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Jefferson Davis proposes the idea of secession for the first time.
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Jefferson Davis, Mississippi Senator at this time, proposed solutions to the Federal government that said they must prohibit slavery in the territories and even protect slaveholders. He did this in hopes of uniting people against Stephen Douglas, a presidential candidate.
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After being photographed by Matthew Brady, Abraham Lincoln speaks at the Cooper Institute in New York City.
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Former members of the Whig party met in Baltimore, Maryland to create the Constitutional Union Party. Its delegates nominated John Bell of Tennessee for president and Edward Everett of Massachusetts for vice-president.
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Abraham Lincoln is nominated for president by the Rupublican convention in Chicago.
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Southern delegates met in Baltimore, Maryland and nominated John C. Breckinridge for president and Joseph Lane for vice-president. They called for the protection of rights to own slaves.
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Lincoln was elected 16th president beating Stephen A Douglass(democrat).
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James Buchanan's cabinet was unable to make a compromise as the cabinet was split on deciding how to deal with the secessions.
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Kentucky Senator John J. Crittenden proposed the Crittenden Compromise, which consisted of six constitutional ammendments and four resolutions to address Southern concerns. Nevertheless, it was unsuccessful.
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South Carolina first to go defying Lincoln, following in next 6 weeks: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Lousiana, & Texas
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Mississippi 2nd state to secede from Union.
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Florida 3rd state to secede from Union.
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Seceding states begin joining together against Lincoln and Union.
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Lincoln's swearing in for his second term. He recieved a message from Major Anderson on this day.
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In office March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1861. March 4 Lincoln took office.
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First shot fired by South at North. Robert Anderson surrendered the fort to the South and evacuated.
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General Winfield Scott came up with the Anaconda Plan after the loss of Fort Sumter. The plan was to
1) Navy would blockade the confederate ports to stop imports & exports
2) Union military & navy would move down Mississippi to split Confederacy
3) Capture the capitol, Richmond, Virginia -
Tennessee was the last state to secede from the Union on June 8th 1861 joining the Confederate cause.
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First major battle of the civil war. The confederates won causing a Union retreat. It was the largest and bloodiest US battle in history up to that point.
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President Lincoln appoints McClellan as general-in-chief of all Union forces after the resignation of the aged Winfield Scott.
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Grant invaded the western Tennessee. He fought at Fort Henry on the Tennessee River capturing it with an unconditional surrender from the South therefore earning his nickname "Unconditional Surrender".
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Grant invaded the western Tennessee. He fought at Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River capturing it with an unconditional surrender from the South therefore earning his nickname "Unconditional Surrender".
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Battle nearby a church. Ulysses S Grant led the Union side ti a victory at this battle.
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The Battle of Seven Pines as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops in front of Richmond and nearly defeats them. But Johnston is badly wounded.
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Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command, replacing the wounded Johnston. Lee then renames his force the Army of Northern Virginia. McClellan not impressed.
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The Seven Days Battles as Lee attacks McClellan near Richmond, resulting in very heavy losses for both armies.
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McClellan then begins a withdrawal back toward Washington after heavy loss of army.
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Another Confederate win at the Bull Run.
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McClellan caused Lee to retreat with the Confederacy but did not go after them because he was very cautious. He later gets criticized by his cautious choices by many including Grant who says "I'd like to borrow McClellan's army if he is not going to use it." Known as the bloodiest battle.
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Fredericksburg, Virginia. Another failed attempt by the Union.
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Proclamation declares "that all persons held as slaves ... are, and henceforward shall be free."
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President appoints Gen. Joseph (Fighting Joe) Hooker as Commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing Burnside.
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Gen. Grant is placed in command of the Army of the West, with orders to capture Vicksburg.
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The U.S. Congress enacts a draft, affecting male citizens aged 20 to 45, but also exempts those who pay $300 or provide a substitute. "The blood of a poor man is as precious as that of the wealthy," poor Northerners complain.
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Congress creates 1st draft in American history, requiring every man to serve in the army unless he can pay the government $300. This leads to draft riots in New York and other northern cities.
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The riots were triggered by the women's lack of money, provisions, and food.
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The Union Army under Gen. Hooker is decisively defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia as a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded by his own soldiers. Hooker retreats. Union losses are 17,000 killed, wounded and missing out of 130,000. The Confederates, 13, 000 out of 60,000.
