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Period: to
The Civil War
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Jeferson Davis
Jefferson Davis comes out in favor of secession for the first time. -
Lincoln speaks at Cooper Institute
After being photographed by Matthew Brady, Abraham Lincoln speaks at the Cooper Institute in New York City. -
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention, meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, cannot agree on a nominee. -
Republican Convention is held in Chicago, Illinois.
Republican Convention is held in Chicago, Illinois. William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Abraham Lincoln of Illinois are the leading contenders from a field of 12 candidates. -
Southern delegates hold a National Democratic convention in Richmond.
Southern delegates hold a National Democratic convention in Richmond. Party leaders urge a "wait and see" approach. -
Joseph E. Johnston
Joseph E. Johnston appointed Quartermaster General. -
South Carolina considereing sucession
Governor William Henry Gist notifies other Deep South states that South Carolina is considering secession as an option. -
Abraham Lincoln became the 16th president of the United Staes
Abraham Lincoln is a republican from Illonois and wins the presidential election with 180 electoral votes. He had 39% of the popular votes. He was the spark that set off the civil war. -
South Carolina calls for a convention
Governor William Henry Gist notifies other Deep South states that South Carolina is considering secession as an option. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina secedes from the Union. It is the first state to secede. -
Artillery fires on "Stars of the West"
Artillery fires on the Star of the West from Morris Island as it crosses into the main entrance channel to Charleston Harbor. -
Seceded States adopt a constitution
The Convention of Seceded States adopts a provisional constitution forming the Confederate States of America. -
Confederate States of America formed
The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer, as president. -
Pierre Beauregard attacks Fort Sumter
At 4:30 a.m. Confederates under Gen. Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. This begins the Civil War. -
75,000 Militiamen
President Lincoln issues a Proclamation calling for 75,000 militiamen, and calls for a special session of Congress for July 4. -
Virginia Secedes
Virginia secedes from the Union. -
Battle of Phillpi
First land engagement of the Civil War between American and Confederate forces . -
Lincoln calls for 500,000 men.
Lincoln gives a speech to congress and says tha the war is..."a People's contest...a struggle for maintaining in the world, that form, and substance of government, whose leading object is, to elevate the condition of men..." he calls for 500,000 men. -
Lincoln appoints new commander.
Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as Commander of the Department of the Potomac, replacing McDowell. -
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott relieved from duty as Supreme Comander of the United States. -
Battle of Ft. Donelson
Battle of Ft. Donelson -
Ulysess S. Grant demands for unconditional surrender
General Ulysses S. Grant demands the unconditional surrender of the garrison from an old friend, Simon Bolivar Buckner -
Troops begin to move.
From Fort Monroe federal troops begin movement towards Richmond -
Yorktown
Yorktown was sieged. -
Battle of Pittsburg
Union victory at pittsburg. -
Battle of Shiloh
Confederate Losses:
1,723 dead
8,012 wounded
959 missing
Union Losses
1,754 dead
8,408 wounded
2,885 missing -
Jefferson Davis replaces wounded commander
Jefferson Davis replaces wounded Army of Northern Virginia commander Joseph E. Johnston with Robert E. Lee. -
Multiple Battles
Battle of Gaines Mill [US]
Battle of First Cold Harbor [CS]
Battle of the Chickahominy [Alternate] -
Stonewall Jackson takes prisoners
Stonewall Jackson takes 12,000 prisoners. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
General Ambrose Burnside and the Army of the Potomac is soundly beaten by Lee's Army of North Virginia. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect. -
Battle of City Point
The battle of City Point took place in Virginia at James River. -
Abraham Lincoln relieves General Ambrose Burnside
Abraham Lincoln relieves General Ambrose Burnside [US} from command of the Army of the Potomac, replacing him with General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker. -
National Currency Act
Lincoln signs National Currency Act. -
Joesph Hooker defeats Robert E. Lee at Rappahannock
General Hooker's Army of the Potomac is defeated by Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia as it crosses the Rappahannock on the way to Richmond. -
Battle of Gettysburg
General Robert E. Lee [CS] advances into Pennsylvania where he meets George Meade [US]. -
John Pemberton asks Ulysess S. Grant for terms.
