Slavery and civil war timeline By a frog 1776 US declares Independence 1803 Louisiana 1820 Missouri 1820 Underground railroad 1831 Trail of Tears 1848 War with Mexico 1849 Harriet Tubman escapes 1849 Fugitive Slave Act 1857 Dred Scott loses case 1857 Lincoln vs Douglas debate Nov 6, 1860 Lincoln elected president Dec 20, 1860 South Carolina secedes Jan 1, 1861 Emancipation Proclamation Jun 8, 1861 Eleven Southern states secede Jul 21, 1861 The Picnic Battle of Bull Run Apr 9, 1864 Robert E Lee surrenders Jun 19, 1865 Last slaves freed in Texas 1964 Sherman's march to the sea