Civil War Timeline

  • Northwest Ordinance

    The Treaty of Paris ended the war. The treaty ended British control of the colonies and gave them the Northwest Ordinance.
  • Louisiana Purchase

    Jefferson bought it despite its unconstitutionality through the Louisiana Purchase. It set a precedent for future land acquisitions. He sent Lewis and Clark to explore it.
  • Missouri Compromise

    The admitting of Missouri would set off the balance of free and slave states. The compromise entered Missouri as a slave state and Maine as a free state. It also drew the 36'30" line.
  • Monroe Doctrine

    The Monroe doctrine was passed by President James Monroe. It was to warn the rest of the world to not interfere with the western hemisphere. It depended on the British Navy because our military was limited.
  • Nullification Crisis

    The federal government passed a protective tariff. John C Calhoun of South Carolina didn't like it and tried to nullify it as states can do. The federal gov only lowered it and forced SC to pay it.
  • Texas Annexation

    Mexico refused to acknowledge texas as a free state which prevented it to be admitted in. It also wanted to come in a slave state and that would throw off the representation balance therefore texas had to wait for about a decade to be admitted.
  • Oregon Treaty

    Conflicts between the American and British led to negotiations. Newspapers headline 54 40 or fight. The Oregon Treaty avoided war and gave us control south of the 49th parallel
  • Mexican Cession (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo)

    The Mexican Cession completed manifest destiny. It was obtained through the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo that ended the Mexican-American war.
  • Compromise of 1850

    Finally, due to the Goldrush California has a big enough population to be admitted as a state. This lead to the Compromise of 1850. Cali was admitted as a free state, it introduced popular sovereignty, New fugitive slave law, and sale of slaves banned in D.C.
  • Kansas - Nebraska Act

    The Kansas Nebraska act came to be because Stephen Douglas proposed popular sovereignty to decide whether states above the 36 30 line would be slave or free. This overturned the Missouri Compromise.
  • Bleeding Kansas

    Happened because of the Kansas Nebraska act. Tensions between slavery and anti-slavery people lead to violence.
  • Battle of Bull Run

    Confederate victory by Stonewall Jackson against McDowell at Bull Run creek. McDowell was replaced in hopes George would lead the union to victory.
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    Battle of Fort Sumter

    The first shots were fired at Fort Sumter. The confederacy fired on the Union garrison who surrendered the next day.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Allowed slaves to fight on the union side. Also ONLY states in rebellion on Jan 1, 1863, would be commanded to free their slaves.
  • Gettysburg Address

    A speech by Lincoln at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was to dedicate a cemetery to fallen Soldiers.
  • Battle of Vicksburg

    Union Victory at Vicksburg, Mississippi by Grant against pemperton. The key turning point in the western theatre.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Union victory at Gettysburg by Meade against Robert E. Lee. This was the second and last attempt of the south to invade the north.
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    Presidential Reconstruction

    The presidential Reconstruction ran on the 10% plan. 10% of 1860 voters swear an oath to the union who would free their slaves. Their goal was to preserve the union. It was lenient to the south and was a quick and easy way to connect the south to the union.
  • Sherman’s March to the Sea

    Led by William Tecumseh Sherman. He marched to the sea from the Tennesse Georgia border burning everything in his path with the main goal of capturing the port of savannah georgia.
  • 13th amendment passed

    Freed all slaves
  • 14th amendment passed

    Granted citizenship to all former slaves, due process overturns Dred Scott
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    Congressional Reconstruction

    The goal of the Congressional Reconstruction was to punish the south. It used military force.
  • 15th amendment passed

    Gave all men the right to vote.
  • Plessy v. Ferguson

    separate but equal.