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Period: to
United States Civil War
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Jefferson Davis
He comes out in favor of secession for the first time for the public. -
Lincoln's Speech at Cooper Institute
Abraham Lincoln addresses gathering in New York, He attacks slavery there. -
Lincoln's Speech at New Haven
Abraham Lincoln gives speech in New Haven, Connecticut He says, "Whether we will or not, the question of Slavery is the question, the all absorbing topic of the day. It is true that all of us—and by that I mean, not the Republican party alone, but the whole American people, here and elsewhere—all of us wish this question settled, wish it out of the way". -
Sweden Treaty
U.S. signs extradition treaty with Sweden. -
The Pony Express
It began for mail service operating between St. Joseph, Mo. and Sacramento, Calif. -
First Printing Service est.
Congress establishes the Government Printing Office. -
Stephen Douglas
He brought his campaign to Atlanta, where he spoke against secession. -
William H. Gist
South Carolina Governor asks the legislature for a state convention if the Republicans win the election. -
Lincoln elected as President.
Of Ilinois Lincoln wins by getting 180 electoral votes. Elected Chief of Party for the Republicans. Also he won 39% of the popular vote. -
South Carolina Secedes
In Charleston, South Carolina a convention made an ordinance dissolving its connection from the US or union. This started what was going to become the Civil War where Southern states left the North for a better way of life. -
Mississippi secedes
Helps lead to Civil War -
Florida secedes
Helps lead to Civil War. -
Alabama secedes
Helps lead to Civil War. -
Georgia secedes
Helps lead to Civil War. -
Kansas
Admitted as 34th state. -
Texas secedes
Helps lead to Civil War. -
Lincoln inaugurated
Becomes 16th President and one of the most influential in American history. -
Arkansas secedes
Helps lead to Civil War. -
North Carolina secedes
Helps lead to Civil War. -
Virginia secedes
Helps lead to Civil War -
Stanton Appointed Secretry of War
Abraham Lincoln decides in to remove Simon Cameron as Secretary of War, and replace him with Edwin M. Stanton. -
Death of John Tyler
Former President of the United States, and member of the Congress of the Confederate States of America. -
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Julia Ward Howe's "Battle Hymn of the Republic" is published for the first time in The Atlantic Monthly. -
Lincoln's son dies
Eleven year old son, Willie (William Wallace Lincoln), dies from fever, probably caused by polluted drinking water in the White House. -
Tennessee
Tennessee adopts a new constitution that abolishes slavery. -
Andrew Johnson Appointed Governor of Tennessee
After the capture of Nashville by Union forces, Pres. Lincoln appoints Andrew Johnson Military Governor of Tennessee. -
Lincoln Becomes General-in-Chief
President Abraham Lincoln relieves George B. McClellan as general-in-chief and takes direct command of the Union armies. -
Denver Mint Facility
An Act of Congress authorizes the Denver Mint facility in Colorado. -
David G. Farragut Atttacks New Orleans
A federal force under command of Flag Officer David G. Farragut and Gen. Benjamin F. Butler, runs the forts below New Orleans and bombards the city. -
Capture of New Orleans
Gen. Benjamin F. Butler's army began landing at New Orleans and occupying the city. -
Henry David Thoreau Dies
Dies of tuberculosis and buried in Sleepy Hollow Cemetary. -
Emancipation Proclamation takes effect
It proclaimed the freedom of slaves in the ten states then in rebellion. -
Joseph Hooker Appointed to Command of Army of the Potomac
Replacing Ambrose E. Burnside. -
Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
Placed in command of the Army of the West, with orders to capture Vicksburg. -
Marriage of Tom Thumb
Charles Sherwood Stratton marries another midget, Lavinia Warren, making front-page news. -
Mosby's Raid
Confederate Partisan Ranger John S. Mosby carries out a daring raid far inside Union lines at the Fairfax County courthouse, where his men captured three high ranking Union officers, including Brig. Gen. Edwin Stoughton in the bedroom of his headquarters. Mosby allegedly found him in bed, rousing him with a slap to his rear. -
Bread riots in Richmond
A group of hungry and desperate women descended upon the Confederate capitol in Richmond demanding relief. Rebuffed by the Governor, the mob took their complaints to the streets and sparked a spontaneous protest by a crowd estimated in the thousands. -
Death of Stonewall Jackson
The South suffers a huge blow as Thomas J. Jackson dies from his wounds, his last words, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." "I have lost my right arm," Robert E. Lee laments. -
