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Invention of the Henry Rifle
Designed by Benjamin Tyler Henry, the gun had a huge impact on the Civil War with both sides equipped with the weapon. Even after the war the gun remained in Circulation. -
Death of Abolitionist John Fairfield
While he was born into a slave holding family in Virginia, Fairfield was an abolitionist and a conductor on the Underground Railroad. He helped slaves escape to Canada, but died in 1860. -
Forming of the Constitutional Union Party
The Constitutional Union Party formed with the delegates from 20 states in Baltimore. From the conflict between Northern and Southern, this party was made from broken older parties like the Whigs and the American Know-Nothings. -
End of the Walker Tariff
Started in 1846 by Democrats, the Walker Tariff was beneficial to the South in that it lowered tax rates of the "Black Tariff". The removal of this contributed to tensions between the North and South. -
The Pony Express
The Pony Express was a mail; delivery system that was immensely quicker than all the previous options. This could make news travel quicker across various states, allowing for unification. -
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Civil War Timeline
Civil War Timeline -
Cooper Union Address
In New York City Presidential Candidate Abraham Lincoln gave his Cooper Union Address in front of about 1500 people. This gave him a platform for his ideas. -
Jefferson Davis Gives a Speech
Jefferson Davis, apart of the Mississippi Senate, gave a speech toward the president. This speech highly influenced the Civil War giving rise to the Confederate Army -
Abraham Lincoln Nominated as Republican Canidate
Lincoln, who had attention on him from running for Senator, became the nominee for the Republican Party. He would later be the first Republican to win the presidency -
Election of 1860
As a result of the Presidential Election between Lincoln, Breckenridge, Douglas, and Bell, Abraham Lincoln won. He had 180 electoral votes and 1,865.593 popular votes, the most out of both categories when compared to his competitors. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Nation
While many nations were considering it, South Carolina stepped up and became the first nation to try and secede from the nation. This would then in turn inspire other southern states to do the same -
Mississippi Secedes from the Nation
Following in South Carolina's foot steps, Mississippi becomes the second state to secede. -
Florida Secedes from the Nation
Florida becomes the third southern state to secede from the nation only a day following Mississippi. -
Alabama Secedes from the Nation
Following the secession of Florida, Alabama becomes the fourth state to secede from the US. -
Georgia Secedes from the Nation
Georgia becomes the fifth state to secede in the south because they wanted to prevent the north from ending slavery. The south relied heavily on the use of slaves and found it unfair that the north wanted to free them. -
The Confederate States of America
The various states that seceded including South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee, formed their own nation known as The Confederacy. This group was similar to the United States except for the emphasis on slavery and state independence. -
Abraham Lincoln becomes President
Lincoln becomes the 16th President of the United States. He represented the Republican Party -
First Shots fired at Fort Sumter
The famous Battle of Fort Sumter occurred after a Confederate General bombarded it upon learning of Lincoln's plans to resupply the fort. While there were no deaths, 4,000 rounds were fired. -
George Brinton McClellan becomes General
At the start of the Civil War Abraham Lincoln calls onto George Brinton McClellan to be in charge of the Union Army. He went to West Point at only 15 years old and taught there for 3, showing himself to be a military genius -
First Battle of Bull Run / Manassas
Three months following the Battle of Fort Sumter, The first Battle of Bull Run occurred when Union troops were moving closer to Richmond. This was between General Thomas Jackson and Irvin McDowell in which Jackson earns the name Stonewall. The Union retreated with the Confederates wearing. -
Jefforson Davis is Elected President of Confederate States
West Point graduate Jefferson Davis ran for (although he did not have any opposition) and was elected President after feeling that he should be the interim president. He was elected for a 6 year term of the newly formed Confederate States of America -
Battle of Fort Henry
A battle in Fort Henry Tennessee which Union General Ulysses S. Grant with Commodore Andrew Foote attacked in hopes to gain control of rivers and access to supplies west of the Appalachians. This was a success for the Union, and resulted in Confederate Lloyd Tilghman evacuating most of his troops to another Fort -
Battle of Fort Donelson
After Confederate troops evacuated to Fort Donelson after the attack on Fort Henry a week prior, the Union gained a major victory of the Civil War under General Grant through the Confederates surrender. This resulted in Kentucky surely staying apart of the Union and open up other parts of Tennessee. -
