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Period: to
Civil War
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The South Secedes
The Civil War: Secession of South CarolinaWhen Abraham Lincoln was elected president, the South Carolina legislature noticed a threat. The secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of six more states. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. These states eventually formed the Confederate States of America. -
The South Seizes Fedral Forts
When President Buchanan refused to surrender southern federal forts to the seceding states, southern state troops catched them. South Carolina troops defeated a supply ship trying to reach federal forces based in the fort. The ship was forced to return to New York, its supplies undelivered. -
Blockade of the South
North and South BlockadeIn orfer to blockade the coast of the Confederacy, the federal navy had to be improved. By July, the improvement made a difference and a successful blockade had begun. The South responded by building small, fast ships that could take down Union vessels. -
First Battle of Bull Run
Battle of Bull Run / First Manassas It began when Union troops went to the capital in Washington, D.C. to strike a force agaisnt others at a small river known as Bull Run. After fighting for most of the day, they sent the Federals to Washignton.Confidenced was gained in South thanks to their victory which left the North surprised. -
McClellan Loses Comamand
President Lincoln could no longer take General McClellan's inactivity. He reorganized the Army of Virginia and got rid of McClellan from supreme command. McClellan was given command of the Army of the Potomac, and ordered to attack Richmond. This marked the beginning of the Peninsular Campaign. -
Battle of the "Monitor" and the "Merrimac"
Battle of the "Monitor" and the "Merrimac" Confederate engineers changed to a scuttled Union frigate, the U.S.S. Merrimac, into an iron-sided vessel rechristened the C.S.S. Virginia. The first naval encounter between ironclad ships was on March 9th. The Monitor fought the Virginia to a draw, but not before the Virginia had sunk two wooden Union warships off Norfolk, Virginia. -
The Battle of Shiloh.
Civil War: The Battle of ShilohConfederate forces attacked Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant at Shiloh, Tennessee. The federal troops were almost defeate at the end. During the night, reinforcements arrived, and in the morning the Union commanded the field. When Confederate forces retreated, the federal forces did not follow. 13,000 out of 63,000 Union soldiers died, and 11,000 of 40,000 Confederate troops were killed. -
"Stonewall" Jackson Defeats Union Forces.
Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, attacked Union forces in late March, mkaing them retreat across the Potomac. In the end Union troops were rushed to protect Washington, D.C. -
A New Commander of the Union Army.
Major-General Henry Halleck was named general-in-chief of the Union army on July 11th and was the new commander. -
The Battle of Fredricksburg
General McClellan and General Lee continued assulting the Confederate cavalry, and discouraged many in the North. Lincoln replaced McClellan with Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside. Burnside's efforts were defeated in a series of attacks against settled Confederate forces at Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Burnside was replaced with General Joseph Hooker. -
The First Conscription Act
An act was passed making all men between the ages of 20 and 45 liable to be called for military service. The only way it could be avoided was by paying a fee or finding a substitute. The act was seen as unfair to the poor, and they broke out in protest. A similar conscription act in the South provoked a similar reaction. -
The Battle of Chattanooga
The Battle of ChattanoogaUnion forces pushed Confederate troops away from Chattanooga. The victory set the stage for General Sherman's Atlanta Campaign -
Grant's Wilderness Campaign
American Civil War Battle: Wilderness 1864 General Grant planned to engage Lee's forces in Virginia until they were destroyed. North and South met and fought in a long ending 3 day battle in the Wilderness. Lee caused more casualties on the Union forces than his own army expected, but unlike Grant, he had no replacements. -
Confederate Troopa Approach Washington, D.C
Confederate Troops march into battleConfederate General Jubal Early led his forces into Maryland to fix the pressure on Lee's army. He got within 5 miles of Washington, D.C., but he was driven back to Virginia. -
Hood before Nashville
Continuing his policy of taking the offensive at any cost, General John B. Hood brought his small army before the defenses of Nashville. It was the most complete victory of the war. -
Assasination of Abraham Lincoln
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln Abraham lincoln was watching a performance of "Our American Cousin" in Washington, D.C., he was shot by John Wilkes Booth who was obsessed with arguing the confederate defeat. he died the next morning -
Final Surrenders among Remaining Confederate Troops.
Remaining Confederate troops were defeated between the end of April and the end of May. Jefferson Davis was captured in Georgia.
