippi.

Monitor and Merrimack

Mar 8, 1862

This was the most important naval battle of the Civil War. The Monitor and Merrimack were the first ironclad ships to fight together in battle. The indecisive battle affected naval technology worldwide.

Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

This battle had the most deadliest day in war. Each side lost about 13,000 men. Gen. McClellan halted Gen. Lee’s invasion of Maryland. The victory allowed Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

Battle of Fredricksburg (Virginia)

Dec 11, 1862

This was the costliest defeat of the North. Gen. Burnside lead the North against Lee. The Union had futile frontal attacks resulting in over 12,000 Union deaths, more than twice the Confederate Deaths. Because he lost, Burnside was replaced by Gen. Hooker.

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

The battle of Antietam was the victory that allowed the proclamation. The proclamation "freed" the slaves in the Confederacy. It didn't have an immediate affect of freeing any slaves but shifted the war objective

Federal Draft Act

Mar 3, 1863

President Lincoln signs the act. It forced people to fight in the Civil War. This later causes draft riots in New York.

Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Generals Lee and Meade fought here in the most important Civil War battle. 51,000 casualties occurred. The Confederates unsuccessfully attacked with Pickett's Charge.
The battle forced the Confederates to retreat and stopped the movement into union territory, ensuring they wouldn’t have a major offensive again.

Battle of Vicksburg

Jul 4, 1863

It was a battle in Mississippi lead by Gen. Grant. Around 8,000 people were killed in total. Grant sieged the city until everyone starved. They were able to cut the South into two by controlling the Mississippi River. The battle helped Grant’s military career so that he would become the general in the East.

Gettysburg Address

Nov 19, 1863

This was one of the greatest speeches in American History. He reiterated the principles of human equality. He made the Civil War a fight for equality

Atlanta Campaign

May 7, 1864

Union General Sherman invaded Georgia to capture Atlanta Sherman was victorious. This helped Abraham Lincoln get relected.

Reelection of Lincoln

Nov 8, 1864

Abraham Lincoln was relected. He ran against Democratic candidate McClellan. Abraham Lincoln won becaus he joined with the war Democrats to form the National Union Party. Soldiers and military successes also helped

Sherman's March to the Sea

Nov 15, 1864

Sherman's troops left Atlanta to capture the port of Savannah. Sherman operated without supply lines deep in enemy territory. His fighting destroyed Southern infrastructure with scorched earth warfare.

Surrender at Appotamox Court House

Apr 9, 1865

There was a battle with several hundred killed. When Gen. Lee saw the size of the army, he surrendered to Grant. This effectively ended the civil war. Grant was generous and didn’t punish the Confederates much.

Assasination of Abraham Lincoln

Apr 14, 1865

Abraham Lincoln was assasinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater. This happened 5 days after the war ended. Andrew Johnson became one of the least popular presidents upon Lincoln's death.

13th Amendement

Dec 18, 1865

The amendment was passed by Congress. It abolished all forms of slavery and involuntary servitude. This finally freed all of the slaves.