Civil War Events

Republican Party is formed

Mar 20, 1854

Republican Party is formed on this day.

Kansas-Nebraska Act passed

May 30, 1854

Kansas-Nebraska Act passed on this day. This created two new territories.

South Carolina votes to secede from the United States

Nov 10, 1860

South Carolina voted to secede from the country because the United States was abolishing slavery.

Abraham Lincoln elected president

Nov 17, 1860

Abraham Lincoln elected president for the first time.

Congress passes the 13th Amendment

Jan 31, 1861

Congress passes the 13th Amendment on this day. This abolished slavery for good.

Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter takes place on this day. When President Lincoln planned to resupply the fort.

Lincoln suspends habeas corpus

Apr 27, 1861

Lincoln suspends habeas corpus on this day. He did this to silence rebels.

First Battle of Bull Run is fought

Jul 21, 1861

First Battle of Bull Run is fought on this day.

Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederacy

Nov 6, 1861

Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederacy. He is now leading the confederate army.

The Merrimac and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast

Mar 3, 1862

The Merrimac and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast on this day. This was the beginning of a new naval era.

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

Battle of Shiloh took place on this day. This was a Union victory over the confederacy in Pittsburgh.

Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia

Jun 8, 1862

Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
on this day. He served for over 20 years.

Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

Battle of Antietam took place on this day.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Dec 11, 1862

Battle of Fredericksburg took place.

Emancipation Proclamation is announced

Jan 1, 1863

Emancipation Proclamation is announced on this day.

Battle of Chancellorsville

Apr 30, 1863

Battle of Chancellorsville took place on this day. This was a bloody assault by the Union army.

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Battle of Gettysburg took place.

Confederates surrender at Vicksburg

Jul 4, 1863

The Confederacy is torn in two when General John C. Pemberton surrenders to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Vicksburg campaign was one of the Union's most successful of the war.

New York City draft riots

Jul 11, 1863

New York City draft riots started. These riots were caused by mass worker discomfort.

Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address

Nov 19, 1863

Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address on this day, before the Battle of Gettysburg.

Atlanta is captured

Jul 22, 1864

Atlanta is captured on this day. This cut off most of confederate supply lines in the area.

Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election

Nov 8, 1864

Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election. This is now Lincoln's second term.

Sherman begins his March to the Sea

Nov 15, 1864

Sherman begins his March to the Sea on this day.

Freedman’s Bureau is created

Mar 3, 1865

Freedman’s Bureau is created on this day. This was the start of the early reconstruction in the south.

Lincoln gives his second inaugural address

Mar 4, 1865

Lincoln gives his second inaugural address on this day. He wanted to reunite a broken nation.

Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox

Apr 2, 1865

Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox to forces from the north. He was overpowered.

Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy

Apr 3, 1865

Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy on this day. This lasted for only eight days.

President Lincoln assassination

Apr 15, 1865

President Lincoln was assassinated in a movie theater.

John Wilkes Booth is killed

Apr 26, 1865

John Wilkes Booth is killed. This is the man that killed
Abraham Lincoln.

Richmond falls to the Union Army

Apr 27, 1865

Richmond falls to the Union Army on this day. This is the end of the civil war.