Civil War Timeline

Missouri Compromise

Mar 3, 1820

Missouri entered as a slave state, Maine entered as a free state. The 36°30' line was made to determine if new states would be free or slave. If a state was above the line, it would be free. If a state was below the line, it would be a slave state.

Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion

Aug 21, 1831

Nat Turner, a slave, led a slave rebellion in Virginia that killed 51 white people.(Ended August 23, 1831).

Mexican-American War

Apr 25, 1846

James K. Polk decided to go to war with Mexico for their land because of the Manifest Destiny. America gained California, New Mexico territory, Utah territory, and Texas. (Ended February 2, 1848).

Wilmot Proviso

Aug 8, 1846

Proposed to Congress, this proposal wanted slavery to be abolished in all new territories gained in the Mexican war. This bill was not passed and caused conflict that led to the civil war.

Compromise of 1850

Jan 29, 1850

California entered as a free state, Utah and New Mexico could choose whether they would be free or slave by popular sovereignty, it defined a new Texas-New Mexico boundary, and the fugitive slave act was put in place.

Fugitive Slave Act

Sep 18, 1850

Part of the compromise of 1850, this act required that escaped slaves would be returned to their owners in the south.

Publication of Uncle Tom's Cabin

Mar 20, 1852

Written by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Uncle Tom's Cabin was an anti-slavery novel that opened the eyes of the north to the horrors of slavery.

Bleeding Kansas

May 30, 1854

Pro and anti-slavery forces engage in violent battles in Kansas after the Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed.(Ended 1861)

Kansas-Nebraska Music

May 31, 1854

Passed by Congress, the Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed Kansas ans Nebraska to choose whether they wanted slavery or not.

Dred Scott Decision

Mar 6, 1857

Dred Scott, a slave, sued for his freedom after his owner moved into free territory. The supreme court ruled that Scott was not a citizen and could not sue. The court ruling also declared the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional.

John Brown's Raid on Harpers Ferry

Oct 16, 1859

John Brown, an abolitionist, and his sons attempted to start a slave revolt by raiding a federal arsenal in Virginia. It ended horribly for Brown and he was sentenced to death. (Ended October 18, 1859).

Abraham Lincoln is Elected President

Nov 6, 1860

Abe Lincoln, a free soil republican, is elected president. The southern democrats despise him and his election leads to the south seceding from the Union.

South Carolina Secedes

Nov 10, 1860

After Lincoln was named president-elect, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Buchanan, the president, stated that the ordinance was illegal but did not attempt to stop it.

Formation of the Confederacy

Feb 8, 1861

After the south seceded from the Union, they formed their own country called the Confederate States of America.

Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

The first battle of the civil war, the Confederacy bombards the Union fort in South Carolina and takes over the fort. The battle lasted 2 days

Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

A deadly civil war battle that ended in a Union victory and shortly after, the emancipation proclamation was announced.

Vicksburg

May 18, 1863

A Union victory, the confederate army was split in two at the Mississippi river as the Union took control of the river. Union soldiers could now transport supplies much easier using the river. (Ended July 4, 1863).

Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

A major battle in the civil war, the confederacy lost 23,000 soldiers in a devastating defeat. This was the bloodiest battle in American history. (3 day battle).

Appomattox Courthouse

Apr 9, 1865

The last battle in the civil war, Robert E. Lee had no choice but to surrender at the courthouse in Virginia.