Timeline: Civil War Events

1860

Abraham Lincoln Inauguration

Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated in 1860 by winning the popular vote. He became the 16th President of the United States.

Feb 8, 1861

Forming of the Confederacy

The Confederate States were formed through the seceding of the states from the Union. This contained South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

Apr 12, 1861

Attack on Fort Sumter

The Civil War started when confederate troops fired upon Fort Sumter, SC. Less than 34 hours after the initial firing, Union troops on the island surrendered.

Period: Apr 12, 1861 to May 26, 1865

Civil War

Jul 21, 1861

1st Battle of Bull Run

The first full-scale battle in the Civil War, it largely boosted Confederate moral with the victory. Happened in Prince William County, Virginia.

Mar 9, 1862

Battle of the Monitor and the Merrimack

The first battle of ironclad warships. The Confederate Merrimack fought the Union Monitor.

Aug 28, 1862

2nd Battle of Bull Run

General Stonewall Jackson took Union supply depot in Manassas. This threatened lines of communication for the Union army.

Jan 1, 1863

Emancipation Proclamation

Issue by Abraham Lincoln, it declared that all people held as slaves were to be set free.Some slaves fled right away while some worked for wages.

Apr 30, 1863

Chancellorsville

Robert E. Lee (Confederate General) had the audacious decision to take on Joseph Hookers army which was more than double his own. Resulted in Confederate victory but Stonewall Jackson's last battle due to friendly fire injuries.

May 18, 1863

Siege of Vicksburg

General Ulysses S. Grant lays siege to the confederate stronghold of Vicksburg. Victory brought the Union complete control of the Mississippi river.

Jun 3, 1863

Gettysburg

The South tried invading the North but failed. This battle held the most amount of casualties and was a turning point of the war.

Dec 8, 1863

Lincolns Reconstruction Plan

Goal was to reestablish control of seceded states by making pro-Union governments. 10% of Union state citizens had to swear an oath to the Union.

Jul 22, 1864

Burning of Atlanta

General William T. Sherman overtook the Confederate defenses in Atlanta, which was the biggest producer of supplies and armaments to the South. City was ordered to be destroyed.

Apr 9, 1865

Confederate Army Surrenders

The Confederate Army (the South) surrendered on April 9th, 1865. This was largely due to Union victories and heavy Confederate Defeats

Apr 15, 1865

Lincolns Assassination

Lincoln was assassinated in a theater by John Wilkes Booth. This was very short after the war ended and didn't give Lincoln time to try out his reconstruction plan.