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Civil War Timeline
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While the panic of 1857 is gone, its effects are still felt. Many have lost jobs or have had lowered wages due to the industrialization of shoe-making.
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Abraham Lincoln gives a speech talking against slavery. This leads to him becoming the leading candidate for the republicans.
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The Spencer rifle was used by the Union army during the civil war. Most notably by the cavalry, yet most still used muzzle-loading rifled muskets.
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A mail service for transcontinental mail. Played a major role in bringing California into the US.
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With the northern Paiutes raiding William's station, the US declares war on the tribe. The war would last less than 3 months.
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The Constitutional Union Party is created and nominated John Bell as presidential nominee. It was formed from the previous members of the Whig party.
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The first battle had gone terrible due to the disorganization of the vigilantes. The second battle was a decisive victory for the US and effectively won the war.
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Lincoln is elected to become the 16th president. Much of the south view this as a threat against slavery.
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A compromise to decide what territories should prohibit or allow slavery. The proposal ultimately failed due to a lack of republican support.
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South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. They cite that the election of Abraham Lincoln was a hostile act.
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Mississippi votes to leave the Union. They are the second state to do so.
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They leave the Union to join the Confederacy. They become the 3rd state to do so.
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Alabama leaves the Union and joins the confederacy. They become the 4th state to do so.
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Georgia leaves the Union to join the Confederacy. They are the 5th state to do so.
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They leave the Union to join the confederacy. It is notable that they control New Orleans a major port city.
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Texas leaves the Union to join the confederacy. They are the last state to join before the battle of Fort Sumter.
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Jefferson Davis is selected as the provisional president by the Weed convention in Alabama. Davis was previously a US senator.
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Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th president of the United States. He represented the republican party.
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The first battle of the war was fought over Fort Sumter. A fort located in South Carolina (the first state to secede).
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Ulysses S Grant captures Fort Henry in Tennessee marking an important first victory against the Confederate States. He begins to make his way to Fort Donelson.
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Ulysses captures Fort Donelson making an important strategic victory in the western theater. This helped to shift the fighting to the Virginian front.
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Jefferson Davis is inaugurated to a 6 year term as president of the Confederacy. He would not serve his full 6 years as president.
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The battle of the ironclads showed the world the power of ironclads. Navies around the world such as Great Britain and France began to build these new types of ships.
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In order to further harm the South, the US forbids army officers from returning slaves. This ended the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 and prepared the US for the Emancipation Proclamation.
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The homestead law is signed into law allowing the US to give away 160 acres of land to anyone for free. This in turn was a move to give farmers their own smaller farms instead of large plantations manned by slaves.
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The battle of the Sevens Pine was the result of the Union offensive against Richmond the current capital of the CSA. The fight ended in a union retreat yet both sides claim victory.
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These laws promote the construct of a railroad in the pacific and thus a transcontinental railroad. The acts authored the issuance of grants of bonds and land to railroad companies.
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The Emancipation Proclamation declares all slaves in the south to be freed of their masters. Mostly unenforced and little more than a speech until the troops pushed southwards.
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Due to his losses and his case of the "slows", Abraham Lincoln removes him from commander of the union army. He would eventually be replaced with Ulysses S Grant.
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This act created a system of national banks. Previously the 2nd Bank of the US had expired in 1836 and thus control was left to the states.
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With the civil war raging on, the southern economy is inflated. Prices of bread rise and riots break out on the streets!
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The battle of Chancellorsville marks a Union defeat. Notably the battle is remembered for the death of Stonewall Jackson, a confederate general.
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With the Siege of Port Hudson being a Union victory, the Union has complete control over the Mississippi. Bringing the anaconda plan one step closer to completion.
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As a border state, Virginia was torn between staying with the Union or seceding to the Confederacy. Those who wanted to stay with the Union split Virginia and created a new state.
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The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest battle in the civil war. It was a failed invasion by General Lee into Union territory.
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Following his defeat at Gettysburg, he sends a letter to Davis asking to resign. Davis refuses the request.
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This was a confederate defeat at trying to push the Union out of Virginia. Even by being out numbered 2 to 1, the Union army surprised the Confederate army and won the battle.
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The CSS Hunley sinks the warship USS Housatonic. Shortly after sinking the ship she sunk herself aswell.
