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Civil War Timeline
Civil War Timeline -
Democratic Convention Ended Without Nominee
Democratic Party met in Charleston, Virginia for the first time to discuss their nominee. This convention ended without one selected. -
Consitutional Union Party Decides a Nominee
Constitutional Union Party holds their first ever convention. John Bell, a Tennessee slaveholder was elected for their presidential nominee. Edward Everett, former Harvard University President was elected as the running mate. -
Republican National Convention
The second National Convention was held for the Republican party. The results of this was Lincoln being nominated. -
Democratic Convention Nominee
The Democratic Party nominated Stephen Douglas, American Politician as their presidential candidate. Herschel Johnson was his running mate. Douglas was running against Lincoln. -
Southern State Representative
The Southern states felt like they were not being represented through this election. They nominated John Breckinridge to help, who is a supporter of slave rights. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected for President
Lincoln was elected President of the U.S. and won the November election in 1860. He was running against Steven Douglas of the Democratic Party. -
1860 Presidential Election
The election resulted in Lincoln having 180 electoral votes, Douglas with 12, Breckinridge with 72, and and Bell with 39. This election fully established the U.S. parties for being Republican and Democratic. -
First Secession Convention
In South Carolina, the first secession convention was held when a group of people from S.C. met to decide whether they should stay, or break away from the United States/the Union. The decision was unanimous to secede (break away). -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union.
S.C. was the first out of the eleven slave states to secede from the Union. S.C. also wrote a document from the Federal Union describing in detail the reasons for their secession. -
South Carolina's Reasons for Leaving
A document called, The Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union, listed all of South Carolina's reasons for wanting to secede from the Union. Reasons like paying tax, slavery, etc were some examples. -
5 States Secede from Union in January
South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana seceded from the Union in the same month of January. These states seceded due to different reasons all under the lack of support for the government and their laws. -
Confederate States of America
A total of eleven states had seceded from the Union. They became known as The Confederate States of America in February, 1861. South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and lastly on June 8, Tennessee all had officially seceded. -
President of the Confederate States
The people of the Confederate States of America agreed to place Jefferson Davis as their President. Davis was an American Politician who was highly respected and served for the Democratic Party. -
Abraham Lincoln Becomes President
Lincoln becomes the 16th President of the United States. He represented the Republican Party. -
Civil War Begins; Fort Sumter
The Confederates open fire with 50 cannons at 4:30am, on Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Lasting nearly 36 hours, the federal fort surrendered, leaving The Civil War at just the beginning. -
Lincoln Calls for Recapture
After Fort Sumter battle, Lincoln called for the Northern states to send their troops to recapture the forts, and to protect the Union. The North would not go down without putting up a fight. -
Tennessee Last to Secede
Tennessee seceded from the Union. This was the last state out of the eleven to secede. -
Battle of Big Bethel
This was the first land battle of the Civil War, which took place in Virginia. The outcome was a Confederate victory. -
The First Battle of the Bull Run
First major battle of the Civil War. 35,000 Union troops clashed with the Confederate troops of 20,000 along a small river in Virginia, known as the Bull Run. The Confederates came out with the victory. -
Battle of Wilson's Creek
In the second major Civil War battle, the Confederacy captured the Victory from the Union. Also, during this battle the first Union general to be killed in action was Nathaniel Lyon. -
Battle of Mill Springs
This battle took place in Kentucky. The Union won, leaving the Confederacy with doubled the causalities. -
Surrender of Tennessee Forts
Within ten days Fort Henry and Fort Donelson from Tennessee both surrendered to the Union. With these surrenders, it is how Ulysses S. Grant was nicknamed "Unconditional Surrender Grant". -
Jefferson Davis
Davis was inaugurated on February 22, 1862. This officially made him the first, and only President of the Confederate States of America during this time, up until 1865. -
The Battle of Shiloh
This battle was fought in the Western Theater of the Civil War held in Tennessee, and was the first battle to witness a high rate of over 23,000 causalities. With a Union victory, it lasted two days. -
First Battle of Memphis
This naval battle was fought on the Mississippi River. It was located directly above Memphis, leaving the battle to be named after it. The Union won. -
Battle of the Second Bull Run
One year after the previous Battle of the Bull Run, in Virginia the second took place. There were over 20,000 causalities, much more than the first battle. The Confederates won. -
Allegheny Arsenal Explosion
As many women worked to make ammunition for the Union troops, in Pittsburgh during the Battle of Antietam, an explosion went off. This was a deadly explosino and was one of the worst setbacks for Pittsburgh and Union troops during the Civil War. -
Battle of Antietam
