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Period: to
United States Civil War
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Jefferson Davis
Davis considers the idea of secession for the first time -
Democratic Party Convention
Convention is held in Charleston, South Carolina by the Democratic Party. Held until May 3rd. Selected candidates for the 1860 election. -
Republican Convention
Republicans hold a convention in Chicago, nominate Abraham Lincoln as their presidential candidate. This convention lasts 2 days -
1860 Election
Lincoln wins the 1860 Election, and becomes the 16th President of the United States -
Maj. Robert Anderson
Major Robert Anderson warns of a posible attack on Fort Sumter, calls for aid in the form of weapons, food, and men, only recieves food. -
President Buchanan
Buchanan delivers his State of the Union message to Congress. He says the slave states are sovereign and their rights cannot be interfered with. -
Propositions of Secession
Southern Senators and representatives create a manifesto encouraging secession and the organization of a Confederacy. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. -
South Carolinian Congressmen Resign
South Carolinian congressmen resign from the U.S. House of Representatives, letter of resignation being presented to Congress on Dec. 24. -
South Carolina and Federal Troops
South Carolina contacts Buchanan and wants Federal troops withdrawn from Fort Sumter, and Fort Pickens. A decision is not made. -
Mississippi
Mississippi secedes from the Union. -
Florida
Florida follows suit with other states, and secedes from the Union today -
The New Confederacy
The Confederate States of America is formed Jefferson Davis, as president. -
Inauguration
Lincoln inaugurated as President of the United States. -
Confederate Constitution
Constitution of the Confederate States of America is signed in Montgomery, Alabama. -
Fort Sumter
The Confederates under Beauregard open fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. This marks the start of the Civil War. -
Blockade
Lincoln issues blockade against the Southern ports, limits supplies to get into the South during the war. Start of the Anaconda Plan. -
Habeas Corpus
Lincoln suspends habeas corpus in order to be able to imprison dissenters without trial -
Alabama
The state of Alabama seceded from the United States on January 11, 1861. it quickly joined the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. -
Bull Run
Stonewall Jackson defeats the Union army in this first official battle of the Civil War -
Beginning the War
Lincoln issues the first general war order, calling the army and navy of the United States to advance on the South by Feb. 22 -
Fort Henry Captured
General Grant captures Fort Henry in Tennessee, and earns his nickname Unconditional Surrender -
Monitor v. Merrimack
Two ironclad ships, Union Monitor and Confederate Merrimack clash at sea near Virginia, resulting in a strategic Union victory. This signals the end of wooden warships. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh takes place near a church in Tennessee, forces under Grant and Johnston clash. Results in a victory for the Union -
Farragut advances on the South
17 Union ships under the command of Flag Officer David Farragut move up the Mississippi River then take New Orleans -
Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops in front of Richmond and nearly defeats them. -
African Americans in The Union
The Union begins hiring African American divisions in their army, increasing the amount of manpower that they have over the Confederacy. This marks work towars equality with African Americans -
Lee Advances
Lee invades the North with 50,000 Confederates and heads for Harpers Ferry, located 50 miles northwest of Washington. -
The Battle of Antietam
The single day battle that saw the most casualties in American history, Antietam resulted in 26,000 men dead, and a strategic victory for the Union -
Defeat at Fredericksburg
Army of the Potomac under Gen. Burnside suffers a costly defeat at Fredericksburg in Virginia with a loss of 12,653 men after 14 frontal assaults on well entrenched Rebels on Marye's Heights. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates and emphasizes the enlisting of black soldiers in the Union Army. -
Conscription
The U.S. Congress enacts a draft, affecting male citizens aged 20 to 45, but also exempts those who pay $300 or provide a substitute. -
Chancellorsville
The Union Army under Gen. Hooker is decisively defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia as a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded by his own soldiers -
Stonewall Jackson
Jackson dies due to his wounds sustained at Chancellorsville. -
Gettysburg
The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the three day Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. -
Vicksburg
Vicksburg, the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, surrenders to Gen. Grant and the Army of the West after a six week siege. -
Anti-Draft
Anti-draft riots in New York City include arson and the murder of blacks by poor immigrant whites. At least 120 persons, including children, are killed and $2 million in damage caused -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln delivers a two minute Gettysburg Address at a ceremony dedicating the Battlefield as a National Cemetery. -
Change in Command
President Lincoln appoints Gen. Grant to command all of the armies of the United States. Gen. William T. Sherman succeeds Grant as commander in the west. -
Sherman Advances
In the west, Sherman, with 100,000 men begins an advance toward Atlanta to engage Joseph E. Johnston's 60,000 strong Army of Tennessee. He utilizes a scorched earth policy. -
Lincoln Re-elected
Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president, defeating Democrat George B. McClellan. Lincoln carries all but three states with 55 percent of the popular vote and 212 of 233 electoral votes. -
Sherman arrives in Savannah
Sherman reaches Savannah in Georgia leaving behind a 300 mile long path of destruction 60 miles wide all the way from Atlanta. -
13th Amendment
The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification. -
Attempts at Peace
A peace conference occurs as President Lincoln meets with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens at Hampton Roads in Virginia, but the meeting ends in failure - the war will continue. -
Inauguration
Inauguration ceremonies for President Lincoln in Washington, resulting from him winning the election -
Last Ditch Effort
The last offensive for Lee's Army of Northern Virginia begins with an attack on the center of Grant's forces at Petersburg. Four hours later the attack is broken. -
Confederacy on the run
Grant's forces begin a general advance and break through Lee's lines at Petersburg. Confederate Gen. Ambrose P. Hill is killed. Lee evacuates Petersburg. The Confederate Capital, Richmond, is evacuated. -
Lee Surrenders
Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia. Grant allows Rebel officers to keep their sidearms and permits soldiers to keep horses and mules. -
Assassin Strikes
Ford's Theater. At 10:13 p.m., during the third act of the play, John Wilkes Booth shoots the president in the head. -
Lincoln Dies
President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency. -
Assassin killed
John Wilkes Booth is shot and killed in a tobacco barn in Virginia. -
Amendment 13
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified. Slavery is abolished.