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Base : Timeline of the Civil War
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Texas gains independance from Mexico
After American settlers of the Texas area had violated all of the grounds set by Mexico, they decided to fight for their independance. This war was called the 'Texas Revolution' and is the source of the slogan 'Remember the Alamo', named after the legendary Alamo battle. Starting with Sam Houston in 1836, Texas governs itself and constantly applies to be annexed into the USA. In 1845 Texas is finally annexed, and so begins the ever-lasting question: Is this state going to be free, or slave? -
The California Gold Rush
Gold was discovered in California, and naturally, an immense amount of people want to go and try to make their fortune. As such, California's population EXPLODES.
As the population of California increases, the desire for statehood also does. However, California wants to enter as a free state - and eventually, this wish is granted even though most of California is below the Missouri Comp. Line and therefore should have been a slave state.
SOUTH CONSIDERS LEAVING THE UNION. -
Compromise of 1850
The issue over California's sovreignty sparked major debate throughout congress. Tensions are very high and both sides are frustrated - the South threatens to secede the Union - when HENRY CLAY saves the day by suggesting the Compromise of 1850. The compromise stated these basic guidelines:
-Cali admits as a free state
-North must enforce Fugitive Slave act of 1793
-POPULAR SOVREIGNTY introduced
-->States decide their free\slave standing
-Govt pays Texas 10mil to forfeit New Mexico -
Uncle Tom's Cabin is published
On this date, the slave narrative 'Uncle Tom's Cabin' was published by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was a monumental piece that was a wake up call for the North; it combatted the concept of "The Happy Slave" and showed the North what slavery was really like. It put a little fire in their bellies and made the North want to end slavery more then ever.
Other noteworthy pieces of literature in the time period include: The North Star by Frederick Douglass & Garrison's 'The Liberator' . -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act
This act replaces the Missouri Compromise Line with the concept of Popular Sovreignty; each state is allowed to decide their standpoint on the slavery issue.
Kansas, being a new territory, was desired by each side - of course. Both pro and anti slavery peoples rushed in to try and promote their beliefs, and it soon gets violent, some of the first noted violence to happen because of slavery. More then 200 die, giving Kansas its nickname, Bleeding Kansas. -
The Confederacy is Formed
In a vote 169-0, the South Carolina legislature enacts an "ordinance" that "the union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of 'The United States of America,' is hereby dissolved." ‘ Quote; South Carolina Legislature Seven states secede from the union due to the belief of a lack of political power, and form the Confederacy with Jefferson Davis as their president. Four more states would secede after the attack on Fort Sumter. -
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Lincoln is elected
Lincoln runs against Douglas in the presidential election of 1860. Both individuals were against slavery, but Douglas supported popular sovereignty, and Lincoln did not. He planned on leaving the issue of slavery temporarily awry, but this was not enough : the South feels as if they have lost all political power. When Lincoln takes office in February of 1861, seven states had already seceded. -
Interesting quote on the Civil War
“The Southern Leaders had for months past begged the parent government to retire peacefully and without bloodshed” “An English Combatant. Battle Fields of the South. Timeline Books Inc, 1864. “ -
Fort Sumter is attacked
In March of 1861, the Confederacy demands that the Union surrender Fort Sumter. Lincoln refuses to hand it over. Note he may not have taken the south seriously, since he also did not fortify Fort Sumter. On April 12, 1861, the Confederacy attacks and then seizes Fort Sumter.
Slave states are forced to choose sides; Maryland, Kentucky, Delaware, & Missouri decide to stay with the union. The civil war has officially began. -
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War Nurses
Roughly 3,000 women served as nurses throughout the battlefields of the Civil War. They tended to the needs of the wounded and dying, whether it be first aid or compassion \ a mother’s love for the dying. The nurses were old and grayed - young, pretty ones were not allowed. The nurses provided a valuable service, and got the opportunity to serve their country in the muck of it, just like their male counterparts.