Greenbacks FIrst Legal Tender Act
An important part of a unified nation is shared currency, which the United States lacked for the entire nation. Greenbacks provided this through green bills, which allowed for the idea of unification which Lincoln liked. -
Battle of Hampton Roads
In Confederate efforts to break the Union blockade of ports in the South, the battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack occurred. This holds significance in being the first conflict with ironclad warships, influencing a new era of naval warfare. -
Battle of Shiloh / Pittsburg Landing
As a result of a Confederate surprise attack on Ulysses S Grant's Union Army, the deadliest single day battle of the Civil War occurred with over 23,000 casualties. While Confederates were initally victorious, they were forced to retreat allowing the Union forces to win. -
Battle of Memphis
The Battle of Memphis, Tennessee was the first naval battle located on the Mississippi River to be fought. The Union won this battle. -
Battle of Gettysburg
A result of winning Chancellorsville, Robert E. Lee with the COnfederate army marched to the union army at the crossroads of Gettysburg. The three day battle ended with a Union victory, possibily the most important win. -
Revenue Act of 1862
This act was passed by Congress which created the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and revised the original act done the year previously. This was significant fort the Civil War because it was used to fund the Union in the fight -
Second Battle of Bull Run / Manassas
In Virginia, the second battle at Bull Run occurred with Confederate General Robert E. Lee deciding to attack, which also ended in a Confederate victory. The Confederates seized the supplies and burned the area in a strike led by Stonewall Jackson against Union's commander John Pope -
Battle of Antietam
This battle was known as the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. Over 23,000 men were killed. The Union won. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln's speech that declared that slaves in all of the United States, including the rebellious Confederate ones, would be considered free by January 1st of the following year. While it was not the initial aim of the war, it became a military strategy and a morally correct action for Lincoln -
Removal of George McClellan
General George B. McClellan who was in charge of the Union's Army of the Potomac was fired by Abraham Lincoln. While McClellan was skilled and a West Point graduate, he was unable to make decisions quickly enough, prolong the war -
Emancipation Proclamation Takes Effect
After the Emancipation Proclamation speech by Lincoln in the months prior, Lincoln finally signed the final document causing it to take effect. All states under the Union freed their slaves, and delegitimized the Confederate nation in the eyes of other countries. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle took place in Virginia and was known as General Lee's greatest victory. There were over 17,000 casualties. -
Thomas Jackson Dies
Southern General Stonewall Jackson dies of pneumonia as a result of being shot by his own troops shooting him During the Battle of Chancellorsville. At only 29 years old he dies, causing Robert E. Lee and his army to lose one of their boldest Generals. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This was known as the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War. It took place in Pennsylvania, and later the Gettysburg Address was given by Lincoln following. -
Congress Passes Enforces A Draft
Previously in the year a conscription law was passed, and later they attempted to enforce a draft in New York City. The draft was for all men 20 through 45 years old. -
New York Draft Riots
As a result of the draft many New Yorkers, especially the Irish, rioted and confronted the troops. While there were 119 deaths (mainly that of rioters), and 300 injuries, anti-Union commentators claimed 1,115 people died. -
Lawrence Masacre
This was a daylight raid that murdered about 150 men and boys. Confederates under William Clarke Quantrill marched into Lawrence, Kansas. -
Battle of Chickamauga
This battle took place in Georgia for two days. The Confederate side won. -
Battle of Missionary Ridge
This battle took place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It was apart of the Chattanooga Campaign, resulting in a Union victory. -
The Battle of Mine Run
This battle was also known as The Mine Run Campaign, while taking place in Orange County, Virginia. This battle lasted about six days and the result was inconclusive. -
Belle Boyd Sailed WIth Confederate Letters
Belle Boyd acted as a spy for the Confederate army during the Civil War. Martinsburg, Virginia was occupied by Union forces in July 1861 when she slowly gathered information from them. Three years later she sailed on a blockade runner to England with letters from Jefferson Davis -
Andersonville Begins
Andersonville acted as a Prisoner of War camp during the Civil War, officially refereed to as Camp Sumter. About 14,000 Union soldiers perished here -
Ulysses S. Grant; Commander of U.S. Army
