Civil War Timeline (Virtual)

By elizabethkelliher
  • South Carolina votes to secede from the United States

    South Carolina votes to secede from the United States

    South Carolina is the first state to secede from the states. Then followed by the rest of the south.
  • Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address

    Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address

    Lincoln says his first Inaugural Address. This was when he did his oath of office when becoming the 16th president of the USA.
  • Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter

    Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter

    The Battle of Fort Sumter, was the bombardment of Fort Sumter near Charleston. The US army surrendered.
  • Lincoln suspends habeas corpus

    Lincoln suspends habeas corpus

    Lincoln abolishes the rule of habeas corpus to give military authorities the power to decide. These authorities would use their judgement to see punishment as fit.
  • Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy

    Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy

    It became the capital of the south after deliberation for strategy. Formerly the capital was Montgomery, AL.
  • First Battle of Bull Run is fought

    First Battle of Bull Run is fought

    This battle was also know as "the battle of the first Manassas" This battle was fought 30 miles west of Washington D.C.
  • Jefferson Davis elected President of the Confederacy

    Jefferson Davis elected President of the Confederacy

    Jefferson Davis was elected president of the confederate states, not the whole of America. He already was serving as temporary president for almost a year.
  • The Merrimack and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast

    The Merrimack and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast

    Also known as Battle of Hampton Roads. The was a naval battle at the Virginia harbor in James River.
  • Battle of Shiloh

    Battle of Shiloh

    This was an early battle in the Western Theater. It was located in southwest Tennessee.
  • Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia

    Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia

    This was decided during a battle in Richmond defending from Union forces. He was originally called the commander of the Potomac.
  • Battle of Antietam

    Battle of Antietam

    This was also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg. Also known for being one of the deadliest one day battles in american history.
  • Battle of Fredericksburg

    Battle of Fredericksburg

    This was a huge defeat for the Union army. Most residents from the battle chose to flee.
  • Emancipation Proclamation is announced

    Emancipation Proclamation is announced

    This was announced by Abraham Lincoln 3 years into the Civil War. This document "freed the slaves"
  • Battle of Chancellorsville

    Battle of Chancellorsville

    This was fought near the village of Chancellorsville. This was one of the major battles of the Civil War.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Battle of Gettysburg

    This battle contained the largest amount of casualties in the entirety of the war. This battle is often described as the war's turning point.
  • Confederates surrender at Vicksburg

    Confederates surrender at Vicksburg

    The garrison surrendered on this date. After Grant prepared for this battle for 40 days.
  • New York City draft riots

    New York City draft riots

    This was during the time known as draft week. This caused violent disturbances in lower Manhattan.
  • Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address1

    Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address1

    Lincoln gave this short speech after being at the Gettysburg cemetery. He dedicated the battlefield for this purpose, and delivering the Gettysburg address.
  • Atlanta is captured

    Atlanta is captured

    Otherwise known as the Battle of Atlanta. The union troops captured Atlanta after Grant's strategic plans to win this battle.
  • Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election

    Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election

    The electoral votes were 212-12. The popular vote was 55%, making Lincoln the obvious winner.
  • Sherman begins his March to the Sea

    Sherman begins his March to the Sea

    Sherman begins his expedition across Georgia. In doing so he pulled back his supply lines.
  • Congress passes the 13th Amendment

    Congress passes the 13th Amendment

    The 13th amendment which "abolishes slavery" is passed on this day. The war is over and finally slavery was gone.
  • Freedmen's Bureau is created

    Freedmen's Bureau is created

    Lincoln signs a bill creating the Bureau of Refugees. The federal agency overlooked this transition from slaves to free people.
  • Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

    Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address

    He delivered this after being reelected president of the US. He spoke in front of many at the US capitol building.
  • Richmond falls to the Union Army

    Richmond falls to the Union Army

    This was when the confederacy was falling and nearing the end of its time. The capital of the confederacy has fallen.
  • Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox

    Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox

    Lee surrenders his 28,000 troops to Grant and effectively ending the civil war. Scattered resistance occurred even after the war ended but soon came to a stop.
  • President Lincoln Assassinated

    President Lincoln Assassinated

    Lincoln was murdered in ford's theater in Washington D.C. A man named John Wilkes Booth
  • John Wilkes Booth is killed

    John Wilkes Booth is killed

    The COD was a gunshot wound. He was killed by one of Lincoln's assassins.

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