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Election of 1860
The election of 1860 was an election where Abraham Lincoln won. This was significant because the South didn't vote for Lincoln. All his votes came from the North. Also South Carolina secedes because Lincoln spoke out against slavery. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina decides to secede because Abraham Lincoln won the election. They felt like Abraham was not their president since the South didn't vote for him.They felt like they could secede because they voluntarily joined the United States and they could voluntarily leave. This action led to many other states leaving as well. The states that decided to leave wanted to make their own country and called themselves The Confederacy. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
The attack on Fort Sumter was when Lincoln was going there to get supplies in South Carolina. Leaders of the Confederacy decided to attack Fort Sumter before the Union ships could arrive. This attack started the Civil War. -
Battle of Bull Run/Manassas
The Battle of Bull run was a major battle. The Confederacy won this battle and it shocked the North because they had many advantages. This battle also led General Lee to change his strategy and decide to invade the North. -
Battle Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day all of America. This battle was the first major win for the North. Since this win impacted the North so much, Lincoln decided to use this win to pass the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
In this battle, General McLellan is replaced with General Burnside after the Battle of Antietam. Burnside to attack and try to take Richmond, but General Lee intervenes. The Confederacy has the high ground and they had trenches to duck and hide behind. The Union lost this battle because of those advantages. General Burnside resigned after this loss. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was a proclamation by President Lincoln. Even though Lincoln conducted the proclamation, he didn't rush to free the slaves. He felt like that he didn't have the power to free the slaves and wanted to keep the border states on his side. The Emancipation Proclamation also didn't free all slaves because slavery was only abolished in rebellion states. Slavery was still allowed in border states. -
Battle of Vicksburg
General Ulysses S. Grant was winning victories in the west. Vicksburg was the last strong hold of the Confederates on the Mississippi River. General Grant had defeated the Confederates in Vicksburg which opened up the South to Union control. This also completes the Union's strategy, the Anaconda Plan. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle was unplanned. The Confederacy troops needed shoes so they go towards Gettysburg to get some. They see some Union troops and both side call for backup. They fought in the fields of Gettysburg and the Union came out victorious. This was a turning point because General Lee was forced to retreat because some many of his soldiers had died, and it was the last time the Confederacy ever tried to invade the North. -
54th Massachusetts Fight at Fort Wagner
This is the most famous of all black regiments. African American soldiers attack Fort Wagner in South Carolina. Even though they lost the battle it showed how dedicated and how brave these soldiers were. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech that President Abraham Lincoln gave after the battle of Gettysburg. This address was to honor all of the soldiers that they lost during the battle of Gettysburg. It was also to keep the rest of the army encouraged. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
The Sherman's march was when General Sherman marched 6,000+ men 285 miles. As Sherman and his soldiers went along, they would railroads to their advantage and then destroy them (Sherman Bowties). Sherman also destroyed homes and towns. This action changed the Civil War -
13th Amendment Passed
Lincoln was urging Congress to pass a law to where slavery was ended everywhere. The 13th Amendment was passed after Lincoln's death. The 13th Amendment abolished slavery, Prohibited involuntary servitude, nullified the Fugitive Slave Act and the 3/5ths Compromise -
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
The surrender at Appomattox was when General Lee and General Grant met in Virginia where Lee surrendered.General Grant offered the terms of surrender which were no jail times for officers, and they were allowed to horses and weapons. Grant's goal with these terms was to stop fighting and to go home peacefully.