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Trent Affair
The Union ship USS San Jacinto intercepted the British RMS Trent and removed two Confederate diplomats trying to make the case for recognition as a country. The Union avoided war with Britain, but the Confederates were not entirely against a war, as it would go towards establishing new connections with Britain. -
Battle of Island No. 10
Union vessels were attempting to invade along the Mississippi Rivers, though a key bend in the river at New Madrid was held by Confederate forces. The fall of New Madrid led to a three week assault on Island No. 10 by Union until surrender concluded a month long battle on April 8. -
Battle of Shiloh
In western Tennessee, Grant's forces had begun to move deeper South when the South initiated a surprise attack on a Union camp. Though the Confederates were successful with the element of surprise, the Union would eventually win out. -
Battle of Antietam
Antietam is remembered for two primary reasons: it was the first major battle on Union turf, and it is the bloodiest single day battle in American history with both sides suffering American casualties. This was a Union "tactical victory," though neither side saw immediate victory despite its losses. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
Burnside's Union forces engaged Lee's Confederate forces in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Frontal Union attacks on trench forces of southern forces proved to be one of the most decisive victories in the Confederate war effort, ending on the 15th. -
Battle of Stones River
Also known as the Battle of Murfressboro, the Battle of Stones River featured the highest percentage of casualties on the behalf of both sides. Though there was no conclusive victor, southern forces withdrew from Middle Tennessee, providing a boost to the momentum of the North. This battle began on December 31 (not the 30th as the date indicates) and concluded on January 2, 1863. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This was an executive order by Lincoln that freed all slaves in rebelling states of the South. Many of these slaves would go on to join Union forces and contribute to regiments of their own. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, this battle had the greatest number of casualties of any single battle in the Civil War. Considered to be one of the largest turning points of the war, General Lee's advance into the North was thwarted by George Meade's Army of the Potomac -
New York Draft Riots
This event is compromised of four days of violent protesting in accordance with the Congressional laws passed to draft men for the Civil War. These series of riots remain one if the largest in American History. -
Battle of Chickamauga
Fought between William Rosecrans and Braxton Bragg, the Bragg Confederates emerged victorious. This marked the end of Union advance down into Georgia from Tennessee and also had the second greatest number of casualties of a Civil War battle. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's speech dedicated the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It is one of the most memorable speeches in American history beginning with, "Four score and seven years ago...." -
Lincoln's Ten Percent Plan
This plan proposed by Loncoln offered an option for reinstatement into the Union and reconstruction. If 10 percent of 1860 voters took an oath of allegiance to the Union and to emancipation. -
Impeachment of Andrew Johnson
Johnson was impeached on high crimes and misdemeanors, the first in American history. It would be the only impeachment for over 100 years until Bill Clinton. -
Battle of Fort Pillow
The battle occurred on the Mississippi River on the Tennessee side in the town of Henning. Regarded as one of the bleakest events of American military history, Confederate soldiers massacred a number of black Union troops including some attempting to surrender. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
Though the battle lasted from May 31 to June 12, the most fighting took place on June 3. Remembered as one the most bloody and lopsided battles of not only the war, but American history, Grant's army was overwhelmed by the superior position of the Confederates led by Lee. -
Wade-Davis Bill
The Wade-Davis Bill was the primary opposition to the Ten Percent Plan. Instead 10 percent, a majority had to take an oath to the Union that would eliminate acceptance of ever being separated from the Union. -
Battle of Nashville
This clash between George H. Thomas's Union forces and John Bell Hood's Confederate troops marked the end of Western fighting in the Civil War. Hood's army was routed and destroyed entirely as a fighting force in one of the largest Union victories. -
Freedmen's Bureau Founding
Initiated by president Lincoln, this agency helped distressed freedmen, most commonly freed slaves. One of the key aspects of early reconstruction, this was a strong contrast to the black laws passed in the South. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theater by Joh Wilkes Booth just five days after Confederate surrender. Lincoln was the first American president to be assassinated. -
Southern Black Codes
In an attempt to restore the previous hierarchy, southern states passed black laws. These ranged from social to political to military controls on black people that had roots in slave codes. -
Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment most notably abolished slavery, though the Constitution had previously defended slavery. This was the first of the Reconstruction amendments to be passed through the years 1865-1870. -
Klu Klux Klan Founding
The KKK was founded upon the principles of white supremacy and Christan terrorism. Members wore white robes to conceal their identities and incite fear into their vctims. -
Civil Righs Act of 1866
This law affirmed that all citizens were equally protected by the law of the land. Though it was vetoed by Johnson, Congress voted again to pass it into law. -
First Reconstruction Act
Also known as the Military Reconstruction Act, ex-Confederate states were divided into five military districts. Northern generals would be put in charge of protecting life and property. -
Fourteenth Amendment
This amendment addressed citizenship rights of African-Americans as well as equal protection issues raised towards former slaves. The Fourteenth was one of the most contested amendments, especially as southern states had to ratify to rejoin Congress. -
Fifteenth Amendment
The Fifteenth Amendment guaranteed the right to vote to persons of any race. This was the last of the Reconstruction Amendments. -
Compromise of 1877
Also known as the Hayes-Tilden Compromise, this unwritten deal settled the 1876 Presidential Election and ended the Reconstruction Era. Hayes was awarded the presidential seat with the understanding that he and the government would remove federal troops from southerns lands. -
End of Reconstruction
President Hayes moved the last of his troops out of the South. Control of the government was returned to a democratic state in the South, giving power to white, landowning southerners.
