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Period: to
Civil War
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Lincoln Gives Address at Cooper Union
Abraham gives speech at Cooper Union, this helps his election. -
Pony Express
First Pony Express reaches San Francisco, California. -
Harper's Ferry
Thomas Jackson is chosen to lead Harper's Ferry -
Kansas Railroad
This is the first time a railroad reaches Kansas -
Telegraph
The first telegraph line between Los Angeles and San Francisco opens -
Lincolns Beard
11 year old Grace Bedell writes to Lincoln to tell him to write a beard -
Abraham Lincoln is elected to office
Abraham Lincoln is elected to office.The first republican president in the nation to represent a party that opposes the spread of slavery -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
South Carolina is the first state to secede from the Union. It is then followed by Mississippi. -
Forces Gather at Fort Sumter
Major Robert Anderson gathers his troops secretly at Fort Sumter -
Tubman's Last Mission
Harriet Tubman arrives in Auburn, New York and goes her for her last mission to help free slaves on the underground railroad. -
Confederate States of America is formed
Jefferson Davis a West Point Graduate and former U.S. Army officer is sworn in as president of the Confederate States of America -
Lincoln is sworn 16th President of the United States of America
Abraham Lincoln is sworn as the 16th President of America. He wins by a landslide. -
Shots Fired on Fort Sumter
At 4:30 a.m. 50 cannons fire on Fort Sumter. 4,000 rounds are fired no one dies -
Lincoln issues a Proclamation for militiamen
Lincoln issues this proclamation calling for 75,000 militiamen. He also announces a special calling for Congress on July 4th. -
Virginia secedes from the Union
Virginia leaves the Union and within five weeks three more secede. -
President Lincoln calls for Blockade against Southern Ports
Lincoln issues proclamation to blockade southern ports. This hurts the confederacy because they cannot stay well-supplied throughout the war. -
Lincoln makes a speech to congress
In his speech he calls for 500,000 more men to join the Union Army -
First Battle at Bull Run
Union Army is defeated by Jackson and has to retreat back to Washington -
McClellan is appointed as Commander of the Potomac
McClellan replaces McDowell as commander is is very excited about his role. -
Lincoln releases two Confederate Officials
Lincoln releases two Confederate officials, England demands it and Lincoln agrees, not wanting to start another war. -
Battle of Mill Springs
Union Victory weakens Confederate hold on Kentucky. -
Fort Henry Falls
Union takes Fort Henry to gain more control of the Mississippi. -
Surrender of Fort Donelson
Union Victory, gives Union almost full control of the river. -
Battle of Pea Ridge
Union Victory disrupts very southern control of Mississippi River -
Battle of Shiloh
Union Victory in the first major battle in Tennessee. -
Battle of Memphis
Battle of Memphis, Tennessee. A Union flotilla under Commodore Charles Davis successfully defeats a Confederate river force on the Mississippi River near the city and Memphis surrenders -
The Battle of Seven Pines
Joseph Johnston is replaced by Robert E. Lee -
The Seven Days' Battles before Richmond
General Lee's army attacks the "Army of the Potomac". -
The Battle of Second Bull Run
This battle was fought on the same ground one year later, and the Union Army was defeated once again. -
The Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest single day of the Civil War. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia
The Army of the Potomac,is defeated by Lee's forces. -
Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect
Lincolns Proclamation goes into effect to free all the slaves -
Conscription
Drafting of Military soldiers in the North -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
General Lee's biggest victory, however Stonewall Jackson is killed in friendly fire during this battle -
Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi
Union forces under Grant attack Confederate forces, if Vicksburg falls the Union would have full control of the Mississippi. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Robert E. Lee hopes to invade the North. -
Vicksburg Falls
Vicksburg falls to the Union and they have complete control of the Mississippi River -
Union Naval and land forces attack Confederates near Charleston, South Carolina
Among the Union troops is the 54th Massachusetts Colored Infantry, the first African American regiment of volunteers to see combat. -
The Battle of Chickamauga
The Union Army of the Cumberland under General William Rosecrans is defeated and nearly routed by the Confederate Army of Tennessee commanded by General Braxton Bragg. -
The Battle of Chattanooga
Union forces break the Confederate siege of the city in successive attacks. The most notable event is the storming of Lookout Mountain on November 24 and Battle of Missionary Ridge the following day. -
Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction
Lincoln issues proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, which would pardon those partaking in "rebellion" if they took an oath to the Union -
Escape from Libby Prison
109 Union Officers made an escape from Libby Prison. -
Ulysses S. Grant is appointed as lieutenant general
Grant assumes command of all Union Armies the following day -
Battle of Sabine Crossroads
First major battle of the Red River Campaign -
Capture of Fort Pillow
Confederate raid on Fort Pillow, Tennessee. They overwhelmed the Union army there and murdered the African American troops. -
Battle of the Wilderness
The opening battle of the Wilderness Campaign -
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Lee stops Grant's drive to Richmond -
Abraham Lincoln nominated for second term as President
Lincoln runs for his second term -
Battle of Brice's Crossroads
Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest attacks and routs the Union command under General Samuel Sturgis. -
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, Georgia.
