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1st Battle of Bull Run (Manases)
This was the first major battle in the East, and was chaotic as many of the men were not trained. Neither side had a decisive victory and this battle left the Confederate Army in no shape to fight the Union. -
Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus
As a war time act, President Abraham Lincoln suspended the Writ of Habeas Corpus as way to protect the Union from "Copperhead" Democrats."Copperhead" Democrats were people of the North who opposed the war and supported/sympathized with the South. Under this policy, 14,000 Americans were arrested without trial. -
The Militia Act
The Militia Act was passed as a way for the Union Army to recruit men of color to the army. This was the origin for black soldiers, however these men were originally used as infrastructure soldiers as their was a fear of black men with guns due to harmful stereotypes. -
The Emancipation Proclamation is written
The Emancipation Proclamation was written, but wasn't issued because the war was not going well for the North. -
Midterm Elections
This election is why Lincoln passed the Emancipation Proclamation, as he was afraid his low popularity would lead to Republicans losing control of Congress. -
The Battle of Antietam
Southern General, Robert E. Lee attempted to invade the North to lower their morale, but his plans were discovered by the North's general George McClellan. However, McClellan waited too long and lost one of his advantages, as he still had Lee's beat soldiers in numbers. Robert E. Lee retreated, and George McClellan did not follow him due to this being the bloodiest battle of the war and McClellan's troops not being prepared for a pursuit. -
The Emancipation Proclamation is declared
The Emancipation Proclamation freed slaves in the areas that were not controlled or held by the North. Lincoln held onto his proclamation until the North was doing well in the war, and it was done with a political agenda in mind. Lincoln wanted to ensure that the Republicans kept Congress, and that Britain would stay out of the war, so he made it about slavery. -
The Emancipation Proclamation went into affect
The Emancipation Proclamation went into affect at the beginning of the year. -
Black soldiers are drawn into the fighting
Black soldiers are drawn into the fighting, famously in the 54th Massachusetts regiment, and they do well. -
The Enrollment Act is passed
The Enrollment Act was a draft act passed to draft men into the Union army, as they couldn't get enough soldiers through enlistment or volunteering. This act instituted a draft lottery, and men could get out if they were able to pay $300 or find someone else to fill their spot. -
Battle of Vicksburg
Vicksburg is on the Mississippi River and was a fortified position that the South held on to after being attacked by the North for a year.t is only in July of 1863 that Grant is able to break the fortification. It is known as the “Gibraltar of the West” and when Grant takes it, the Mississippi is cut in half. From this point on, most of the river was controlled by the North. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
At the same time that Vicksburg is falling, back East the Battle of Gettysburg is fought between George C. Meade and Robert E. Lee. Lee invaded the North trying to prove that the South could win the fight and he wanted to take the fight to the enemy as a way to reduce Northern morale. Gettysburg had a shoe factory, and that was needed by the Southerners as many were marching barefoot. The South had a chance to get the high ground, but they didn't which caused them to fight an uphill battle. -
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NYC Draft Riots
Due to the Enrollment Act, many were upset with the way the government was being run, especially since the government could force them to fight in a war that they wanted no part of. Therefore, many Irish people in New York City rioted due to the drafts and blamed black people for them being forced to fight. The riot was only put down due to the Union Army coming in to stop it. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
William Tecumseh Sherman led a march from Georgia to the ocean as a way to cut the south apart. -
Surrender at Appomattox
General Lee's forces surrender to the Union Army at Appomattox. -
13th Amendment
Lincoln made a push for Congress to pass the 13th Amendment after he had a change of heart during the war. -
Lincoln is assassinated
Just a few days after the surrender at Appomattox, Lincoln is shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth while watching Our American Cousins in Ford' Theatre