The American Civil War

Lincoln Elected

Nov 6, 1860

Abraham Lincoln is elected as President of the United States

South Carolina seceeds

Dec 20, 1860

SC becomes the first state to secede from the Union

Confederate States of America is formed

Feb 9, 1861

Jefferson Davis is elected the president

Abraham Lincoln is sworn in

Mar 4, 1861

Nation's 16th President

Confederate troops attack at Fort Sumter, SC

Apr 12, 1861

Virginia secedes from the Union

Apr 17, 1861

Naval Blockade ordered

Apr 19, 1861

President Lincoln orders a naval blockade of all Confederate ports

Arkansas and Tennessee secede

May 6, 1861

North Carolina secedes

May 20, 1861

First Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

Confederate army defeats Union army in VA

Battle of Wilson's Creek

Aug 10, 1861

Confederate soldiers win the Battle. This is the first major battle fought west of the Mississippi River.

Army is formed

Oct 15, 1861

Lincoln calls for 75,000 army volunteers

Battle at Fort Donelson

Feb 16, 1862

General Ulysses S. Grant captures a Confederate army in TN. This is the first major Union victory of the war.

Battle of Antietam

Mar 9, 1862

Ironclad ships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia battle end in a draw. Casualities total 26,000 and Lee's invasion of the North ends in retreat.

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

Issued by President Lincoln freeing all slaves