Their actions put women slightly more equal with men. -
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Conscriptions
Both sides used conscriptions (drafting) to gain soldiers. Most able bodied men are drafted, leaving women to take over men's roles at home. People begin to realize that women are perfectly capable of working as good or better as men,
then men.
The south had more trouble getting people to reenlist then the North. Both sides, however, had large numbers of volunteers - which do not necessarily make the best soldiers. -
The Battle of Antietam
This was the first battle to be fought on Northern soil, and the bloodiest in the entire war, totalling ~23,000 casualties. Lee had been intercepted while marching to Washington DC, trying to force the North's defense, but wound up losing a quarter of his army and making a sad march back home to Virginia. The battle was fought on more then one front throughout the course of the day.
A notable outcome of this battle was that it lead to the Emancipation Proclamation. -
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War Prisnos
In the start of the war, prisoners were like chess pieces. After battles, prisoners would be exchanged for prisoners of equal rank.This didn’t work-it was very hard on the prisoners, and as such, on October 23, 1862 the practice was banned. From that point on War Prisons were used, where prisoners would be stored just like concentration camps.
The camps had terrible conditions and it was a terrible experience for soldiers. The most infamous was the confederate Andersonville. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, which states “Slaves are enemy resources contributing to the war effort … by declaring them free, they no longer have to work for the south”. Lincoln considered it Military Policy.
This is very frustrating to the South, as not only is much of their work force now free, but also fighting against their former captors! -
On the emancipation Proclamation
The North, though against slavery, was not necessarily supportive of the Emancipation Proclamation. To quote one soldier, " I will support emancipation if that is what it takes for reunification ". -
Battle of Vicksburg
Shortly after Gettysburg, General Grant captures the city of Vicksburg, VA. It was a lengthy battle \ siege, but was an incredibly important victory for the Union to achieve. Successfully capturing Vicksburg not only split the Confederacy in half (which if you can only imagine would be exceptionally distressing - to visit Grandma or get intelligence to another general, you have to cross hostile land) ! Not only this, but it also gave the Union control of a pivotal asset:the Mississippi River -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg lasted three days and ended with over 50,000 fatalities combined.The victory was a turning point for the Union that the Confederacy would never recover from - though it could have been very different ! Lee had been planning an invasion of the North but was intercepted and defeated.
The victory was so important because in this victory the Union finally broke through Lee’s intimidating force. -
The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech given by President Lincoln in November of 1863 that proceeded the battles of Gettysburg and Vicksburg. The speech was written very quickly but was very inspirational, honoring the soldiers who died in the terrible battle and also convincing the public that none had died in vain. It emphasized that a preservation of the union was necessary, and to quote the Gettysburg Address :
“..The Government of the people, by the people, for the people, will survive. " -
Confederate Surrender at Appomattox, VA
Grant tells Lincoln “Whatever happens, there will be no turning back”. Both sides call Grant a butcher; he throws soldiers upon the Confederacy, ignoring his losses because he knows the South can’t afford their losses. After 100,000 deaths - ⅔ of those from grant - the fighting has not stopped. Sherman invades Georgia in a path of destruction, forcing President Davis to flee. The confederacy gets generous surrender conditions. Lincoln wants to unite, not cripple, the south. -
Changes due to the Civil War
The following is a list of some changes due to the civil war.
- Red Cross founded by Clara Barton
-The economy gets much more funding
-The economic gap between North & South gets wider
-The Southern Economy collapses
-The future of warfare is changed with trenches, rifles, grenades, ironclads, etc -
Lincoln is Assassinated
Five days after General Lee’s surrender, Abraham Lincoln is assassinated while watching a presentation at Ford Theatre. The assassin was a sympathizer of the south, John Wilkes Booth - a name to be infamous throughout American History.
Lincoln was carried home by train to his cherished hometown of Springtown, Illinois where he was buried. Almost seven million show up to the funeral; roughly one third of the entire union populus. A bittersweet end to a bitter, bitter war.
