-
South Carolina votes to secede from the United States
In November 1860, the South Carolina General Assembly called for a "Convention of the People of South Carolina" to consider seceding from the United States. Then on December 17, the succession convention voted unanimously to secede from the United States. -
Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address
Abraham Lincoln's first inaugural address was part of his taking of the oath of office for his first term as President of the United States. His speech was mainly addressed to Southern people and he wanted to state his policies and wants for when he was president. -
Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter
After President Lincoln announced that the Union was going to resupply Fort Sumter, Confederate General P.G.T Beauregard bombarded Fort Sumter and started a battle. After 34 hours of exchanged artillery fire, the Union surrendured the fort. -
Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy
The Confederacy decided to switch their capital from Montgomery, Alabama to Richmond, Virginia. This was because Virginia was more strategically important to the Confederacy. -
First Battle of Bull Run is fought
The First Battle of Bull Run was also known as the Battle of Manassas. It marked the first major land battle of the Civil War. Union and Confederate soldiers fought near Manassas Junction, Virginia. -
Jefferson Davis is elected President of the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America. These were the states that supported slavery and didn't want to get rid of it. He was elected to serve for 6 years. -
The Merrimack and the Monitor fight off the Virginia coast
This was also known as the Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack. There were naval engagement at Hampton Roads, Virginia. It was notable as history's first duel between warships and was the beginning of a new era of naval warfare. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was also known as the Battle of Pittburg Landing. It took place from April 6-April 6, 1862 and it was one of the major early engagements of the Civil War. The battle began when Confederate soldiers surprised the Union soldiers by attacking them. -
Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
Robert E. Lee assumed command in a battle to defend Richmond, Virginia from Union soldiers. His army was originally called the Confederate Army of the Potomac, but they were renamed the Army of Northern Virginia. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam, aka the Battle of Sharpsburg, happened at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland. It was one of the battles where General Robert E. Lee was trying to invade the north. It was also the bloodiest single day in American history. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle was fought in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside commanded the Union and Gen. Robert E. Lee commanded the Confederacy. The Confederacy won this battle. -
Emancipation Proclamation is announced
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation as the US approached its third year in the Civil War. The proclamation declared that all slaves would be freed and slavery would be no more. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a big Conferate victory during the Civil War. During the battle, Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson was mortally wounded. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a big turning point in the Civil War. There were over 50,000 casualties and the battle lasted three days. It was the boodiest single battle of the war. -
Confederates surrender at Vicksburg
Confederate General John C. Pemberton surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Vicksburg, Mississippi. The town of Vicksburg didn't celebrate the Fourth of July for 81 years. -
New York City draft riots
The New York City Riots occured when the working-class New Yorkers became very angry over a new federal draft law during the war. The draft law was that all men between 20 and 45 years old were liable to join the military. The riots happened over the course of five days and they were some of the bloodiest and most destructive rioting in US history. -
Lincoln suspends habeas corpus
Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus between Washington DC and Philadelphia, so that the military had the power to silence dissenters and rebels. Because of this, commanders could also arrest and detain individuals who were deemed a threat to the military. -
Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Gettysburg Civil War Cemetery. The other speaker at the event was Edward Everett, who was a former dean of Harvard University. He spoke for two hours. -
Atlanta is captured
Union General William Tecumseh Sherman laid seige to Atlanta, Georgia. This shelled vicilians and cut off their supply lines. The Confederates retreated and destroyed the city's munitions. -
Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election
Abraham Lincoln won against George B. McClellan in the 20th quadrennial presidential election. He won by a wide margin of 212-21 with 55% of the popular vote. -
Sherman begins his march to the sea
Union General William Tecumseh Sherman's March to the sea campaign began in order to frighten the people of Georgia and intimidate them into abandoning the Confederacy. He began his march by burning a part of Atlanta. The Union soldiers didn't destroy any towns, but they stole food and livestock. They also burned some houses and barns of people who tried to fight back. -
Congress passes the 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment abolished slavery in the US. The House of Representatives voted in favor of it 119 to 56. Then, President Abraham Lincoln signed a Joint Resolution which submitted the 13th Amendment to the states. -
Freedmen's Bureau is created
President Abraham Lincoln signs a bill creating the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands (Freedmen's Bureau). This federal agency oversaw the difficult transition of African Americans from slavery to freedom. -
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
Abraham Lincoln spoke his second inaugural address at his second inauguration. He spoke of forgiveness and how the North and South needed to now unite. -
Richmond falls to the Union Army
The Confederate capital, Richmond, fell to the Union and this was a sign that the Confederacy was nearing its final days. -
Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox
Robert E. Lee surrendered his 28,000 Confederate troops to General Ulysses Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. This ended the Civil War. -
President Lincoln Assassination
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, who was a famous actor and was part of the Confederacy. He was assassinated in Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C five days after the Civil War ended. -
John Wilkes Booth is killed
John Wilkes Booth is killed by Union soldiers when they track him down in Virginia two weeks after he killed Abraham Lincoln. Booth was 26 years old and he was one of the most famous actors in the country.