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Abraham Lincoln makes his Cooper Union Address in New York City. The speech is very influential and critical to his election as president. -
The Pony Express is used for the first time, traveling all the way from Missouri to California. -
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson gets assigned to command at Harpers Ferry. While still under the Union, soon once the Southern states secede, he joins the Confederacy. -
Abraham Lincoln wins the Republican Party over William H. Seward. Lincoln eventually becomes president and Seward becomes the Secretary of State. -
The United States Congress establishes its first government printing office. It began its operations with only 350 employees. -
Abraham is elected as the 16th president of the United States. He is the first president to support abolition and oppose slavery. -
The first secession convention is held in Colombia, South Carolina to discuss the idea of states leaving the Union due to Lincoln's election. -
A compromise that attempted to settle the issue of slavery and the idea of secession. But, ultimately became a cause of the Civil War. -
Only three days after the convention, South Carolina is the first state to secede from the Union and sets up many other southern states to take suit. -
Harriet Tubman arrives in New York on her final mission to free slaves. She had evaded capture for 8 years and freed hundreds of slaves using the underground railroad. -
The seceded southern states create their own government based in Montgomery Alabama. So, the Confederate States of America are formed. -
Jefferson Davis is appointed as the temporary president in Montgomery, Alabama until proper elections can be held. -
Abraham is officially inaugurated as the 16th president of the remaining Union states in Washington D.C. -
The first shots of the Civil war are fired upon the North troops in Fort Sumter. The North retreated and the Civil War begins. -
After the events at Fort Sumter, Lincoln issues a declaration for 75,000 troops to stop the south. As a result, 4 more southern states secede and Lincoln calls for 43,000 more troops. -
One of the first small conflicts of the Civil War. After Virginia secedes, North forces attempt to push south to capture Richmond. -
During the Wheeling convention, Virginia is broken into the northern and southern regions. This created West Virginia which was admitted as the 35th state. -
The first true conflict of the Civil War. The Confederate forces push back the Northern troops as they defend Washington D.C. -
The Northern forces try to counterattack the invading Southerners. The attack fails miserably causing the death of General Nathaniel Lyons. -
In North Carolina, the Union naval forces are successful in capturing Fort Hatteras. This marks the start of the Union's efforts to restrict Southern ports. -
The North successfully captures Fort Henry after the South surrendered. This success leads the way to the Union's control of the Tennesse River. -
The South surrenders one of their primary forts, Fort Donelson, giving the Union control of the Cumberland River. During this time Union General Ulysses S. Grant earns the nickname, "Unconditional Surrender". -
Jefferson Davis is elected and inaugurated as the first-ever president of the Confederate States. -
In Hampton Roads, Virginia, there is a large naval battle between the USS Monitor and CSS Virginia. This marks the first time ironclads are used in combat. -
Another major battle that took place during the Civil War. The Union victory gives the North an advantage and helps secure Ulysses S. Grant his role as general. -
The Union navy successfully defeats the Confederate forces occupying the Mississippi River and Memphis. This victory gave the Union much control of the Mississippi River. -
A battle near Richmond Virginia lasted nearly seven days and resulted in a Confederate victory. The loss begins to prove General George McClellan unfit for the position. -
A major conflict that is very similar to the First Battle of Bull Run. It is fought on the same grounds and also results in Union retreat. -
The single-day bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The South suffers a massive loss and concludes their invasion of the North. Soon Lincoln announces the Emancipation Proclamation. -
A conflict that took place in Tennesse and resulted in a Union victory over the controlling Confederates. The victory frees parts of middle Tennessee and boosts morale. -
Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect, outlawing all slaves and slavery. Many people support it but do not feel that it goes far enough to abolish slavery -
A major Confederate victory, but Thomas Jackson becomes mortally wounded and died a few days later. After the battle, Lee requests an invasion of the North to move the fighting from Virginia. -
Union forces begin attacking Confederate defenses outside of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The Union aims to take the last amount of control the Confederates have on the Mississippi River. -
The bloodiest battle in the entire Civil War. The South's invasion of the North is crushed, but both sides suffer massive casualties. -
After constant bombardment from the North, the South surrenders at Vicksburg. The Union gains control of the Mississippi River, a vital supply route for the South. -
The Union navy and land forces launched attacks on defenses near Charleston, South Carolina. During that time, the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry sees action, the first all African American volunteer regiment. -
The Union army attempts to invade further into Tennessee but is stopped by the Confederate Army. The Northern army is defeated and is forced to retreat. -
Lincoln dedicates the Soldiers National Cemetary in Gettysburg. He also delivers his famous Gettysburg Address, empowering the North to finish the war. -
The Union stops the Confederate attempts to invade Chattanooga, Tennesse. The North victory forces the Confederates out of Tennesse and down to Georgia. -
Abraham Lincoln issues the Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction. He creates it so the South feel more inclined to surrender since it pardons those who participated in the Confederacy. -
The CSS H.L. Hurley attacked the USS Houstonic outside of Charleston, South Carolina. The USS Houstonic was hit by a torpedo and sank with all its men, while the CSS H.L. Hurley was lost and never found. -
Andersonville Prison Camp opens and holds thousands of captured Union soldiers. The camp is known for its overcrowding and extremely poor conditions. -