This was the bloodiest, single day battle in the Civil War. The Union had 12,400 casualties, and the Confederates had 10,320 casualties. The Union came out with the victory during this battle. -
New Commander of the Army
Lincoln fires General McClellan because his work was too slow and not getting them anywhere. He replaces him with General Ambrose E. Burnside for the new Commander of the Army. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle took place in Virginia and lasted from December 11 - 15. The Confederates claimed the victory. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln used this proclamation to declare freedom to all slaves within the ten Confederate States. 3.1 million out of the 4 million slaves were freed. -
Joseph Hooker; appointed Commander
Lincoln appointed Joseph Hooker as Commander of the Army of the Potomac, gaining his nickname, "Fighting Joe". Ambrose Burnside was replaced by him. -
Congress passes Conscription Act
Males between the ages of 20 and 45 could now be enlisted/drafted in the military services at any time. Congress passed this act in order to gain help from anyone in order to fight. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle began on April 30th, and lasted until May 6th, 1863 and took place in Spotsylvania, Virginia. There were 30,500 casualties leaving the Confederates with the victory. -
The Gettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign, lead by Confederate army leader, General Robert E. Lee, decided for a military invasion which took place in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania through various battles. In result, many lives were lost, battles fought and lead to the of the Confederate offense, leading to a Union victory. June 9 - July 23, 1863. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
This battle took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and had the most causalities compared to any of the other land battles during the Civil War. There were 46,286 casualties, leaving the victory to the Union, on July 3, 1863. -
NYC Anti-Draft Riots
Riots broke out in NYC and there was the murder of blacks by poor innocent whites. At least 120 people including children were killed during these riots. This was known as the Dark Week, and lasted about four days. -
Battle of Chickamauga
This two day battle took place in Georgia and was known as being the battle with the second most casualties for a total of 34,624 from both sides. This was the largest Confederate victory in the Western Theater. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln delivers his two minute speech known as the Gettysburg Address. This speech recognized the Battlefield as a National Cemetery. -
Battle of Chattanooga in Tennessee
Two significant battles of Lookout Mountain, and Missionary Ridge in Tennessee lead this battle to be called the Battle of Chattanooga. The Confederates were pushed back to Georgia, leaving a total of 12,491 casualties between the Union and Confederates, with an important Union victory. -
First Successful Submarine Attack
Just outside of Charleston, South Carolina, the CSS H.L. Hunley submarine of the Confederate States of America, attacked the USS Houstonic from the Union. The CSS H.L Hunley won the victory after the Houstonic was struck and fell apart. This became the first successful submarine attack in the Civil War. -
Camp Sumter Prison Camp
In Georgia, this prison camp was opened to hold all the "bad guys". Within the camp, it was known for overcrowding and extremely high death rates. The camp ran for about fourteen months, and within these months 13,000 out of 45,000 people died. -
Ulysses S. Grant - Lieutenant General
Lincoln requested Ulysses S. Grant to receive the higher ranking of Lieutenant General of the Union. There was no other general who had contributed more to the Civil War and for the defeat of the Confederacy than he had. -
Red River Campaign
The Red River Campaign began. While fighting numerous battles along the Red River in Louisiana, the Union's goal was to strike down the Confederacy. The result is of a Confederacy victory. -
Battle of Pleasant Hill
This battle took place in Louisiana and formed part of the Red River Campaign. The goal was for the Union to move in and take over the state capital, Shreveport. The Confederates won this battle. -
Lincoln Nominated Again
Abraham Lincoln is nominated for his second term in office in the presidential election as a candidate. He is apart of the Republican Party. -
Second Battle of Memphis
Two years after the first Battle of Memphis in Tennessee, the second occurred and lasted one day. The Confederates won. -
Running against Lincoln
George B. McClellan was nominated for President to run again former President Lincoln. He ran for the Democratic party. -
Lincoln Re-elected
Against George B. McClellan, Lincoln was re-elected president. He received 212 out of the 233 electoral votes, had all states votes except for three, while receiving 55% of the electoral vote. -
Battle of Nashville, Tennessee
This two day battle represented the end of the threats to Tennessee. The result of this battle was a Union victory. -
13th Amendment Passed by Congress
Congress passed the 13th Amendment. This amendment states, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction". -
Lincoln Inaugurated for 2nd Term
Lincoln was inaugurated as president for the second time. He gave a second Inaugural Address during the last few days of the Civil War to describe his ideas for being President. John Wilkes Booth listened and determined his hatred for Lincoln. -
Battle of Five Forks
This battle took place in Dinwiddie County, Virginia. There were over 3,000 casualties, and left the result of the war as a Union victory -
Surrendered
Robert E. Lee with the Confederate army surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant with the Union army. This occurred at the Appomattox Courthouse. This war lasted 4 years long. -
