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Abraham Lincoln Elected as President
Abraham Lincoln is elected president as the first Republican, receiving 180 of 303 possible electoral votes and 40 percent of the popular vote. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
South Carolina secedes from the Union. It occurs once Lincoln is elected president. Followed within two months by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. -
Confederate States of America
Formed with the selection of Jefferson Davis as the president of the new territory. West Point Graduate. Davis is also a former U.S. army officer -
Battle of Fort Sumter
On April 12, 1861, Confederates under General Beauregard open fire upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins. -
Lincoln issues a Proclomation
The proclomation calls for 75,000 militiamen, and summoning a special session of Congress for July 4. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Union Army under Gen. Irvin McDowell suffers a defeat at Bull Run 25 miles southwest of Washington. Confederate Gen. Thomas J. Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall," as his brigade resists Union attacks. Union troops fall back to Washington. -
Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest battle in U.S. Cival War history. Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Armies are stopped at Antietam in Maryland by McClellan and numerically superior Union forces. Lee withdraws to Virginia. -
Pre-Emancipation Proclomation
Lincoln freed all slaves that had seceded. Although he left out the border states. Lincoln had no power to enforce the law because the South had created their own nation with their own government. -
Battle of Fredricksburg
Union army of the Potomac under Gen. Burnside suffers a costly defeat at Fredericksburg in Virginia with a loss of 12,653 men after 14 frontal assaults on well entrenched Rebels on Marye's Heights. Confederate losses are 5,309. -
Emancipation Proclomation Passed
Lincoln issued the Second Emancipation Proclamation. It was emphasized as a war measure, which freed all slaves in states or parts of states that were still in rebellion against the United States. Lincoln released the document at the perfect time during the war, which helped the Union. -
General Grant - Leader of Union Army
President Lincoln appoints Gen. Grant to command all of the armies of the United States. Gen. William T. Sherman succeeds Grant as commander in the west. -
Sherman's March to Sea
The Union’s General Sherman begins his March to Sea. He and his men march through Georgia, burning every town and field in their path. This is so when the confederacy retreats, they have nowhere to regroup and restock. -
Battle at Nashville
Hood's Rebel Army of 23,000 is crushed at Nashville by Federals including Negro troops under Gen. George H. Thomas. The Confederate Army of Tennessee ceases as an effective fighting force. -
Lincoln 2nd Inauguration
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in to his second term. He used his second inaugural speech to touch on divine providence. Also, even though the war was nearing an end, he spoke of sadness and not happiness. -
General Lee Surrenders
Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Grant allows Rebel officers to keep their sidearms and permits soldiers to keep horses and mules. -
Lincoln Assassinated
Lincoln is assassinated at Ford theater. He is assassinated by John Wilkes Boothe. Lincoln doesn't regain conciousness and dies the next day. -
Vice President Johnson takes Lincoln's Place
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13th Amendment Passed
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified. Slavery is abolished. -
14th Amendment
This amendment covers citizenship, what makes a US citizen, and their rights. It declared that the law applied to everyone. It was for African American’s that were slaves before the Civil War. -
Civil Rights take Action
This act stated people were entitled to any accommodation in public places and inns. This was intended to end all discrimination. The Supreme Court of the USA later overturned this law.
