Civil War Major Events

Lincoln Elected

Nov 6, 1860

Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President on November 6th of 1860. Lincoln had earned 180 electoral votes, Breckinridge 72, Bell 39, and Douglas 12.

South Carolina Secedes

Dec 20, 1860

South Carolina seceded because of the climbing controversy over the expansion of slavery into the territory acquired from Mexico. The secession of South Carolina was followed by the secession of six more states (Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas) and the threat of secession by four more (Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina). Which then formed the Confederate States of America. (South Carolina Secession)

Civil War Begins

Apr 12, 1861

Confederate soldiers fired at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. Fort Sumter is located at Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. This caused the Civil War. (Civil War Begins)

First Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

The battle began when about 35,000 Union troops marched from the federal capital in Washington, D.C. to strike a Confederate force of 20,000 along a small river known as Bull Run. The South won the first battle of Bull Run.(First Battle of Bull Run)

Battle of Ironclad

Mar 9, 1862

The battle between the two vessels began on the morning of March 9 and continued for four hours. The ships circled one another, jockeying for position as they fired. The cannon balls simply deflected off the iron ships. In the early afternoon, the Virginia pulled back to Norfolk. Neither ship was seriously damaged, but the Monitor effectively ended the short reign of terror that the Confederate ironclad had brought to the Union navy. Both ships met ignominious ends. (Battle of the Ironclads)

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, allowed Union troops to penetrate the Confederate interior. The North had won the battle of Shiloh.(Shiloh)

Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

A decisive engagement that halted the Confederate invasion of Maryland. The North won the battle of Antietam.(Battle of Antietam)

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, as the nation approached its third year of bloody civil war. The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free.".(The Emancipation Proclamation)

Siege of Vicksburg

May 18, 1863

The 47-day siege gave control of the Mississippi River to the Union, a critical supply line, and was part of the Union's Anaconda Plan to cut off outside trade to the Confederacy. The Union won this siege.(Siege of Vicksburg)

Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Robert E. Lee's plan to invade the North and force an immediate end to the war failed. The Union won the battle of Gettysburg.(Gettysburg)

Second Battle of Bull Run

Aug 28, 1863

The Confederates aimed to block the Union army advance on the Confederate capital by defending the railroad junction at Manassas. The South won this battle.(Second Battle of Bull Run)

Lincoln Re-elected

Nov 6, 1864

President Abraham Lincoln of the National Union Party easily defeated the Democratic nominee, former General George B. McClellan, by a wide margin of 212–21 in the electoral college, with 55% of the popular vote.(Presidential Election of 1864)

Robert E. Lee Surrenders

Apr 9, 1865

Lee decided to surrender his army in part because he wanted to prevent unnecessary destruction to the South.

Lincoln Assassination

Apr 14, 1865

John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor and Confederate sympathizer, assassinated President Abraham Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. The attack came only five days after Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered.(History.com Editors)

Reconstruction of the South

Period: Dec 8, 1865 to Mar 31, 1877

The reconstruction of the Southern United States was required for
the United States to do so they could officially be a united country
again.