Abraham Lincoln submitted Congress's choice of West Point graduate Grant to lead the Unjon army. In doing so he also revived the term lieutenant general with the approval of Congress -
Battle of Pleasant Hill
This battle took place in Louisiana. The Confederates gained the Unions fort and won this battle -
Battle of Wilderness
This two day battle resulted in an inconclusive victory, with the figt led by Generals Grant and Lee. However, it ended with the Union facing 18,400 casualties and the Confederate army with11,400. -
Battle Of Spotsylvania Courthouse
This was another of the many inconclusive battles of the Civil War between Grant and Lee. This was apart of Grant’s overland campaign. -
Development of Arlington National Cemetary
On the outskirts of Washington D.C. is Arlington Cemetery in Virginia. This was once Robert E. Lee's home but was seized a d turned into a military cemetery, starting with Private William Christman of Pennsylvania on May 13, 1864. -
Battle of Peachtree Creek
This battle was the fight major battle to be fought in Atlanta. The Union gained this victory. -
Battle of Fishers hill
This battle near Strasbourg, Virginia resulted in a Union victory by Phillip Sheridan against the Confederate Jubal Early. However, this also resulted in 1,763 total casualties -
Lincoln is Reelected
During the fourth year of the Civil War Abraham Lincoln was reelected for his second term. This is one of the first occasions that a presidential election occurred while there was a military emergency occurring. -
Petersburg Falls
After the battle that began in June of 1864 by Grant who ordered 10,000 troops to Petersburg, the Union was finally successful in defeating the Confederacy. On April 2nd of 1865 the Confederate army was weak and starving, and fell to the Union army giving them an important win -
Richmond is Captured
The capital of the Confederacy, Richmond, Virginia, falls to the Ulysses S. Grant led Union army. The previous day the Confederate government left the city for Union soldiers to enter on April 3rd -
General Robert E. Lee
General Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate army of Northern Virgina to the Union after the fall of Petersburg and then Richmond. It was near the town of Appomattox Court House, where a battle previously ensued -
Battle of Appomattox Court House
As a last attempt by the Confederacy to win the war, Major General John B. Gordon tried to act on the offensive before soon being outnumbered by the Union. This battle then prompted the surrender of Lee, which called for the end of the Civil War -
Lincoln is Assassinated
Five days after Robert E. Lee surrendered causing the end of the Civil War, John Wilkes Booth killed the president. Wilkes, a Confederate sympathizer and famous actor, shot him during a play at Ford' s Theatre in Washington D.C, -
Andrew Johnson becomes President
After the assassination of Abraham Lincoln Johnson assumed position as president. During his presidency be focused on restoring hte Southern states back to the Union. -
Final Battle
At Palmito Ranch in Texas, the battle known as the last land battle of the Civil War to be fought was here. This was a two day battle that resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Civil War Ends
After 4 years of various battles, the Civil War ends with the surrender of the Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, commander on the west of Mississippi, the last Confederate army standing. The surrender's terms were offered by Union Negotiators. -
The 13th Amendment is Ratified
Eight months after the end of the Civil War the 13th Amendment was finally ratified. This amendment outlawed slavery, as promised in the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Founding of the Klu Klux Klan
After the Civil War a group of Confederate veterans formed a secret society based off of racist white supremacy. The group was formed in Pulaski, Tennessee, with former General Nathan Bedford Forrest as the first Grand Wizard -
Last Issue of the Liberator
The last issue of the Liberator is published due to it becoming obsolete with the abolition of slavery.In all its years the newspaper never failed to publish an issue -
Buffalo Soldiers
This group was created on the Western Front ater the Civil War and abolition of slavery for african American men. They were created after Congress passed the Army Organization Act with goals such as helping Native Americans. -
14th Ammendment Passes
This amendment claimed to give all rights to African Americans was passed by Congress -
Black Codes In Effect
After the end of the Civil War and slavery, racism against Black people was still extremely prominent in the United States. The Black Codes were a way to restrict African Americans and force them to complete cheap labor such as in Mississippi. -
First Memorial Day
In Waterloo, New York the first Memorial Day was celebrated -
Construction of Fort Phil Kearny
Led by Colonel Henry Carrington, the construction of this new fort that plays an important role in future warfare such as guarding the Bozeman trail, is begun. It branched off the Oregon Trail -
Reconstruction Acts
These acts hoped to fix the nation and repair it after the aftermath of the Civil War
