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Texas Declares Independence
The free and independent Republic of Texas was officially declared when 59 delegates approved the Texas Declaration of Independence. Since its independence, Texas had sought to join the U.S. as a state, however the process was delayed, because the north didn’t want Texas to join the Union as a slave state since it would tip the balance of power in Congress towards the south. This conflict between the north and south of who should have the power/say in things is carried into the Civil War. -
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The Mexican-American War
The war was fought because of a disputed boundary line between Texas and the United States. President Polk antagonized Mexico to start the war when he ordered soilders into the Nueces strip. The U.S won and got the territory that would become California, Texas, New Mexico, Utah, Arizona, Nevada, plus parts of Colorado and Wyoming. This new territory caused conflict over whether slavery should expand and continue in the west which continued into and during the Civil War. -
South Carolina Succededing from the Union
After the election of Abraham Lincoln South Carolina called a state convention because they feared he would get rid of slavery. The delegates voted to remove SC from the union starting a trend that 6 states soon followed and then proceeded to create the confederacy along with 4 other states who succeeded a little later. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina would soon fight the union as the confederacy in the Civil War. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Apr 12, 1861 – Apr 13, 1861
The battle of Fort Sumter was the official beginning of the Civil war when the conflict between the northerners and southern finally boiled over. It would soon bring the deaths of more than 620,000 Americans, a war that would take 4 years to end, and (sort of a civil rights) movement that freed 6.9 million enslaved people. It was a confederate victory where union major Robert Anderson surrendered Fort Sumter to Brig. Gen. P.G.T Beauregard. -
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The Civil War
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First Bull Run
2 hours long
This was the first full scale battle between the North and South in the Civil War. It was the battle that made the two sides realize that the war wasn’t going to be easily won and bloody. There was an estimated 4,878 causalities in total and was another confederate victory. This battle gained the nickname “picnic battle” because women, children, men, and even congressmen came to see the predicted easy union victory. They even brought along picnic baskets and opera glasses to watch. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam is the deadliest one day battle in U.S history. It was a Union victory, and gave Lincoln the confidence to announce the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. The purpose of the proclamation was to say if the rebels did not stop fighting and rejoin the union by January 1rst, 1863 ,all slave in confederate states would go free. The Battle of Antietam also ended the confederates army’s first attempt of invasion into the North. -
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Battle of Vicksburg
Vicksburg was critical to gain control over for both the Union and the confederates. With it the union could seperate the confederacy in half and disrupt their line for both communication and supplies. The battle consisted of a 47 day siege led by Gen. Ulysses S. Grant and was another Union victory. It marked a turning point in the war in favor of the Union and with the battle of Gettysburg ending just a day before. -
New York City Draft Riots
The NYC Draft Riots occurred because of the anger of working class New Yorkers inflicted by the the conscription law. Every eligible man was drafted into the lottery, but the law discriminatory affected the working class. If someone had the money they could pay a fee or hire someone to be a substitute instead. This allowed the wealth to get out of going to war. Riots caused by the draft occurred in other cities, including Detroit and Boston, but weren’t as bad as the 5 day long riots in NY. -
Appotomax Courthouse
The Battle of Appotomax Courthouse marked an end to the Civil War. The surrender given to Ulysses S. Grant by Robert E. Lee sparked a wave of confederate surrenders througout their remaining territory. The official ceremony of Lee’s surrender was held on April 12th disbanding the Army of Northern Virginia that Lee commanded. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was Assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while he attended “Our American Cousin”. He was assassinated in the belief that the Confederacy could be restored. Lincoln’s assassinated kicked off the era of Presidental restoration as immediately after his death Vice President Andrew Johnson became president. With his plan confederate states who promised to uphold the 13th admendment, swear loyalty to the union, and pay off their war debt were forgiven. His main goal was just to rebuild the Union.