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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin is a fictional anti-slavery novel, it was written by Hariet Breecher Stowe. This novel was so important because it influenced America’s view on slavery. Uncle Tom’s Cabin first appeared in a weekly newspaper called the National Era on June 5, 1851, which updated one chapter at a time -
Lincoln was elected for President
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States of America. Lincoln was elected as president on November 6, 1860, and he was a candidate of the Republican party. He served as the president of the United States from 1861 to 1865, which was until he was unfortunately assassinated. Lincoln was very important because later he would later abolish slavery in the United States. -
Confederation is formed
On February 9, 1861, Confederation is formed. South Carolina is the first state to break away from the United States, followed by Georgia, Texas, Florida, etc. in the next few months. After all the Southern states secede from the Union, they form their own country called the Confederate States of America and make Jefferson Davis their president. This is important because the Confederates would later have a Civil War with the Union. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is located in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina and it is an island fortress. Union Major Robert Anderson fired the first shot when the Confederate side ordered an attack on Fort Sumter. The Confederate side ended up winning the two day battle because Union Major Anderson and his men surrendered. Fort Sumter was so important because it blocked Charleston Harbor, which was an important South seaport. It was also the first event that caused the Civil War. -
First Battle of Bull Run
On July 21, 1861, the First Battle of Bull Run took place near Manassas in Virginia. This battle is also called the First battle of Manassas, since it took place near Manassas, and it is also called the First Battle of Bull Run because they were fighting by a stream named Bull Run. The Confederates won. The First Battle of Bull Run is important because it was the first major land battle and it made the North realize it would not be easy to win and it boosted the South’s confidence. -
The Trent Affair
Two Confederate envoys (like a messenger) that were from a British Royal Mail steamer, were captured by a United States Navy officer named Charles Wilkes. It is called the Trent Affair because Wilkes captured them on a British mail ship called the “Trent”. This was an important event because it turned into a whole diplomatic incident that may have almost caused a war between Great Britain and the United States when there was already a Civil War going on. -
Battle of the Ironclads
The two ironclads with armor and heavy guns named the U.S.S. Monitor and the C.S.S. Virginia battled each other on March 9, 1862. The cannon balls were deflected by the armor and both ships were fine. Neither won because after a few hours of firing at each other with cannon balls, the C.S.S Virginia left to Norfolk. This battle was important because it was the first battle between ironclad warships. Also, the Union’s blockade prevented trade there. -
Shiloh
In southwestern Tennessee, the Confederates' surprise attacked the Union on April 6, 1862. In the end, the Confederates were not able to keep their positions because they were being pushed back by the Union, so the Union won the battle. This battle ended on April 7, 1862, which was the next day. Shiloh was so significant because it let Union General Ulysses Grant have control over the Mississippi River. -
Antietam
This was the bloodiest battle in the Civil War even though it lasted one day. The Battle of Antietam took place by a Maryland Antietam creek on September 17, 1862. On that day, about 230,000 soldiers died and many were wounded. The Union won the battle since the Confederates withdrew from the battlefield first. Antietam was very significant battle in the Civil War because it led to Abraham Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation to abolish slavery in the U.S. -
Battle of Fredricksburg
In Fredericksburg, Virginia, on December 11, 1862, the Union was led by Major General Ambrose Burnside and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia was under General Robert E. Lee. The Union lost the fight even though they outnumbered the Confederates by a lot. The battle ended 4 days later on December 15, 1862. The Battle of Fredericksburg is one of the most significant battles of the war because it acted as a confidence boost for the Confederates. -
Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation
On January 7, 1863, Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed slaves in 10 states. This did not mean all slaves were free because it did not free the slaves in the south. The Emancipation Proclamation is so significant because it led to Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which freed all slaves. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville started on April 30, 1863, and ended on May 6, 1863. The Union suffered 7,500 deaths on their side and the Confederates had 12,000 casualties on theirs. This battle was so important since it was a huge win for the Confederates and General Robert E. Lee, and a crushing defeat for the Union. -
Siege of Vicksburg
In the Siege of Vicksburg, it was a Union victory, and it gave them control of the Mississippi river. This is important because it affected the south since the Mississippi river split it up and the north was able to use it as a route for moving supplies and men. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg started on July 1, 1863 and ended 3 days later on July 3, 1863. The Confederates lost 28,000 men, the Union lost around 23,000 men, and many were wounded. The Union won the battle in the end, and this was a crushing defeat for the Confederates. Gettysburg was so important because Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s plan on invading the North was foiled because of the Battle of Gettysburg. -
The Battle of Chickamauga
The battle of Chickamauga started on September 18, 1863 and ended two days later on September 20, 1863. Confederate Braxton Bragg’s Army of Tennessee defeated Union General William Rosecrans’ Army and both sides had losses. The Battle of Chickamauga was so important because so many died. Eighteen thousand and four hundred fifty four Confederates and 16,170 Union troops died. In this battle, the Confederates won. -
Battle of Chattanooga
The Battle of Chattanooga started on November 23, 1863 and ended 2 days later on the 25th, and took place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattanooga was a railroad junction (a junction is a point where two or more things are joined together, like an intersection), and the Union and Confederate forces were fighting over control of it because it had strategic importance. The Union won the battle. -
The Battle of Sailor’s Creek
The Battle of Sailor’s Creek is one of the battles a part of the Appomattox Campaign, which is why it i significant. The Appomattox Campaign were battles leading to Confederate General Robert E. Lee to surrendering. The Union wanted to draw out the Confederates to battle. On that day, Confederate General Robert E. Lee lost ¼ of his army, almost 7,700 people, and more than 8,800 dead. -
Battle of Appomattox Court House
This battle led to Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendering his army to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Confederate General Robert E. Lee wanted to get supplies at the South Side Railroad at Appomattox, but the Union got there first and destroyed 3 of their supply trains. In the end, General Lee surrendered his army because he wanted to prevent unnecessary damage to the South. This is significant because the Battle of Appomattox Court House led to the Confederates surrender. -
Appomattox Court House (Not the battle)
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered on April 9, 1865, leading to the end of the Civil War. People on the Confederate and Union side had a meeting where the Confederates surrendered to the Union. This is so important because Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered the 28,000 soldiers under him to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Confederate General Lee surrendered because he did not want to let unnecessary destruction of the South if he were not to surrender. -
Abraham Lincoln Assassination
On April 15, 1865, Abraham Lincoln was shot in his box by John Wilkes Booth while attending a theatre in Washington D.C. He was assassinated by Booth because he believed in slavery, and he did not support Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth avoided being captured after assassinating Lincoln for two weeks, but on April 26, 1865, Union soldiers got him. Lincoln’s assassination is so significant because he was a very important person who abolished slavery.
