Civil War Virtual Timeline

  • Republican Party is formed

    Republican Party is formed

    The Republican Party is formed from the remains of the Whig party.
  • Kansas-Nebraska Act passed

    Kansas-Nebraska Act passed

    This act repealed the Missouri Compromise and allowed for Popular Sovereignty to take its place
  • Abraham Lincoln elected president

    Abraham Lincoln elected president

    Abraham Lincoln wins the election of 1860. Being anti-slavery, the South gets enraged and secedes.
  • South Carolina votes to secede from the United States

    South Carolina votes to secede from the United States

    South Carolina votes and declares independence from the United States. Other states follow soon after.
  • Lincoln gives his second inaugural address

    Lincoln gives his second inaugural address

    After re-election, Lincoln declares slavery to be the main cause of the war.
  • Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy

    Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy

    After seceding the Confederate capital is placed in Richmond, Virginia.
  • Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter

    Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter

    The shot that was heard around the world. This was the first attack of the Civil War and is collectively considered to be the reason the war began.
  • Lincoln suspends habeas corpus

    Lincoln suspends habeas corpus

    Lincoln suspends Habeas Corpus in order to put down riots and rebellions with military force due to unsafe conditions rising.
  • First Battle of Bull Run is fought

    First Battle of Bull Run is fought

    The first major battle of the Civil War.
  • Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederacy

    Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederacy

    Jefferson Davis is elected president of the Confederate States of America.
  • The Merrimack and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast

    The Merrimack and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast

    The first ironclad warship fight to ever commence.
  • Battle of Shiloh

    Battle of Shiloh

    Battle that allowed Union troops into the South.
  • Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia

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

    Robert E. Lee is given the position of commander. In the future, he will be one of the leading generals of the Confederate army.
  • Battle of Antietam

    Battle of Antietam

    Battle during the war. Proved that the Union could stand against the Confederates.
  • Battle of Fredericksburg

    Battle of Fredericksburg

    Another massive battle of the Civil War. Massive casualties on both sides. First instance of urban combat.
  • Emancipation Proclamation is announced

    Emancipation Proclamation is announced

    During the third year of the Civil War, it is announced that from this point forward, all slaves would be freed.
  • Battle of Chancellorsville

    Battle of Chancellorsville

    Another major battle of the Civil War. Considered to be one of Robert E. Lee's greatest victories, and proved the Confederacy stood a chance.
  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Battle of Gettysburg

    A three day long battle during the start of July. More people died during that battle than any other battle.
  • Confederates surrender at Vicksburg

    Confederates surrender at Vicksburg

    Massive parts of the Confederate army were surrendered to the United States.
  • New York City draft riots

    New York City draft riots

    Having a severe lack of available troops, the Union began drafting civilians into war.
  • Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address

    Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address

    After the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln makes a speech on the battlefield honoring the soldiers who died in the fight. National military cemetery is formed.
  • Atlanta is captured

    Atlanta is captured

    A major city in the South, the Confederates lost most of their ammunition and military power.
  • Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election

    Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election

    In the election of 1864, the war was nearly over. Lincoln wins the election in order to continue to win the war. Shortly after he is elected, the war ends.
  • Sherman begins his March to the Sea

    Sherman begins his March to the Sea

    William T. Sherman destroys almost all of the industry in the South.
  • Congress passes the 13th Amendment

    Congress passes the 13th Amendment

    This amendment abolished slavery in the United States.
  • Freedman’s Bureau is created

    Freedman’s Bureau is created

    Established a Bureau to protect escaped slaves.
  • Richmond falls to the Union Army

    Richmond falls to the Union Army

    The Union captures the capital of the Confederacy.
  • Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox

    Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox

    The last major battle of the Civil War. Lee surrenders his army of Northern Virginia.
  • President Lincoln assassinated

    President Lincoln assassinated

    President Lincoln is assassinated by confederate John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC.
  • John Wilkes Booth is killed

    John Wilkes Booth is killed

    John Wilkes Booth is killed by Union soldiers after a long time on the run.