Civil War Timeline

South Carolina votes to secede from the United States

Dec 20, 1860

The South was not happy with Lincoln becoming President. South Carolina was the first 11 states to break away.

Lincoln's first inaugural address

Mar 4, 1861

President Lincoln wanted to tell the South that he would not take there slaves away. This was to keep the South happy.

confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter

Apr 14, 1861

The Confederation fired at Fort Sumter because the Army was staying there. Over 3,300 shells were fired.

Lincoln suspends habeas corpus

Apr 27, 1861

He did this so the military had the power to silence rebels.

Richmond becomes capital of the Confederacy

May 8, 1861

The capital of the Confederacy was moved to Richmond for strategic planning.

First battle of Bull Run is fought

Jul 21, 1861

Also known as the first battle o Mantissas, this battle was fought near a stream named bull run.

Jefferson Davis elected President of the Confederacy

Nov 6, 1861

Davis was popular amongst the Southerners. He became the President for the Confederacy, going against Lincoln after they had broke away.

The Merrimac and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast

Mar 9, 1862

This was the beginning of a new warfare. They used ironclad ships.

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

Union Army won after being attacked by Confederates while the Union tried to reinforce.

Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia

Jun 1, 1862

Robert E. Lee was named the commander on June 1st. He was here to protect from the Union Army.

Battle of Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

The Union ended up winning this battle. This battle lasted a full day and showed that the Union could stand for themselves.

Battle of Fredericksburg

Dec 11, 1862

The Confederates won this battle. This was the largest river crossing of the war, and gave the Confederates hope.

Emancipation Proclamation is announced.

Jan 1, 1863

This declared all slaves that don't live in Union states shall be free.

Battle of Chancellorsville

Apr 30, 1863

Confederate Army won this battle. They were able to stop an attempted flank by the Union troops

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

The Union army ended up winning this battle. This gave the North a strong lead against the South.

Confederates surrender at Vicksburg

Jul 3, 1863

With supplies nearly gone, they needed to surrender.

New York City draft riots

Jul 11, 1863

these riots started because people who could pay a fee could get out of being drafted.

Lincoln gives his Gettysburg address.

Nov 19, 1863

This being one of the most popular speeches, was a turning point in the Civil War. This was when Union troops defended an invasion from the Confederates.

Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election

Nov 8, 1864

Lincoln defeated McClellan in the 1864 election.

Atlanta is captured

Nov 12, 1864

The Union captured Atlanta and the Confederacy never recovered.

Sherman begins his march to the sea

Nov 15, 1864

When Union General William T. Sherman led around 60,000 troops from Atlanta to Georgia

Congress passes the 13th Amendment

Jan 31, 1865

This Amendment was passed to stop slavery from becoming legal.

Freedman's bureau is created

Mar 3, 1865

This was to help Southerns and newly freed slaves with food, medical attention and shelter.

Lincolns second inaugural address

Mar 4, 1865

Lincoln wanted to move past the Civil War and become one nation at peace.

Richmond falls to the Union Army

Apr 2, 1865

The Confederate army backed off as the Union Army seized Richmond.

Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox

Apr 9, 1865

After Richmond fell, Robert E. Lee surrendered.

President Lincoln assassinated

Apr 15, 1865

John Wilkes Booth was Lincoln's assassin. He believed that confederacy still had a chance to be restored, and since Lincoln went against that, he killed him.

John Wilkes Booth is killed

Apr 26, 1865

The assassin of Lincoln, was killed after being shot.