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15 most important events of the Civil War
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Abe Lincoln elected as president
Abe Lincoln was elected as the 16th presiden of the US on November 6, 1860. He became the first Republican to win the presidential race. During his reign as president, Lincoln kept the Union toghether and abolished slavery. For these reasons, and many more, he is considered one of the best presidents in histroy. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/abraham-lincoln-elected-president -
Confederacy Forms
Representatives from the states of South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana met in Montgomery, Alabama, to create the Confederate States of America. They separated from the North because of the continous slavery issue. On Feburary 9, Jefferson Davis was elected as the first president of the Confederate states. http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/states-meet-to-form-confederacy -
Battle of Fort Sumter
This is where the first shots of the Civil War were fired. Fort Sumter was an Island fort in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. Major Robert Anderson was occupying the fort, and when Lincoln announced plans to bring supplies to the fort, General P.G.T. Beauregard bombarded the fort. There was a 36 hour artillery battle, and at the end, Anderson and his 86 soldiers surrendered the fort to the South on April 13th. http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/fort-sumter -
First Battle of Bull Run
The Union and the Confederate armies begin fighting at Manassas Junction, Virginia, making the first major land battle of the Civil War. 35,000 Union troops marched from Washington, D.C. to fight a Confederate troop of 20,000 at a little river called Bull Run. The Confederates fought defensively most of the day, but they managed to flank the Union from the right, which caused the Unon to retreat back to Washington, D.C.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/first-battle-of-bull-run -
Battle of Fort Donelson and Fort Henry
These two battles were a disaster for the South. General Ulysses Grant captured Fort Henry in Tennessee, and a week later, he assaulted Fort Donelson. The South soon surrendered the fort, giving the North one of their first major wins of the Civil War. http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-fort-donelson -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was one of the earlymajor battles of the Civil War. It wall started when the Confederates launched a surprise attack on the Union in Southwestern Tennessee. The Confederates had success early on, but they were unable to hold on to thier positions, and had to retreat, so the Union won the fight. There were over 23,000 casualties, and the level of violence was shocking to everyone. http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-shiloh -
Battle of Sharpsburg(Antietam)
The North and South battled it out near Antietam Creek, in Sharpsburg, Maryland. This was the first battle of the Civil War in the North. The 1st Texas Infantry lost 82% of its forces during this battle, which was the highest death rate by the Confederates during the Civil War. http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-antietam -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abe Lincoln thought that abolishing slavery was a bold war move. As the Northerners invaded the Southern states, thousands of slaves escaped to join the Union. When he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, it actually did not free any slaes, but it did help turn the tables in the war. http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/emancipation-proclamation -
Battle of Gettysburg
The battle of Gettysburg was a 2 day battle, and it is considered the most important battle of the Civil War. The Union and Confederates began fighting at the Potomac River. On July 3rd, General Lee ordered an attack on the Union's center position, and it is known as "Pickett's Charge." The attack got through the enemy lines, but it failed soon after.
http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-gettysburg -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address is one of the most important speeches in the history of the US. In his 273 word speech, he expressed the ideas of human equality, and a wish for "a new birth of freedom." And he also talked about preservation of the Union. -
Atlanta Campaign
General Sherman had 2 goals: To destroy the Army of Tennessee, and to Capture Atlanta so he could cut off important supply lines. Sherman couldn't quite destroy the Army of Tennessee, but he did manage to capture Atlanta, which greatly increased the Union's morale, and improving Abe Lincoln's re-election chances greatly. http://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/atlanta-campaign -
Abe Lincoln re-elected as president
Abe Lincoln was almost beaten out of his spot in the presidential re-election. Even Lincoln thought that George B. McClellan would beat him out. McClellan was the commander of the Army of the Potomac. The race turned around when General Sherman captured Atlanta. Lincoln ended up winning the electoral college 212 to 21, earning him his second term as president.
http://www.ushistory.org/us/34e.asp -
13th Amendment passed
Abe Lincoln passed the 13th Amendment of January 31, 1865. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery for good. It states the following: "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."
http://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/document.html?doc=9&title.raw=13th+Amendment+to+the+U.S.+Constitution%3A+Abolition+of+Slavery -
General Robert E. Lee surrenders
General Robert E. Lee surrendered his 28,000 troops to General Grant in Appomattox, Virginia. He had no choice but to surrender, considering they were forced out of Richmond, they couldn't join the rest of the Confederates, and they were constantly being attacked by Union calvary. This ended the Civil War.
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/robert-e-lee-surrenders -
Abe Lincoln assassinated
Abe Lincoln was watching a play at Ford's Theater when John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor and Confederate supporter, shot Abe in the back of the head. This was only 5 days after General Robert E. Lee surrendered. This launched one of the biggest manhunts in history. There were 10,000 federal troops, detectives, and police hunting for John Wilkes Booth.
http://www.history.com/topics/abraham-lincoln-assassination
