Reconstruction Timeline

By ajh4280
  • Period: to

    Reconstruction Timeline

  • Abraham Lincoln elected as President

    In the presidential election, Lincoln won against John Cabell Breckinridge and Douglas from the Democratic Party, and John Bell from Constitutional Union Party, and was elected as the President. Immediately upon the election of Lincoln as the President of America,South Carolina along with six southern states, who supported slavery, seceded from the union. He was assassinated at Ford's Theatre on April 14, 1865 by John Booth.

  • South Carolina succeeds from Union

    South Carolina is the first to succeed. They do so after Abraham Lincoln is elected president in the 1860 election.

  • Jefferson Davis elected President of Confederacy

    Jefferson Davis was named president of the Confederacy. He was a former US senator as well as secretary of war, who served in Mississippi.He ran unopposed and was elected to serve for a six-year term.

  • Battle of Fort Sumter

    Site of the opening engagement of the Civil War. Confederate army began to bomb the fort where due to the reason that it was two forts in Southern territories that the Union still controlled. Union congress declared war on the Confederacy the next day.

  • Battle of Bull Run

    Confederate soldiers charged Union men who were in route to besiege Richmond. Union troops fled back to washington. Confederates did not realize their victory in time to follow up on it. First major battle of the Civil War both sides were ill-prepared.

  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Lincoln freed all slaves that had seceded, (but did not extend the same freedom to slaves in border states), after the Norther victory in the Battle of Antietam. Lincoln had no power to enforce the law because the South had created their own nation with their own government.

  • Second Emancipation Proclamation

    Lincoln issued the Second Emancipation Proclamation, emphasized as a war measure, which freed all slaves in states or parts of states that were still in rebellion against the United States. Lincoln releasd the document at the right time during the war, resulting posotivly for the Union. It continues today to be a symbol for equality.

  • Establish Confederate States of America

    On December 20, 1860 South Carolina secede from the Union thinking the Sectional Party picked a president who was harmful to slavery. February 1, 1861 there were seven states that had seceded the Union; S Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and TX. The upper south-Virginia, N Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas- did not believe Lincoln's presidency was reason for seceding. However the upper South still had strong Union views.

  • Battle of Gettysburg

    Pennsylvania battle that ended Lee's last hopes of achieving victory through an invasion of the north. This was the most deadly Battle in the Civil War, causing nearly 40,000 deaths. It was a turning point in the Civil War.

  • 10 Percent Plan

    Lincoln issued a Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction, which came to be known as the ten percent plan. The plan stated that a southern state could be readmitted into the Union once 10 percent of its voters swore an oath of allegence to the Union. Most moderate republics supported the plan vecause they hoped it would bring a quick end to the war.

  • Grant Takes Command

    Abraham Lincoln appoints Ulysses S Grant as commander of all the Union armies. He lead all the Union troops against the Confederacy. General William T Sherman takes over as commander in the West.

  • Siege of Atlanta

    Battle was from May 7 - Sept 2. It was a Union victory. The battle was fought by Sherman and his forces. It was also fought around Atlanta and Northern parts of Georgia.

  • Battle of Spotsylvania

    Battle was fought from May 8 - 12. Union General Grant attacked Robert E Lee and his confederate forces. It was fought in Spotsylvania and was a Union victory even though Grant lost more troops.

  • Sherman’s March to Sea

    The Union’s General Sherman begins his March to Sea. He and his men march through Georgia, burning every town and field in their path. This is so when the confederacy retreats, they have nowhere to regroup and restock.

  • 2nd Lincoln Inaugural

    Abraham Lincoln is sworn in to his second term as president. He used his second inaugural speech to touch in on divine providence. Also, even though the war was nearing an end, he spoke of sadness and not happiness.

  • Union Captures Richmond

    Union captures Richmond, Virginia. Although, the city had been nearly destroyed by shelling and fire. It was targeted multiple times by the Union throughout the war.

  • Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse

    General Lee and General Grant met in Virginia. The courthouse was closed because it was Sunday, so they met in the farmhouse. The confederates surrendered.

  • Assassination of Abraham Lincoln

    Abraham Lincoln was assassinated in Ford's theater by John Wilkes Booth. Booth thought that by killing Lincoln he was helping the South. The South did not like Lincoln because they thought he was trying to get rid of slavery.

  • Battle of Palmito Ranch

    It took place on May 12th and May 13th. It took place in Cameron County, Texas. The confederacy won this battle.

  • 13th Amendment Ends Slavery

    United States Congress approves the addition of the 13th amendment to the Constitution. It ends all slavery in the US. Although it doesn’t give former slaves all their rights.