After weeks of maneuvering and battles, Sherman's Army of the Cumberland and Army of the Tennessee smash headlong into Johnston's carefully planned defenses at Big and Little Kennesaw. -
The Battle of Cedar Creek
In an early morning surprise attack, Jubal Early's Confederates successfully attack and drive troops of the Army of the Shenandoah from their camps on the banks of Cedar Creek south of Middletown, Virginia. -
Assault on Fort Fisher
Union occupation of this fort at the mouth of the Cape Fear River closes access to Wilmington, the last southern seaport on the east coast that was open to blockade runners and commercial shipping. -
Sherman's Army leaves Savannah to march through the Carolinas
Sherman's Army marches through the Carolina's. -
President Lincoln Inaugurated
Lincoln inaugurated for his second term as president -
Attack on Fort Stedman
Touted as "Lee's last offensive", Confederate troops under General John B. Gordon attack and briefly capture the Union fort in the Petersburg siege lines in an attempt to thwart Union plans for a late March assault. -
The Battle of Five Forks
The Confederate's are defeated at Five Forks -
The Battle of Sailor's Creek
Lee's Army is defeated and cornered along the banks -
Battle of Appomattox Court House and Surrender
Lee signs the document of surrender -
Lincoln is assassinated
Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth and the Ford Theater -
President Jefferson Davis is Captured
President Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville, Georgia. -
Civil War Officially Ends
General Simon Bolivar Buckner enters into terms for surrender of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi, which are agreed to on June 2, 1865. The Civil War officially ends. -
The Liberator
The issue of the Liberator is published since the slaves are freed -
Jesse James
Jesse James robs bank in Liberty, Missouri. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is formed -
Nickel
Congress approves the minting of the nickel. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment is ratified. The slaves become citizens. -
Tennessee
Tennessee becomes the first state to be re-admitted into the Union. -
General of the Army
Congress makes general of the army Ulysses S. Grant, and it is a new rank. -
Atlantic Cable
The Atlantic Cable is installed allowing for transatlantic telegraph communication -
Train Robbery
The first ever train robbery takes place. The Reno brothers steal 13,000. -
Jesse and the Gang
Jesse James and his gang robs a bank in Lexington, Missouri. They get away with 2,000. -
African American Males are given the right to vote
Congress overrides veto by Andrew Jackson. Now all male citizens are allowed to vote -
First Reconstruction Act
The first reconstruction act sets up five military districts in the south. -
Jesse James in Savannah
Jesse James robs a bank in Savannah, Missouri. The attempt failed with one casualty. -
Ride-Ins
African Americans stage a ride in on streetcars in New Orleans to protest segregation. -
Alaska
President Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Johnson vetos the third reconstruction act which directs election procedures in the south. -
Johnson suspends Stanton
Johnson suspends Stanton as Secretary of War after the two clash over reconstruction plans. -
Alaska is formally Acquired
The United States officially purchases Alaska for 7.2 million paid for it. -
Impeachment
Congress looks into impeaching Johnson for his lack of effectiveness and lack of effort during reconstruction. -
Grange
Farmers' association organized in 1867. The Grange sponsors social activities, community service, and political lobbying
