Events of the Civil War

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  • Conclusion of the Mexican War

    At the end of the Mexican War, America ceded western territories. The question of whether new territories would be admitted as free or slave states caused a problem.Congress passed the Compromise of 1850 in order to resolve this issue. It madeCalifornia a free state and allowed the people to pick to pick within the state. It created the idea of popular sovereignty: the ability of a state to decide whether it would allow slavery.

  • Fugitive Slave Act

    This act forced any federal official who did not arrest a runaway slave liable to pay a fine. It said that runaway slaves that were captured must be brought back to their master. It was the most controversial part of the Compromise of 1850 as abolitionists increased their fights against slavery. This act increased the Underground Railroad.

  • Harriet Beecher Stowe and Uncle Tom's Cabin

    Written in 1852 by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Stowe was an abolitionist who wrote this book to show the corruption of slavery. Northerners viewed slavery different after reading this book. It helped further support abolition and even Abraham Lincoln recognized that this book was one of the events that led to the outbreak of the Civil War.

  • Bleeding Kansas

    The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed. It allowed Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide using popular sovereignty whether they wanted to be free or slave. By 1856, Kansas has become a violence state with pro- and anti-slavery forces arguing over the state's future. It was nicknamed 'Bleeding Kansas'. This was just a part of the violence that led to the Civil War

  • Sumner-Brooks Affair

    Charles Sumner gave a two day speech on the Senate floor. He denounced the South for crimes against Kansas and called out Senator Andrew Brooks of South Carolina. Brooks beat Sumner with his cane severely crippling him.

  • Dred Scott Decision

    A missouri slave sued for his freedom after claiming that his four-year stay in the northern portion of the Louisiana Territory that was called free land after the Missouri Compromise released him from slavery. The Supreme Court objected and said that he could not sue due to his status as property, not a citizen.

  • John Brown: Harper's Ferry Raid

    John Brown was a radical abolitionist who had been involved in anti-slavery violence in Kansas. On October 16, 1859, he led a group and seized the U.S arsenal located in Harper's Ferry, VA. His goal was to start a slave uprising using the captured weapons and killing slave owners to free the slaves. Brown and his men were surrounded and eventually killed or capture. This event was one more in the growing abolitionist movement that helped lead to open warfare in 1861.

  • Election of Abraham Lincoln

    With the election of Republican candidate Abraham Lincoln on November 6, 1860, South Carolina followed by six other states seceded from the Union. Lincoln agreed with the majority of the Republican Party that the South was becoming too powerful and made it part of their platform that slavery would not be extended to any new territories or states added to the union.

  • Battle of Fort Sumter

    When the Fort Sumter was resupplied on April 12th, Confederate troops began shelling it from the mainland. The bombardment lasted for 34 hours striaght, until the Union soldiers surrendered. Surprisingly, no soldiers on either side were killed by enemy fire.

  • First Battle of Bull Run

    The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle near Manassas, Virginia. Union forces under the command of General Irvin McDowell tried to surprise attack Confederate troops. This is the battle that earned "stonewall" Jackson his name.

  • Merrimack and the Monitor

    The Battle of Hampton Roads was the first battle between two ironclad ships, the Monitor and the Merrimack. Neither side was declaired the winnerr but it marks the technological advancements of iron clad covered boats which made boats durable and strong. The Merrrimack belonged to the confederacy and the Monitor belonged to the union.

  • Union Captures New Orleans

    Union forces capturing New Orleans was a major turning point in the war. New Orleans was the Confederacy’s largest and most beneficial city. It was located on the Mississippi River which served as a great trading location with a strong economical port.

  • Battle of Antietam

    The first battle of the war to take place on the Union side.Marked the bloodiest day in the American Civil War, with a total of over 23,000 casualties including more than 4,800 killed.Turning point in the war as Lee was forced out of Maryland and was unable to recieve support from foreign alliances.

  • Emancipation Proclamation (Abraham Lincoln)

    The Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln onJanuary 1, 1863. It proclaimed the freedom of the slaves in the South. This enraged the south and turned this into a total war to destroy the Old South.

  • Battle of Vicksburg

    Union victory in the battle of Vicksburg gave them control of the Mississippi River. It also split the Confederacy in two. It was a major loss for he confederacy and was a turning point in the war.

  • Battle of Gettysburg

    The bloodiest battle of the war, with a total of over 46,000 casualties. It lasted 3 days. It was know as the turning point in the war.

  • Lincoln's Plan (10%)

    In December 1863, Lincoln proposed the 10% plan even though the war had not come to a conclusion. He strongly believed the union was going to win the Civil war. He came up with the Proclamtion of Amnesty and Reconstruction. 10% of voters had to take an oath in the confederate states that supported the north in order to be re-enstated as U.S citizens.

  • Siege of Atlanta

    This battle was fought from May 7-Sept 2 in Northwestern Georgia and around Atlanta. The union won this battle. The Southern forces fell in Atlanta and this began Sherman's March of the Sea.

  • Re-election of President Abraham Lincoln

    The victory in Atlanta against Sherman helped Lincoln’s popularity. It allowed him to win the re-election in 1864 and become the president once again. This was a very important moment in the war.

  • Johnson's Plan and the 13th Amendment

    The 13th amendment was proposed through Johnson's Plan. Johnson had become the new president after Lincoln was assasinated and instituted more on Lincoln's Plan. He added that each state needed a new state constituion and passed the 13th amendment. The 13th amendment ended slavery and freed slaves.

  • The Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse

    General Lee’s troops were soon surrounded on April 7. Grant called Lee to surrender. Lee surrendered on April 9 after meeting with General grant at the Appomattox Courthouse. They then agreed on the terms of surrender.

  • President Lincoln's Assassination

    Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in Fords theatre in Washington. He justified his action by claiming he would be helping the south. The South disliked Lincoln's attempts and beliefs against slavery and were angered at the Emacipation Proclamtion being passed.

  • Tenure of Office Act

    This act forbade the president from removing civil officers without consent of the senate. It was put into action during the presidency of Andrew Johnson. Congress tried to impeach Johnson in 1857 because he was refusing laws of congress and wanted to remove him without removing him being able to remove other officials.