Civil War Virtual Timeline

By AlaynaTorres

  • Kansas Nebraska act passed

    allowed terriitories to decide on slavery through popular sovrentary . led to violent conflict in "bleeding Kansas "

  • first battle of bull run is fought

    first major battle confederate victory shocked the north

  • New York city draft riots

    violent protests over the union draft and racial tensions

  • republican party is formed

    founded in opposition to the expansion of slavery , would become Abraham Lincoln's party

  • Robert e Lee surrenders at Appomattox

    marked the official end of the civil war

  • Abraham Lincoln elected president

    his anti-slavery stance caused southern states to begin seceding

  • south Carolina votes to secede from the U.S.

    first state to secede setting the stage for the civil war

  • Jefferson Davis elected president of the confederacy

    chosen as leader of the confederate states of america

  • confederate forces fire on fort Sumter

    marked the start of the civil war

  • Lincoln suspends habeas corpus

    suspends constitutional rights to control rebellion and dissent

  • Richmond becomes capital of the confederacy

    moved from Montgomery Alabama due to strategic importance

  • Sherman begins his march to the sea

    devastates the south economy and will to fight

  • emancipation proclamation announced

    freed slaves in confederate states changing the wars purpose

  • the Merrimack and the monitor fight

    ironclad ships battle to a draw revolutionized naval warfare

  • battle of Shiloh

    union victory in Tennessee with heavy casualties on both sides

  • Robert e Lee named commander of the arm northern Virginia

    became the confederacy top general

  • confederate forces surrender at Vicksburg

    union gained control of the Mississippi river

  • battle of antietam

    bloodiest one day battle gave Lincoln confidence to issue the emancipation proclamation

  • Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan

    re elected despite war time tensions ensuring continuation of war effort

  • battle of fredricksburg

    major confederate victory with heavy union losses

  • Richmond falls to the union army

    confederate capital captured signaling impending end of the war

  • battle of Chancellorsville

    lee's greatest victory but stonewall Jackson was fatally wounded

  • battle of Gettysburg

    turning point of the war major union victory

  • Lincoln gives Gettysburg address

    honored the fallen and reaffirmed national purpose

  • freedoms bureau is created

    helped former slaves transition to freedom with education and aid

  • Atlanta is captured

    major union victory key to Lincoln re election

  • congress passes the 13th amendment

    abolished slavery in the United States

  • Lincoln gives his second inaugural address

    called for unity, peace, and healing after the war

  • president Lincoln is assassinated

    shot by John wilkes booth at fords theater died the next morning

  • John wilkes booth is killed

    shot by union soldiers during manhunt in Virginia