John Pemberton, commander of Confederate forces at Vicksburg asks Ulysses S. Grant for terms. Grant originally refuses but offers terms later. -
West Virginia
West Virginia becomes the 35th state to enter the United States, but the first to enter where the terms slave and free no longer mattered. -
Battle of Chickamauga
The bloodiest two days in American history cost the Federals 1,657 dead, 9,756 wounded, and 4,757 missing for a total of 16,170 casualties out of 58,000 troops. The Confederate losses were 2,312 dead, 14,674 wounded and 1,468 for a total of 18,545 out of 66,000 troops. -
Gettysburg Address
At the dedication of the National Cemetery in Gettysburg President Lincoln delivers a two-minute speech. Lincoln thought that his speach was a "flat failure." -
Battle of Missionary Ridge, Chattanooga
Three Union armies attacked the Army of Tennessee atop Missionary Ridge, east of downtown Chattanooga. -
Union soldiers escape
109 Union officers led by Colonel Thomas Rose escape from Libby Prison on the banks of the James River in Richmond. 59 reach Union lines. -
Battle of Sabine Crossroads
Battle of Sabine Crossroads takes place in Louisiana. -
Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana
Taylor tries a second attack but is repulsed. Banks still decides to withdraw, after a support force fails to arrive. -
Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness takes place in Virginia. -
Army of James lands at Bermuda Hundred and City Point
The Army is comprised of two corps totaling nearly 40,000 men. -
Battle of the Wilderness comes to an end
Ulysses S. Grant [US] is badly beaten on the field by Robert E. Lee [CS] but rather than retreat, Grant advances to Spotsylvania Court House. -
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House is inconclusive
In an inconclusive battle, General Ulysses S. Grant [US] and Robert E. Lee [CS] battle for days southwest of Fredericksburg. -
Battle of Picketts Mill
Battle of Picketts Mill takes place in Georgia. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
Battle of Cold Harbor takes place in Virginia. -
Robert E. Lee victorious
Robert E. Lee [CS] defeats General Ulysses S. Grant [US] and General George Meade [US] -
Battle of City Point
The battle of City Point took place in Virginia near James River. -
Peace terms on Hampton Road discussed
On the River Queen five men, US President Abraham Lincoln, US Secretary of State William Seward, CS Vice-president Alexander Stephens, along with John Campbell and RMT Hunter discuss peace terms at the Hampton Roads Conference near Fort Monroe. -
Confederate Flag
Confederate congress approves final design of "official flag" -
Lincoln outlines his second term
"...with malice toward none; with charity for all..." Lincoln talks directly to the confederate people. -
Battle of Fort Stedman
General John B. Gordon captured Fort Stedman, a Union outpost on the line around besieged Petersburg, eventually punching a hole 3/4 of mile wide. -
Battle of Bluff Spring
The Battle of Bluff Spring takes place in northern Florida -
Battle of Five Forks
George Pickett [CS] could not withstand the federal envelopment move around Petersburg that began here. -
Robert E. Lee surrenders
After attempting to break-out of the Union envelopment, Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysess S. Grant at the home of Wilmer McLean in Appomattox Court House -
Robert E. Lee surrenders
General Robert E Lee and 26,765 troops, surrender at Appomattox Court House in Virginia to US Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant. -
Licoln is assassinated
United States President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated on Good Friday by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre, Washington, D. C. -
Texas repeals Secessionist Convention
Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention. -
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. -
The United States declares that a state of peace
The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia -
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act. -
Cholera epidemic begins in New York
Cholera epidemic begins in New York when an infected passenger arrives in New York. -
Winfield Scott dies
Winfield Scott dies, West Point, NY. -
14th Amendment approved
Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution . -
Congress overrides Andrew Johnson's veto
Congress overrides Andrew Johnson's veto of the Freedman's Bureau bill. -
Congress creates a new rank
Congress creates the rank of Admiral. David Farragut is appointed to that rank. -
Proclamation of peace for Texas
A proclaimation of peace with Texas is issued by United States President Andrew Johnson. -
Blacks gethe right to vote
Blacks in Washington D. C. gain the right to vote in a bill passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Nebraska
Nebraska becomes a state. -
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act, denying the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress. -
Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act
Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act over Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Alaska
Senate ratifies treaty purchasing Alaska. -
Committee on Reconstruction
House Select Committee on Reconstruction is appointed. -
President Andrew Johnson demands new Secretary of War
President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War. -
ad interim Secretary of War
Ulysses S. Grant becomes ad interim Secretary of War -
Edwin Stanton suspended
Edwin Stanton suspended by President Andrew Johnson. -
Russia turns over alaska
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States.
