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Lincoln elected President
Abraham Lincoln wins the Presidential election. -
Period: to
Civil War
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South Carolina secedes from the Union
South Carolina is the first state to secede from the Union followed within two months by Georgia, Mississippi, Florida, Texas, Alabama, and Louisiana. -
Confederate States of America formed
The Confederate States of America are formed with Jefferson Davis being named President. He was a West Pointe graduate, and former officer in the US Army. -
Fort Sumter attacked
Confederates open fire upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins. -
Virginia secedes from the Union
Virginia secedes from the Union followed within weeks by North Carolina and Tennessee. This finalizes the 11 state Confederacy. -
First Bull Run
The Union suffers a defreat at Bull Run, 25 miles southwest of Washington. Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson earns his nickname for holding his ground and resisting Union forces. -
Shiloh
23,000 men are wounded or killed at Shiloh along the Tennesse River. -
Union takes New Orleans
17 Union ships move in and capture New Orleans, the south's greatest port city. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
75,000 Federals are defeated by 55,000 Confederates led by Stonewall Jackson. This forces the Union to retreat back towards Washington, D.C. -
Antietam
The single bloodiest day in U.S. military history as 26,000 men are dead, wounded, or missing by nightfall. General Robert E. Lee is forced to retreat with his Confederate soldiers back towards Virginia -
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
The Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation is issued by President Lincoln, freeing slaves. -
Gettysburg
The tide of the war turns against the South as they are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennslyvania. -
Vicksburg
The Confederates last strong hold in the south, Vicksburg, is taking by General Grant and the union forces. -
Sherman's March
The city of Atlanta is taking by Union forces led by General William Sherman. -
Sherman's March Ends
General William Sherman's blood march through the south ends in Savannah, Georgia. Behind him he has left a 300 mile path of destruction. -
Lee Surrenders
General Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to General Ulysses S. 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 dies
President Abraham Lincoln dies from a gunshot wound to the head. He was killed by John Wilkes Booth. -
Full Surrender
All remaining Confederate forces surrender. This ends the war completely. In the end, over 620,000 Americans died. Disease killed twice that many and another 50,000 returned home as amputees. -
13th Amendment ratified
The 13th Amendment is officially ratified into the Constitution. This Amendment officially ends slavery.
