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Battle of Fort Sumter
The bombardment of U.S. Fort Sumter, near Charleston, South Carolina, by the Confederates, and the return gunfire and subsequent surrender by the U.S. Army that started the American Civil War. -
Blockade of Confederate Ports
President Lincoln ordered a blockade of Confederate ports. This caused a shortage of resources, greatly damaging the South. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as Battle of First Manassas, was fought on July 21, 1861 in Prince William County, Virginia, near the city of Manassas, not far from Washington, D.C. It was the first major battle of the American Civil War. Stonewall Jackson got his name from the battle. -
Trent Affair
Confederacy sent James Mason and Johns Slidell to negotiate on behalf of the Confederacy. They traveled to Havana, Cuba, and boarded a British ship, the "Trent", that was intercepted by the Union warship "San Antonio." The "Trent Affair" almost started a war between the Union and Britain. -
Farragut Arrives in New Orleans
Once Farragut arrived in New Orleans, General Butler's troops took control of the city. The city was the South's largest city and a center of cotton trade. -
Seven Day's Battle
Lee began a series of attacks on McClellan’s army that became known as the Seven Day’s Battle. Lee could not defeat the Union army but did not inflict heavy casualties and force McClellan to retreat to the James River. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
The Second Battle of Bull Run or Battle of Second Manassas was fought August 28–30, 1862 in Prince William County, Virginia, as part of the American Civil War. In the battle, Confederate forces pushed Union forces back to D.C. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Freed all enslaved persons in states still in rebellion after January 1, 1863. Freed enslaved African Americans only in states at war with the Union. -
Battle of Murfreesboro
Fought from December 31, 1862, to January 2, 1863, in Middle Tennessee, as the culmination of the Stones River Campaign in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. It ended inconclusively. -
Thirteenth Amendment
Abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, except as punishment for a crime. In Congress, it was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, and by the House on January 31, 1865. -
Election of 1864
Lincoln faced McClellan in the election of 1864. McClellan promised to negotiate with the South and end the war. Lincoln won the election. -
Confederates Surrender
When Lee's troops were blocked at Appomattox Courthouse, Lee observed that there was nothing left that he could do. He surrendered and the Civil War came to an end.
