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Lincoln Elected President
Abraham Lincoln, Stephen A. Douglas, John C. Breckenridge, and John Bell were the cadidates of the 1860 election. Lincoln, of the Republican Party, won the election with 180 electoral votes. Breckenridge was part of the Southern Democratic party, John Bell was part of the Constitutional Union party, and Douglas was part of the Democratic party. Lincoln's election was the first step to a road of anti slavery. -
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Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia secede from the Union
Of the first states to secede from the Union, Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia marked the beginning of the revolution for the South. By seceding, the states would later become the Confederacy and create their own government, electing their own president as well. The Civil War would soon consist of the Confederate states and the Union states. This was one of the first steps of the Civil War. -
Confederate Constitution adopted
Delegates from each of the seceded states adopted the permanent Constitution for the Confederate states. The Confederate's constitution resembled the original Constitution of the United States and reflected a lot of the same language. The Constitution declared that the Confederates were their own nation, estabilshed with their own government and own system of power. -
Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederate States
Born in 1808, Davis was a native of Kentucky like Union president Abraham Lincoln. Before his election, he served in the Black Hawk War and the Mexican War. He also served as secretary of war under President Franklin Pierce. This further promoted the Confederate's statement that they were a separate nation which encouraged war. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The start of the Civil War. It was a Confederate victory with the Union army being led by General Robert Anderson and the Confederates being led by General Beauregard. This battle occured just after South Carolina seceded from the Union. -
Battle between Monitor and Virginia
This battle initiates era of modern naval warfare. It was the first battle where both ships involved were covered with iron. It also started the period of America reigning the largest and most vast naval power in the world. -
Battle of Bull Run
This occurred over a course of two different battles (the first taking place in the summer of 1861) and the one taking place on August 29, 1862 was the second battle where the victor was established. Both battles gave military advantage to the Confederacy under the command of General General Joseph E. Johnston. Overall, about 5,000 men died- 3,000 of which were from the Union army. The Confederate victory provided hope for the Confederacy. -
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Battle of Antietam
This battle contained the single most bloodiest day of any battle in the Civil War. The Union army was led by General George McClellan and the Confederate army was led by General Robert E. Lee. Overall there were about 22,700 casualties from both sides. -
Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation
Although he had no political control over the South, Lincoln would order in this proclamation that all slaves be freed. Additionally, he did not free any slaves in Border states in order to keep their neutrality in the war secure. If he would have freed slaves from the Border states, then they would have joined the Confederate side. -
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Battle of Fredericksburg
The Union army was led by General burnside and the Confederate army was led by General Robert E. Lee at this battle. It ended with a Confederate victory due to Lee's leadership. Overall, about 18,000 casualties occured from this battle. This was one of the largest and deadliest of the Civil War battles. -
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Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia
In this battle, the Union army was led by General Joseph Hooker and the Confederates were led by General Robert E. Lee. Overall, there were about 30,000 casualties resulting from the battle. After much fighting, it ended with a Confederate victory. It was significant because Stonewall Jackson, Confederate army leader, was killed in this battle. -
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Battle of Vicksburg
The Union Army was led by General Ulysses S. Grant and the Confederates were led by General Pemberton. Overall, there were about 37,000 casualties. The battle ended with a Union victory and gave them control of the Mississippi River and essentially, victory of the war. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
The Confederate army was led by General Robert E. Lee and the Union army was led by General George E. Meade. Many consider this battle to be “accidental” because Lee’s initial intentions were to collect war supplies from Pennsylvania and shift battle focus away from Virginia but the Union and Confederate army met each other in Gettysburg and fighting broke out. This battle was significant because it influenced Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. -
Confederates at Vicksburg surrender to General Grant
This was crucial to the Civil War because the Union gained control of the Mississippi River. This cut off the Confederates primary form of transportation and travel and essentially favored the Union for war victory. It also initiated a period where the Union began to expand thir army eastward in order to surround the Confederates. -
Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
This followed the Battle of Gettysburg which was a turning point for the war. It was a speech given by Abraham Lincoln regarding the Civil War as a whole. He discussed the issues over a dividing Union and human equality. This is one of the most famous speeches in American history. -
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Battle of Chattanooga
The Union army was led by General Grant and the Confederates by General Bragg. Overall, there were about 12,000 casualties. It ended with a Union victory and opened up the Deep South for further Union invasions. -
Lincoln issues Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
By issuing the reconstuction proclamation before the war officially ended, Lincoln was impying Union victory. In this proclamation, Lincoln gave no rights to blacks and declared that at least 10% of each seceded state must pledge loyalty to the Union in order to become part of it again. It also gave pardon to Confederate soldiers and generals. However, it was never officially enforced because of Lincoln's assassination. -
Lincoln re-elected President
Lincoln was re-elected president but only for a short amount of time before his assassination. His vice president, Andrew Johnson would then take office and attempt reconstruction. Lincoln's opponent was Democrat and Confederate General, George McClelland. -
Lee surrenders at Appomattox Court House
This marked the official point of Union victory. Reconstruction began just the year after in 1865. There were no decisions made in the surrender regarding slavery in the South. -
Lincoln Assassinated
Lincoln's assassination marked the beginning of Andrew Johnson's term. Because of his death, Lincoln's Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction was never put into place. Instead, Johnson attempted to take over reconstruction but was never taken seriously as president.