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Civil War Timeline/Baker
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Lincoln elected 16th President
Abraham Lincoln was elected 16th President of the US who had hopes of ending slavery in all states. -
Secession wanted in southern states
Seven senators and 23 representatives from the southern states issue a manifesto urging secession and the organization of a Southern Confederacy. -
Secession Convention meets
The first ever Secession Convention met in Columbia, South Carolina. -
South Carolina secedes
South Carolina seceded from the Union which caused Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas all to secded as well. -
Maj.-Gen. Anderson moves troops
Major-General Robert Anderson moved his troops from Ft. Moultrie in Charleston, SC, to Ft. Sumter. -
Jefferson Davis elected
Jefferson Davis was elected as President of the Confederacy which was the name given to the southern states that seceded from the US. -
April 12, 1861 President Davis declared war
Southern troops began firing at the fort, but no one died. 4,000 rounds were fired without any casualties. -
Robert E. Lee becomes commander
With the hope of winning the war, President Davis chose Robert E. Lee to lead the Virginian troops and eventually lead the entire Confederacy troops. -
Maj. Gen. George McClellan becomes commander
Maj. Gen. George McClellan was appointed as first commander of the Union forces. -
Ulysses S. Grant promoted
After Lincoln fired Gen. McClellan for having the "slows," Ulysses S. Grant was promoted to Brigadier General. -
Fort Henry captured by Grant
Fort Henry in Tennessee was captured by General Grant and the Union army. Grant earned his nickname, "Unconditional Surrender." -
Battle of Fort Donelson
Union troops deafeated Confederate troops behind Brig. Gen, Ulysses S. Grant which gave him a promotion to Major General and earned him the nickname, "Unconditional Surrender." -
Lincoln relieves McClellan as General
President Lincoln relieved Gen. McClellan because he sufferred from the "slows" and had the oppurtunity to end the war multiple times, but couldn't get the job done. -
Stonewall Jackson defeats Union at Manassas Junction
Gen. Stonewall Jackson defeated Union troops at the Second Bull Run where the Union believed they had him trapped, but managed to hold his ground and pull out a victory. -
Battle of Antietam
Bloodiest single day battle which had more than 26,000 casualties. Gen. McClellan's men found Gen. Lee's plans wrapped around cigars in the woods. -
January 1, 1863 Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation was passed which freed all slaves living in free states because the South didn't belong to the US at the time. -
Lincoln signs Conscription Act
President Lincoln signed the first Conscription Act which produced the first wartime draft in United States history. -
Battle of Gettysburg begins
The Battle of Gettysburg begins which became the bloodiest battle in the war and resulted in a Union victory. -
Gen. Lee offers to resign
After the Union army had defeated Gen. Lee and his troops at Gettysburg and Vicksburg, he offered his resignation to President Davis, but Davis rejected it. -
Lincoln reads "Gettysburg Address"
After the Battle of Gettysburg, President Lincoln gave his "Gettsyburg Address" speech which honored the brave men who died in the battle and reminded the nation why they were fighting this war in the first place. -
Gen. Grant given complete control
President Lincoln gave General Grant complete control of all of the armies of the US. Gen. William T. Sheman became commander in the west. -
Sherman begins destructive war path
Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman believed that in order to win the war, you must destroy southern materials and their psychological will to wage war and tore through southern states destroying everything and everyone in his path. -
McClellan to run against Lincoln
The Democrats nominate George McClellan to run against the Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln. -
Atlanta is captured by Sherman
While on General William T. Sherman's destructive war path, Union troops finally captured their target, the city of Atlanta. -
Lincoln re-elected as President
President Lincoln was scared that because of the war, he wouldn't be re-elected, but a couple of victories won by Ulysses S. Grant got Lincoln the necessary votes to be re-elected. -
13th Amendment is passed
US Congress approved the Thirteenth Amendment to the US Constitution, to abolish slavery. -
Confederacy Capital is captured
General Grant defeated the Confederates at Petersburg and the capital, Richmond, was evacuated. The next day Union troops captured Richmond and put the American flag on the city. -
Confederacy surrenders
General Robert E. Lee finally surrenders to the Union army at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. -
Lincoln gets shot
John Wilkes Booth shot President Lincoln while watching a play at Ford's Theater and is immediately rushed to medical help. On April 15, the President died at 7:22 in the morning. -
Remaining troops surrender
Remaining Confederate troops finally surrender thus ending the American Civil War. 620,000+ were killed in this war.