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Abraham Lincoln delivers his famous Gettysburg address addressing his view of the war. It is to remember those who have fallen in service.
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This was one of the worst Union battles during the war. The confederates decisively won the battle.
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Due to McClellan shortcomings he was previously fired. With Grant's victories Abraham appoints him commander in chief.
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A small event yet we still see it today in our coins. It replaced the motto "E pluribus unum" with "In god we trust.".
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The Battle of Resaca was part of General Sherman's plan to devastate the South. While the outcome was inconclusive, the Confederate retreat led him deeper into Atlanta.
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Instead of serving, men could pay a fee to opt out. Abraham Lincoln abolishes said clause to draw more manpower.
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Sherman begins his assault on the capital of George, Atlanta. One of the final pieces to start his famous march. The city would soon fall less than 3 days later.
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Nevada is admitted to the US as the 36th state to the Union. It is of course admitted as a free state.
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Sherman begins his march south. Burning crops and living off the lands.
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This was the final major battle on the western front. It ended in a decisive Union victory.
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His famous march ends as he captures the major port of Savannah Georgia. His devastation to the land disrupts many parts of the South.
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Due to his numerous successes as a general he is appointed general in chief. He would surrender less than 4 months later.
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In an act of desperation due to dwindling manpower, the CSA conscripts african americans after previously rejecting conscription. They promise freedom to those who serve.
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With the capital about to fall, most of the confederate cabinet flee from Richmond. The Union troops capture it the next day.
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With the capital fallen and the resources dwindling, Robert E Lee surrenders. This effectively ended the civil war.
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Famous actor John Wilkes Booth is angry at the confederate loss. He takes his anger on Abraham Lincoln and shoots him in the back of the head.
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With Robert E Lee surrendered Johnson surrenders to Sherman in North Carolina.
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The continual surrender of the confederate army pressures the remaining to surrender. With the eastern front gone, Richard Taylor surrenders.
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Meeting with his cabinet for the last time 5 days prior, they had dissolved the government. Now his attempt to fled has failed and he has been captured.
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As the last significant general to surrender, his surrender officially ends the war. The remaining troops surrender less than a month after.
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Former confederate army veterans, found the ku klux klan to resist reconstruction and intimidate freedmen.
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Fisk University founded in Tennessee was the first primarily black college in the US.
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Previously confederate guerrillas, Jesse and Frank James commit the first armed robbery of a bank in Missouri.
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Andrew Johnson declares that there is now a state of peace between the previous confederate states. It should be noted that Texas was not a part of the state of peace.
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The Civil Rights Act was to protect African Americans but as Johnson is a democrat, he rejects the bill. Congress overrides his veto gaining majority support from both houses.
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With Johnson's continual vetoes, congress overrides him. They gain the majority they need due to the massive republican base.
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As one of the first acts of reconstruction, Tennessee is readmitted to the Union. More states will follow after.
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Congress creates the 5 Star General and appoints Ulysses as the first General.
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With the recent formation of the notorious hate group, the secret service begins investigating into it. The main purpose of the secret service at the time was for counterfeit currency.
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Ex-confederates attack radical republicans and blacks attending a suffrage convention. Over 100 people die due to this event.
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Finally after negotiations, Texas officially agrees to peace.
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After overriding Andrew Johnson's veto, Congress passes a bill to allow african-americans to vote in DC.
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The territory of Nebraska met the the necessary requirements for statehood. On this date it became a state!
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The act passed by congress limits the president's power to remove officials appointed by congress. It was passed due to Andrew Johnson's actions against congress.
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This acts loosens the president's control over the armies. The First Reconstruction act is passed which sets up five military districts in the South.
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This was created in 1867 to manage the US's education. They were soon demoted to an office a year later.
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Russia sold Alaska to the US for 7.2 million. At the time it is called "Sewards Folly".
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Andrew Johnson vetos the act with sets the election procedures in the South and assert congressional control over Reconstruction. Congress eventually overrides his veto.
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Andrew Johnson signed a bill establishing the territory of Wyoming.
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Stanton is ousted due to disagreements over the reconstruction plans. Ulysses S. Grant succeeds him.
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Congress begins to look into Johnson's lack of effectiveness and disagreements and considers impeachment.
