-
Harper's Ferry
On this day, the abolitionist John Brown seized control of a United States arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. He planned to give firearms to the slaves working their, but they refused and General Robert E. Lee forced Brown to surrender. Brown was tried for treason and promptly executed. -
Lincoln's First Election
On this day, Republican Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States. He defeated John C. Breckinridge, John Bell, and Stephen Douglas in his race for presidency. His election angered the South and within a few weeks of the election, the process of secession began. -
South Secedes
After the election of Lincoln, South Carolina voted to secede, promptly followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Lousiana, and Texas. After Lincoln begn mobilizing for war, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee seced from the Union. -
Confederate States of America established
On this day, representatives of the states of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas met and announced the formation of the Confederate States of America. The seceding states immediately seized the federal property belonging to the United States within their borders. They were joined by Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee after the attack on Fort Sumter. -
1st Battle of Bull Run
A battle that occured in the town of Manassas, Virginia, only thirty miles from Washington D.C. This battle was between General McDowelloof the Union and General P.G.T. Beauregard of the Confederacy. McDowell almost succeeded in defeating the Confederates, but a savage counterattack broke his troops' morale and they fled. This battle dispelled the illusion that the war would be over quickly. -
First Income Tax
On this day, Lincoln imposed an income tax on the people of the United States of America. The tax eventually grew to 10% on incomes above $5000, but still provided only a fraction of the funds necessary for financing the war. -
First Confiscation Act
An act that authorized the confiscation of any Confederate property by Union forces. This included any slaves that were aiding or fighting for the Confederates whenever courts condemned them as "property" used to support the rebellion. -
Trent Affair
This event occured when two Confederate diplomats boardered an English steamer called the "Trent". The "Trent" was stopped by an American frigate commanded by Charles Wilkes, who arrested the diplomats and took them to Boston. The British demandd that the prisoners be released and eventually, after public opinion had cooled down, Lincoln and Secretary of State Seward released the diplomats. -
Monitor v Merrimack
The first and only major sea battle of the Civil War was fought between the ironclads Monitor and Virginia, representing the Union and Confederacy respectively. Neither ship was able to damage them other, but the presence of the Monitor meant that the Union's blockade was able to be preserved. This battle revolutionized naval battles and navies across the world. -
Shiloh
A battle that took place in Shiloh, Tennessee between General Grant of the Union army and a Confederate foce comanded by Albert Sideney Johnston and General P.G.T. Beauregard. After losing ground, Grant turned the tides and won the battle, securing control of the Mississippi River as far south as Memphis. -
Capture of New Orleans
The Capture of New Orleans occured when a large fleet of Union ironclads and ships destroyed the forts at the mouth of the Mississippi and sailed up the river to the undefended city, which they captured. The loss of this city marked a major turning point in the war and left the Soth's largest city and most important banking center in Union hands. -
Homestead/Morill Land Grant Acts
The Homestead Act allowed any citizen to claim 160 acres of public land and purchase it for a small fee after living on it for five years. The Morill Land Grant Act transferred substantial amounts of public land to state governments for the purpose of building schools. Both of these acts helped promote economic developement in the Union, particularly in the West. -
2nd Confiscation Act
An act that stated that any Confederate official who did not surrender wiithin 60 days of the act's passing, would have their slaves freed in criminal proceedings. However, this act only applied to Confederate territory that the Union occupied. -
Antietam
A battle near the town of Sharpsburg between the Union forces under General McClellan and the Confederate forces under General Lee. This battle was the bloodiest single-day engagement of the war and resulted in Lee retreating. However, McClellan, instead of pursuing the retreating army, allowed them to safely fall back. -
Emancipation Proclamation
A proclamation made by Abraham Lincoln using his executive powers, that freed all slaves in the Confederacy, except those in Confedercy lands that were presently under Union control. This document made it clear that the war was being fought not only to re-unite the Union, but also to free the slaves. It had a limited effect, because the freed slaves were still in Confederate lands, but over time, it became a reality. -
National Draft Law instated
On this day, Congress passed a draft law that made virtually every young adult male eligible to go to war. A person could escape the draft by hiring someone else to take his place or they could pay the government $300. Only 46,000 men were conscripted, but the draft increased voluntary enlistments. -
Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg was when the Union forces in the West under General Grant besieged the city of Vicksburg. After six weeks, the people of Vicksburg, who by that time were starving, surrendered to Grant, giving the Union the entire control of the Mississippi. -
Writ of Habeas Corpus Suspended
In 1863, President Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus, which gives an arrested person the right to a speedy trial. Lincoln proclaimed that anyone who discouraged enlistments or engaged in disloyal or treasonous acts, would be subject to martial law and could have this right stripped from them. -
Capture of Atlanta
The Capture of Atlanta came about when the union army, under General Sherman, pushed through weak Confederate resiatnce and took the city. General Johnston and General John B. Hood both tried to stand against Sherman and both failed. The Capture of Atlnata marked the beginning of the end for the Confedercy and started off Sherman's March to the Sea. -
Lincoln's Re-Election
On this date, Republican Abraham Lincoln defeated his Democrat opponent George McClellan. Lincoln was faced with war weariness and stagnation in the war, but several key victories, especilly at Atlanta, near the election date gave him the victory. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Sherman's March to the Sea was when, after conquering Atlanta, General Sherman of the Union forces cut a swath of destruction across Georgia. His army lived off of the land and burnt all of the supplies that they couldn't use. He destroyed not only crops, but also plantations, towns, war materials, and railroad communications. -
Capture of Richmond
The Capture of Richmond by the Union forces under General Grant was made possible by the capture of Petersburg. This cut off rail access to the South for Lee and isolated him from the other Confederate forces. Lee was no longer able to defend Richmond and the Union forces took it. -
Surrender at Appomattox
'On this day, Robert E. Lee, commander of the Confederate forces, surrendered to General Grant. This was done tom prevent further bloodshed in a battlle where he was cut off and outnumbered. This marked the end of the Civil War and 9 days later, Johnston surrendered to Sherman in Durham, North Carolina. -
Lincoln's Assassination
On this day, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated at Ford's Theater in Washington. He was shot from behind by a zealous advocate of the Southern cause named John Wilkes Booth. -
13th Amendment
This amendment to the United States' Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as use as a punishment for a crime. This amendemnt was passed after the Civil War and is the first of three Reconstruction amendments.