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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a famous book written by Harriet Beecher Stow, an American author. The book was an anti-slavery novel. The book was understood to have a deep effect on slavery and African Americans. It was also understood to help lay the groundwork for the Civil War. -
Harpers Ferry Raid
On the evening of the raid, John Brown, an abolitionist, and a group of Brown's supporters started heading to Harpers Ferry. Upon arrival, Brown and his men caught important citizens and gained control of the federal armory and arsenal. John Brown was hoping the slaves would join the raid, but they refused. Brown would hide until the next morning where he would be captured by Colonel Robert E. Lee. A few months later after his trial, he was sentenced to death. -
Lincoln Election
In the presidential election of 1860, Abraham Lincoln ran for president. In the end, Abraham Lincoln defeated John C. Breckinridge, Stephen A. Douglas, and John Bell. Lincoln was a republican, Breckinridge and Douglas were democratic, and John Bell was from the Union. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is on an island in South Carolina. There, the first battle of the Civil War commenced. The battle of Fort Sumter signaled the start of the Civil war. The north's commander was Robert Anderson and the south's commander was General P. T. Beauregard. In the end, the Confederates and General P. T. Beauregard would come out victorious after the Union and Robert Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter to them after a 34-hour battle. -
Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War. The armies were commanded by Robert Patterson (Union) and P.G.T. Beauregard (Confederate). Many northern people thought that the Union would end the war with this battle, but they would be proven wrong. The Confederates won the battle but both sides suffered many casualties. This battle was a sign to everyone that this would become a long and horrible war. -
Battle of Donelson
Around Tennesee, the Battle of Donelson occurred. It was fought between the Union's Ulysses Grant and the Confederate's Simon B. Buckner. The battle would end with a Union victory after Buckner's army would surrender to Grant. The Confederacy would suffer an extreme amount of casualties that battle with 13,846 casualties. -
Battle of the Ironclads
The Battle of Ironclads was the first clash between two ironclads, and it would change the future of naval warfare. It took place between two days. The two ironclads that fought were called The Merrimack, commanded by Franklin Buchanan, and The Monitor, commanded by John Worden. None of the ships won the battle with both of them leaving the battle at some point, but it would prove the value of ironclad ships compared to wooden ones. -
Shiloh
Over 2 days, The Battle of Shiloh took place. The Union was lead by Ulysses S. Grant and Don Carlos Buell, and the Confederates were led by Albert Sidney Johnston and P.G.T. Beauregard. It took place in southwestern Tennessee. The battle would end with the Union taking the victory after the Confederates retreated. There were many casualties and many people died, but perhaps the worst blow was for the Confederates as Albert Johnston died in battle on the first day of the battle. -
Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was a battle between Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army and Union General George B. McClellan's Army. This battle took place near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, hence the name Battle of Antietam. The battle of Antietam was not the deadliest battle of the Civil War, but one of the bloodiest of American history, with over 17,000 injured and over 3,500 dead. The North would go on to claim the victory over the South in this battle. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order from President Lincoln. This proclamation stated that all slaves in rebelling slaves would be set free and would be treated as a free people. The Emancipation Proclamation would be one of the first steps in abolishing slavery later on. -
Fredericksburg
Around Fredericksburg, one of the most important events of the Civil War in form of the Battle of Fredericksburg was fought. This battle took place on 5 days between December 11th through 15th of 1862 The Union was led by General Ambrose Burnside and the Confederates were led by Robert E. Lee. This battle had the most soldiers part of it out of any of the Civil War battles before it or to come. The Confederates would come out victorious in this battle due to the Union’s many casualties. -
Chancellorsville
Near the town of Chancellorsville, Virginia, the Battle of Chancellorsville was imprinted into history. The battle took several days and was commanded by Robert E. Lee from the Confederates and Joseph Hooker from the Union. Despite having less of an army, due to the superior tactics of Robert E. Lee, the confederates took the victory over the Union when they retreated on May 7th. The Confederates may have won, but they lost 13,000 men and lost one of their best generals in Stonewall Jackson. -
Vicksburg
In the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Siege of Vicksburg occurred. It started when the Union army, led by Ulysses S. Grant, surrounded Vicksburg and eventually went on to take control of the city in a Union victory. One main reason for the Union victory was because they had nearly twice the amount of soldiers with 35,000 compared to 18,000. The victory over the Confederates in Vicksburg gave the Union control over the Mississippi River. -
Gettysburg
The battle of Gettysburg was considered the main turning point in the Civil War. Robert E. Lee invaded the North with his army hoping to get rid of the Union once and for all, however, the Union fought back and sent the Confederates retreating, resulting in the Union winning the battle. The battle of Gettysburg was the deadliest battle of the Civil War with over 8,000 people killed and over 46,000 casualties. The battle lasted over 3 days. -
Atlanta Campaign
The Atlanta Campaign was a series of battles in the summer of 1864. The battle took place in the western area of the Civil War and featured the armies of Ohio, Tennessee, and Cumberland. The campaign would end up being a Union victory. The Atlanta campaign would pave the road to Sherman's March to Sea. During the campaign, over 65,000 people were killed, making it one of the bloodiest events of the Civil War. -
Spotsylvania Court House
Around the area of the Spotsylvania Court House, the Battle of the Spotsylvania Court House commenced. The battle took several days and it was the second part of a campaign by the Union to drive the Confederates back to Virginia. In the end, neither of the teams would win the battle as both of the teams would eventually leave the battlefield. This battle would end up leading to the end of the Civil War. -
Sherman's March to Sea
Sherman's March to Sea was when Sherman and his army marched through Georgia until Savannah. They destroyed everything in their path, and this would become one of the biggest blows for the South during the Civil War. Prior to his march, Sherman and his army would take control of the city of Atlanta. Along the way to Savannah, Sherman would destroy all mills and factory buildings in order to cause damage to the South. It is thought that, in the end, he caused over 100M dollars of damage. -
Appomattox
Near the town of Appomattox Court House, Virginia, The Battle of Appomattox Court House was fought. This led to Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender of his Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. 260 people of the Union died, and 440 Confederates died. Lee decided to surrender his army in part because he wanted to prevent unnecessary destruction to the South. The battle lasted for a few hours but brought the end of the four-year Civil War. -
Lincoln Assassination
President Abraham Lincoln was watching a play called Our American Cousin when he was shot in the head with a small pistol. He was shot by a man named John Wilkes Booth, who felt he was doing something for the good of the Confederates. After Lincoln was shot, he was brought across the street to a building called the William Peterson's boarding house where doctors would try to treat him until the next day where he passed away. -
Ulysses Grant Elected
In the election of 1868, General Ulysses Grant ran for president. He was a general in the U.S. Civil War that had ended recently and due to his contributions and impact on the war he was viewed as an American Hero. In the end, Grant would be elected president and would defeat Horatio Seymour. Grant was a Republican and Seymour was a Democrat.