The Union beings a long-term strategy to strike into deeper parts of the Confederacy. The campaign begins under General Nathaniel Banks in Red River Louisiana. -
The first battle of the "Overlord Campaign" for the Union. As a result the Confederacy counterattacks in the dense woods in Fredericksburg Virginia. -
As an attempt to lure Union troops away from the southern territory, the Confederates sent a small force to infiltrate Washington D.C. Union hastily sent another small force that held back the Confederates, and while it was ultimately a Union loss, they defended the capital. -
After nearly a month of tunneling underground by the Union soldiers, a large mine was detonated under a Confederate fort in the Petersburg siege lines. Despite this, the rest of the Union attack was uncoordinated and resulted in a loss. -
A very important navy battle in which the Union sailed into Mobile Bay near Atlanta and defeated the Confederate forts, including the CSS Tennessee. As a result, the Union captures the most critical Southern port. -
The Union forces sweep through the Confederate defenses and take Fort Harrison. The Confederates are unable to recapture the fort and lost a valuable position near Richmond, Virginia. -
With the help and efforts of Ulysses S. Grant, Lincoln is elected for his second term in office, which will be inevitably cut short due to his assassination. -
General Sherman begins his famous, "Sherman's March" in which he and his army parade down the east coastline and cities, destroying and burning anything they find. -
The Union invades and captures Fort Fisher off the mouth of Cape Fear River. This closes the last southern seaport that was open to commercial shipping and imports. -
One of the last assaults from the Confederate forces. The South attacks the Union forces along the Petersburg siege lines and gains small control of the Union forts. But by the end of the day the Confederates and push back and the siege lines remain the same. -
The southern capital in Richmond Virginia is abandoned as General Lee attempts to flee the city in hopes of group forces with Confederate General Johnston. -
After a small morning skirmish attempting to break through the Union blockade west to Dansville, Virginia, Lee requests to speak to General Grant. They discuss terms and eventually, Lee surrenders the Northern Virginia Army and is disbanded. -
Only 5 days after the surrender at Appomattox Court, Lincoln is assassinated. He was at Ford's theater watching a show when actor John Wilkes Booth shot him. -
Shortly after fleeing from Richmond once the Union army invaded, Confederate president Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville, Georgia. -
Confederate forces under General Simon Bolivar Buckner surrender the Army of the Trans-Mississippi. This is the last of the Confederate army to surrender and marks the official end of the Civil War. -
Nearly two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, slaves in Texas are informed of their freedom. The day is officially celebrated throughout 41 different states and is known as "Juneteenth". -
Confederate Major Henry Wirz is hung for his actions as superintendent at the Andersonville Camp. He is the only Civil War soldier tried and executed for war crimes. -
The United States Congress ratification of the 13th Amendment.
With that, slavery would be abolished all throughout America. -
As the Reconstruction Era begins, president Andrew Johnson is forced to veto the Civil Rights bill. He believes that it will give the government too much power. It will eventually become the 14th Amendment. -
The 1st ever ambulance goes into service to transport injured people. This is due to Clara Barton and her efforts as a nurse and figure. -
The United States purchases the Alaska region from Russia. The purchase was $7,200,000 which was roughly 2 cents per acre. -
Along with the 13-15 amendments, the first Civil Rights Act is passed. The Civil Rights Act of 1866 protects all rights of American citizens regardless of race. -
After the impact of the Civil War, the American Equal Rights Association is created. Along with the 13-15 amendments, the association fights for interracial citizens. -
After push back from president Andrew Johnson, Congress passes the 14th amendment. This amendment lets anyone born in the United States citizenship. -
After the Confederacy was destroyed, Andrew Johnson continued Lincoln's plan to readmit states to the Union. Using Lincoln's 10% plan, Tennesse is the first state readmitted to the Union. -
After David Farragut's efforts with the Union's navy and carries out the Anaconda plan, he is appointed as the first admiral in the navy. -
After Ulysses S. Grant's leadership as the head of the Union army, he is appointed as the first-ever General of the Army. -
As the United States enters the reconstruction era, black rights and freedoms are granted. One of the most influential black figures, Frederick Douglass, is the first black delegate at a national convention. -
Despite the American reconstruction and civil rights, the first Ku Klux Klan is formed. The group aims to promote white supremacy and anti-black propaganda. -
African men are granted the right to vote in Washington D.C. Although Andrew Johnson attempts to prevent the 15th Amendment, Congress still passes it. -
Nebraska is admitted as the 37th state in the United States of America. While at first, only part of the state is admitted, soon is expands to how it is in the present day. -
As the United States enters the reconstruction era, the first reconstruction act is passed. The act defines the terms for readmission of Confederate states and divides them into 5 military districts. -
Due to the efforts of various reformers, Congress creates the first Department of Education, regulating and providing education throughout the states. -
As a result of the racial reconstruction and reform in the United States, Congress abolishes peonage. Peonage is when employers force workers to pay of debt with more work. -
To honor Abraham Lincoln's tragic assassination, Congress approves the building of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. -
Roughly 2 years after the end of the Civil War, reconstruction in the Southern states begins and voting registration begins for African citizens. -
After the health reform and progress from the Civil War, Harvard Dental School of Medicine is founded becoming the first dental school -
Congress creates the first-ever all-black university, Howard University in Washington D.C., allowing more blacks an education. -
After 2 years in office, the Congress commission begins to attempt to impeach Andrew Johnson, becoming the first impeachment process in U.S. history.