Timelinecover

Major Events of the Civil War

By JavaRedhead13

  • Abraham Lincoln's Election

    Abraham Lincoln's Election
    • Lincoln says he will stop expansion of slavery
    • 7 Southern states secede from the Union
    • Lincoln’s inaugural speech pleads for South to stay

  • Battle of Fort Sumter

    Battle of Fort Sumter
    • South leaves Union and takes over Union forts.
    • Lincoln sends reinforcements;
    • South attacks Fort Sumter and forces them to surrender.
    • 4 more southern states leave;
    • Beginning of Civil War.

  • Battle of Bull Run

    Battle of Bull Run
    • Lincoln calls for 90 day enlistments; Wants to take Confederate Capital in Richmond, VA
    • Union winning first half, pushed back by Confederates
    • Turning point.
    • North realizes not short war;
    • Lincoln calls for thousands more volunteers, 3 year enlistment.

  • Battle of Antietam

    Battle of Antietam
    • Confederate General Lee attacks the North
    • The single bloodiest day in Civil War- over 22,500
    • Union victory, but don’t finish off Southern Army
    • Turning point- due to struggles of war Northerners begin looking for new reason to fight.
    • Emancipation Proclamation
    (frees southern slaves) written and adopted.

  • Start of Siege of Vicksburg

    Start of Siege of Vicksburg
    • Confederate guns controlled river
    • 43 day siege of Mississippi stronghold
    • Turning Point – Completes the Anaconda Plan
    • Union gains complete control of Mississippi River
    • Grant is promoted to Union General.

  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Battle of Gettysburg
    • Lee invades the North
    • Bring war north, convince them to call for peace, and secure European aide
    • 1/3 of army lost – Pickett’s charge
    • Turning point of the war
    • Lee loses ability to play offense and stays on defense.

  • Siege of Vicksburg Ends

  • Start of Sherman's March to the Sea

    Start of Sherman's March to the Sea
    • Marched through Georgia destroying all war resources
    • Burned down city of Atlanta
    • Destroyed a path 60 miles wide through Georgia
    • Helped get Lincoln reelected
    • Turning Point – Used total war to destroy everything of military value and destroy Southern will.

  • End of Sherman's March to the Sea

  • Surrender at Appomattox

    Surrender at Appomattox
    • Grant puts city of Petersburg under siege
    • Siege lasts for 10 months
    • Lee is forced to surrender because the Union broke through his defenses capturing Petersburg and Richmond
    • Grant’s surrender terms ask them to lay down their weapons and return home
    • Officially ends the Civil War on April 9, 1865