Lincoln Assassinated
President Abraham Lincoln was shot and killed by a man named John Wilkes Booth. Lincoln was attending a show at Ford's Theater where he died. -
Andrew Johnson Becomes President
Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Andrew Johnson, Vice President to Lincoln becomes President in his place. -
John Wilkes Booth Killed
The man who murdered President Lincoln in a theater, was tracked down by Union soldiers just days later. Booth was shot and killed in a tobacco born in Virginia. -
Jefferson Davis Captured
Davis was captured by the Union near Irwinville, Georgia. He was held in imprisonment for two years and was finally released on bail from the help of other Notherners in May 1867. -
Final Battle; Battle of Palmito Ranch
This battle was known as the last land battle of the Civil War. The Confederates claimed the victory, gaining Brownsville, Texas where the Union could not longer occupy. -
13th Amendment Ratified
Congress passed the 13th amendment to end slavery on January 31, 1865 and it finally became ratified on this date. This freed millions of slaves. -
Lincoln's Birthday
After Lincoln was assassinated the previous year, his birthday was formally celebrated to commemorate him. This event was held in Washington D.C. and President Andrew Johnson takes part in it. -
Freedmen's Bureau Bill Vetoed
President Andrew Johnson did not want this bill to pass, so he vetoed it on this date. This bill was closely in relation to the Civil Rights Act of 1866, which Johnson also vetoed, until Congress was able to override it. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866 Vetoed
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 was created to protect the rights of U.S. citizens after the Civil War. President Andrew Johnson vetoed this law. -
Congress buys Ford's Theater
Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theater on April 14, 1865. Congress offered $100,000 to buy this theater, and house the Army Medical Museum, the Office of the Surgeon General, and War Department records on this date until 1893. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
Congress overrides the veto made by President Andrew Johnson for the Civil Rights Act of 1866 to become official. This law was the first U.S. federal law to define that all citizens are equally protected by law. This Act also defined citizenship. -
Winfield Scott Dies
Winfield Scott was a United States Army General from 1841 to 1861. His nickname was 'The Grand Old Man of the Army". He died in Westpoint, NY on this date. -
Congress Approves 14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment states to grant "all persons born or naturalized in the United States", including former slaves the right to citizenship. This amendment was rejected by most Southern states, but the requirement of three-fourths states to approve, was met, and Congress approved. This amendment was ratified two years later. -
Freedmen's Bureau Bill Passed
As slaves were freed, the Freedman's Bureau Bill was passed. This law provided housing, food, education, health care etc., to former slaves. Congress was able to override the President's veto. -
Grant Becomes General of the Army
A General of the Army ranks right above the general of the army, and is the second highest possible ranking in all of the army. Ulysses S. Grant was selected for this high position by Congress as a four-star general. -
South Carolina
On this date, it was the sixth year anniversary from when S.C. seceded from the Union. Also, on this date, S.C. rejected the 14th Amendment for citizens in the U.S. -
African Americans to Vote
In Washington D.C., African American males were given the right to voting. President Andrew Johnson vetoed this bill, but it was passed over him by Congress to create into a law. -
Nebraska Becomes a State
During the Civil War, Nebraska played a big role in contributing to the Union efforts.Two years after the war ended, Nebraska officially became a U.S. state. -
First Reconstruction Act
The Reconstruction Act of 1867 was a written out process of how to readmit the Southern states back into the Union. On this date, Congress was able to override President Andrew Johnson veto of this bill. -
Second Reconstruction Act Passed
After the Reconstruction Act was vetoed, a 2nd Reconstruction Act was created and passed after the first one. The federal army restores military rule to Mississippi and on this date, the 2nd Reconstruction Act was passed over the veto of President Johnson. -
Lincoln Memorial
In order to commemorate Lincoln's efforts towards helping the Union throughout the Civil War, Congress decided to create the Lincoln Memorial. This statue is 99 feet tall and located in Washington D.C. -
The Alaska Purchase
Alaska was signed on treaty into the United States from Russia by the Secretary of State, William H. Seward. He agreed to this purchase for $7.2 million. -
Admitted Into Union
As the Civil War was ended, Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina were admitted back into the Union for approving the pass of the 14th Amendment. States such as Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, were not admitted back into the Union due to their refusal of the 14th Amendment -
Ulysses S. Grant; Secretary of War
Edwin Stanton was the Secretary of War until he got suspended on this date. Ulysses S. Grant took his place in his position ordered by President Andrew Johnson. -
1st All Black University
The Civil War created more opportunities for African Americans throughout the U.S. On this date Congress created the first all black university called Howard University in Washington D.C. -
Alaska an Official State
On this date, Russia officially turned over Alaska to the United States. Alaska became the 49th state.
