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The Civil War
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The Confederate States of America are Formed
South Carolina was the first state to secede. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas all joined soon. Jefferson Davis was the president, and he started the war at Fort Sumter. -
Abraham Lincoln's Presidency- First Term
Abe Lincoln represented the Republican Party and won the presidental election of 1860. He was left with the problem of the southern states succeeding. Lincoln agreed that slavery and sucession were illegal. He fought throughout the Civil War and on January 1, 1863 he issued his Emancipation Proclamation to declare all slaves free. -
Attack At Fort Sumter
The attack at Fort Sumter was the opening battle of the Civil War. Confederate General Beauregard demanded the surrender of the Union soldiers. Major Robert Anderson surrendered three days later via heavy fire. It was a Confederate victory. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The battle started out with the Union pushing forward, but they were soon forced to retreat. Both sides were too unorganized to run or pursue. General Jackson got his nickname "Stonewall' at Bull Run, and it showed Lincoln that this would be a long and costly battle. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was the bloodiest battle in America's history so far. The Confederates drove the Federals back, but General Grant was determined. He hit back hard, and on the second day, the South retreated. General Johnston was severely wounded and the Union had one more victory. -
Union Captures New Orleans
On April 24, Admiral Farragut snuck his naval fleet past the Jackson and St.Phillip forts. The Confederates were expecting the Union to come from the Mississippi River, not the Gulf of Mexico. It was over from there, and was a vital Union victory. -
Seven Days' Battles
They were a series of battles at Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines’ Mill, Savage Station, Glendale, and Malvern Hill. They were bloody battles that forced the Union to retreat from Richmond. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
The fight on the 28 was a stalemate, but it convinced General Pope that he had Jackson surrounded. He attacked Jackson, but Jackson had major reinforcements. Like the first Bull Run, it was a Confederate victory. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day in American history. The Union soldiers collided into the Confederate soldiers in the early morning. General Lee was very outnumbered, and by nightfall, his army was almost nothing. Lee retreated late in the night and it was a Union victory. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln waited for a Union victory to give his powerful speech. After the victory at Antietam, Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation. It stated that all slaves in rebellious states would be free within 100 days and gave blacks some rights like fighting in the war. -
Siege of Vicksburg
General Grant starved the city and hit it with heavy artillery until they surrendered. It took six weeks, but the Union got the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy in half. -
West Virginia Becomes a State
West Virginia was the 35th state to enter the Union. They seperated from Virginia because Virginia agreed on slavery,while the west wanted free land. West Virginia stayed with the Union during the war. -
Battle of Gettysburg
General Lee had a victory the first day of fighting. On the second day, Lee tried to push the Union out of the hills of Gettysburg, but was unsuccessful. The third day of fighting was Pickett's Charge, and the Union had won the Battle of Gettysburg. -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln gave his speech to dedicate Gettysburg as a cemetery honoring the men who died in the war. He put it into perspective questioning whether or not the country could survive. He made it a point to say that all men, black or not, were equal and the country should be ashamed. We still have the sacred cemetery today. -
Battle of Chattanooga
The Confederates had a hold on the Union until the Union finally broke free and got through the enemy lines. The Union took Orchard Knob and Lookout Mountain, then Chattanooga. Chattanooga was also known as the "gateway to the lower south." -
Battle of Cold Harbor
On June 1, the Union finally reached the Confederate line and both sides fought until June 12. That night, General Grant retreated back to Petersburg. -
Lincoln is Re-Elected
Lincoln overwhelmingly won the election of 1864. The war was in its fourth year, and many turned to Lincoln for a Civil victory. 5 months after his re-election, the Confederacy fell. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
General Sherman had recently conquered Atlanta, and he was heading towards the east coast. He destroyed and took many towns along the way. It was a major Union victory. It is referred to as "the beginning and the end" for the Confederacy. -
Assassination of President Lincoln
John Wilkes Booth had learned that the President was going to be at Ford's Theatre, and Booth planned to kill the President and others out of rage of giving black's the right to vote. Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head and escaped. The President passed away the next morning, and Booth was shot to death at his hiding spot. -
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
The leaders of the Union and Confederate forces met and Lee surrendered to General Grant. This ended the Civil War. General Grant promised that his troops would be taken care of and not tried for treason.