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Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson dies from wounds recieved from friendly fire when he was mistakenly shot by his own troops at Chancellorsville.
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Turning point in the war in favor of the Union. In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
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Lincoln delivers his speech that honors all of those who lost their lives during the Battle of Gettysburg. This speech is extremely popular now and is known throughout history.
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109 Union officers escape from Libby Prison led by Colonel Thomas Rose on the banks of the James River in Richmond. 59 reach Union lines escaping.
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In Georgia, Sumter Prison Camp opens. Universally referred to as Andersonville Prison Camp, it becomes notorious for overcrowded conditions, disease, and other inhumane conditions that casue a high death rate among its inmates.
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President Lincoln nominates Ulysses S Grant for lieutenant general.
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Confederates capture this fort held by Union troops. Confederates accused of killing Union soldiers after they had surrendered thus, a massacre.
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Accompanied by three Union armies, Sherman marches towards Georgia from Tennessee. He is fighting for Atlanta and is against the Confederate army under Joseph Johnston.
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The bloody battle of Cold Harbor is a disaster for the Union. General Ulysses S. Grant makes a series of tactical mistakes that result in the deaths of 7,000 Union in twenty minutes.
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Cherbourg, France, Union boat "Kearsarge" sunk Confederate "Alabama." Unlike last time, Union was victorious.
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18 Union ships sail past entrance to Mobile Bay. The C.S.S. Tennessee, prized ironclad of the Confederate Navy awaited the attack. As the U.S.S. Tecumseh sinks Admiral David Farragut orders torpedoes. His flag vessel Hartford took the lead. The ships destroyed the Confederate fleet.
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Sherman's army able to take control of Atlanta, Georgia after Confederate troops evacuated the city. It was only after several difficult battles was Confederate General Hood able to make the call.
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On this day in history, Sherman's army of Georgia began their "March to the Sea." The purpose of this was to frighten Georgia's untrained militia and civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause.
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President Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated for his second term as president in Washington, DC.
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Grant and the Union break Lee's lines at Petersburg, causing Lee to evacuate. Confederate capital, Richmond, also evacuated. Union troops swiftly enter and raise US flags.
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The Union invaded and the city fell on April 3rd 1865 with large amounts of the city on fire while evacuation.
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Confederates surrender to the Union under Lee at the village of Appomattox Court House.
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Lincoln assassinated in theatre by John Wilkes Booth.
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Lincoln dies next day after being shot. Andrew Johnson, vice president at the time, took his place as the leader of the United States.
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Union General Sherman receives a surrender from Confederate Joseph E. Johnston near Durham, North Carolina.
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Union General Sherman gets surrender from Confederate Joseph E. Johnston close to Durham, North Carolina.
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Ten days after he fatally shot the Lincoln, John Wilkes Booth is killed in a tobacco barn in VA.
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Last engagement with casualities of civil war. Took place at Palmito Ranch, Texas. The Union won.
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Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866 believing it to be 'unconstitutional.'
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Congress formally declares the US is at peace with Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, once again the United States of America.
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Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, eliminating the half dime.
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United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852 passes away.
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14th Amendment ratified freeing african americans and granting them civil rights.
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In order to avoid the Second Reconstruction, Tennessee quickly ratifies the 14th Amendment.
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Tennessee becomes first state re-admitted to the Union.
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With african americans just gaining freedom many people are still against it and the government begins investigating the hate group called the Ku Klux Klan.
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President Johnson issues proclamation of peace with Texas. A few months later, Texas is still rejecting the 14th Amendment.
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South Carolina rejects the 14th ammendment.
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African Americans in Washington DC gain the right to vote. Congress overrides Johnson's veto to pass this bill.
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Nebraska officially becomes the 37th state.
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As Second Reconstruction goes on, Federal army secures military rule over Mississippi.
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Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act. This prevents the president from removing officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress.
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Alexandria, Virginia rejects thousands of votes from African-Americans who had been granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act.
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Over Johnson's veto, Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act. This declared that the military commanders were responsible for handling elections and registering voters in their territories.
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Alaska is purchased, making it the second to last state to join the United States.
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President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War.
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Georgia rejects the 14th ammendment.
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Because of his lack of effectiveness with reconstruction, Congress looks into impeaching President Johnson.