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Lincoln Won the Close Presidential Race
Lincoln won the Presidential Race in 1860. He didn't even win by popular vote he earned enough electoral votes to beat all of his competition. -
South Carolina was the First to Secede
South Carolina officially secedes from the Union thus becoming the first state to do so. -
Mississippi Secedes
Mississippi Secedes from the Union -
Florida Secedes
Florida Secedes from the Union -
Alabama Secedes
Alabama secedes from the Union -
Georgia Secedes
Georgia Secedes from the Union -
Lousiana Secedes
Louisiana Secedes from the Union -
Texas Secedes
Texas Secedes from the Union -
Lincoln Inauguration
Lincoln is inaugurated in as the 16th president of the United States. In the address of the inauguration, he gave the South warning that secession will not be tolerated. -
Confederate Constitution Signed
The Constitution of the Confederate States of America is signed in Montgomery, Alabama. -
Civil War Begins
The Confederate forces bombard Union Soldiers at Fort Sumter in Charleston. The Civil War officially begins. -
Union Surrender at Ft. Sumter
Major Robert Anderson surrenders Fort Sumter to Confederate forces after two days of bombardment. -
Virginia Secedes
Virginia Secedes from the Union -
Arkansas Secedes
Arkansas Secedes from the Union. -
Tennessee Secedes
Tennessee Secedes from the Union -
North Carolina Secedes
North Carolina Secedes from the Union -
Lincoln Requests Army
Lincoln addresses Congress and requests the enlistment of a Union Army. Congress authorizes a call for 500,000 men. -
Robert E. Lee Assumes Command
General Robert E. Lee assumes command of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. -
The Seven Days
Over the course of seven days of fighting, General Robert E. Lee attacks George McClellan's Union Army of the Potomac near Richmond, Virginia. Huge casualties cause McClellan to withdraw north towards Washington. -
Preliminary Emancipation
Lincoln issues a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which declares his intention to free all slaves in any new territory captured by the Union Army. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation. It frees all slaves in territory captured by the Union Army, and orders the enlistment of Black soldiers. From this point forward, the Civil War is a war over slavery. -
Military Draft
Congress enacts the first draft in American history, requiring every man to serve in the army unless he can furnish a substitute or pay the government $300. -
Stonewall Jackson Dies
Confederate General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson dies from wounds sustained when he was mistakenly shot by his own troops at Chancellorsville. -
Draft Riots Begin
When the government attempts to begin conscription, riots break out in New York and other northern cities. -
Draft Riots End
When the government attempts to begin conscription, riots break out in New York and other northern cities. -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln delivers the two-minute Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the National Cemetery at the battlefield in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. -
Grant Takes Command
Lincoln assigns Ulsses Grant to be commander of all Union armies. This ends his search for a good general. -
Sherman Burns Atlanta
Union General Sherman captures Atlanta and burns it to the ground. (Kind of sounds like the liberals today) -
Sherman Marches to the Sea
Union General Sherman begins his famous March to the Sea, cutting a swath of destruction 300 miles long and 60 miles wide through Georgia. -
13th Amendment Ends Slavery
The United States Congress approves the 13th Amendment to the Constitution. This will abolish slavery. -
Second Lincoln Inauguration
Lincoln is sworn in for his second term as President of the United States. -
Fall of Richmond
The Union Army captures Richmond, Virginia At this point, Richmond is almost level because of fire. -
General Lee Surrenders
General Lee surrenders to General Grantin the town of Appomattox Court House, Virginia. The war is now over. -
Lincoln Assassinated
Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. -
Lincoln Dies by Assassination
Lincoln does not regain consciousness after being shot at Ford's Theater. He dies from his wound. -
Johnston Surrenders
General Joe Johnston, leading the largest Confederate Army still in existence, surrenders in North Carolina. -
Slavery is Abolished
The 13th Amendment is ratified by the States. Slavery is abolished.