Siege of Vicksburg
Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's armies converged on Vicksburg, investing the city on May 18 and entrapping a Confederate army under Lt. Gen. John C. Pemberton. The city surrenders on July 4. -
Robert E. Lee's Second Invasion of the North
75,000 Confederates launche second invasion of the North, They head into Pennsylvania in a campaign that will soon lead to Gettysburg. -
West Virginia Admitted to the Union
West Virginia is the 35th state. -
Death of Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster died impoverished while living at the North American Hotel at 30 Bowery on the Lower East Side of Manhattan at the age of 37. -
Andersonville Prison
The first Northern prisoners arrived here. Major Henry Wirz, commandant, was the only Civil War soldier executed (on November 10, 1865) for war crimes. -
Grant Appointed Commander-in-Chief
President Abraham Lincoln appoints Ulysses S. Grant Lieutenant General and Commander in Chief of all the armies. -
Coinage Act of 1864
The United States Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864 which mandates that the inscription "In God We Trust" be placed on all coins minted as United States currency. -
Battle of Yellow Tavern
The outnumbered Confederate cavalry was defeated, and Maj. Gen. J.E.B. Stuart was mortally wounded. Sheridan continued south to threaten the Richmond defenses before jo -
Death of Nathaniel Hawthorne
Judge in Salem Witch Trials -
Battle of New Hope Church
Johnston anticipated Sherman's move and shifted his army into Sherman's path, centering a new line at New Hope Church. Sherman mistakenly surmised that Johnston had a token force and ordered Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker's XX Corps to attack. Advancing with his three divisions in parallel routes, Hooker pushed the Confederates back for three miles, before coming to Johnston's main line. -
Battle of Pickett's Mill
After the Union defeat at New Hope Church, Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman ordered Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard to attack Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's seemingly exposed right flank. The Confederates were ready for the attack, which did not unfold as planned because supporting troops never appeared. The Rebels repulsed the attack causing high casualties (1600 Union, 500 Confederate). -
Sinking of the Alabama
Off the coast of Cherbourg, France, the Confederate raider CSS Alabama loses a ship-to-ship duel with the U.S.S Kearsarge and sinks to the floor of the Atlantic. -
Jefferson Davis Replaces Joseph E. Johnston with John Bell Hood
President Jefferson Davis relieves Joseph E. Johnston of command of the defense of Atlanta and places John Bell Hood in charge. -
Capture of Fort Fisher, N.C.
After the failure of his December expedition against Fort Fisher, Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler was relieved of command. Maj. Gen. Alfred Terry was placed in command of a "Provisional Corps," including Paine's Division of U.S. Colored Troops, and supported by a naval force of nearly 60 vessels, to renew operations against the fort. -
Lee Appointed General-in-Chief
Confederate General Robert E. Lee is appointed General-in-Chief. -
Congress Approves 13th Amendment
The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to abolish slavery. -
Lincoln's Second Inauguration
"With malice toward none; with charity for all . . . let us strive on to finish the work we are in . . . to do all which may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations," Lincoln says. -
Confederacy Enlists Black Troops
In a desperate search for manpower, Jefferson Davis signs an act allowing slaves to enlist in the Confederate army. -
Confederate Congress Adjoursn
The Congress of the Confederate States of America adjourns for the last time. -
Surrender of Johnston
Lack of men and supplies forced Johnston to order continued withdrawal, and he surrendered to Sherman at Durham Station, N.C., on April 26. -
John Wilkes Booth Killed
Union cavalry corner John Wilkes Booth in a tobacco barn in Bowling Green, Virginia. Cavalryman Boston Corbett shoots the assassin dead. -
Sinking of the Sultana
The steamboat Sultana, carrying 2,300 passengers, explodes and sinks in the Mississippi River, killing 1,700. Most were Union survivors of the Andersonville Prison. -
Burial of Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is laid to rest in Oak Ridge Cemetery, outside Springfield, Illinois. -
Lincoln birthday after death
The first formal observation of President Lincoln's birthday is held in Washington, D. C. President Andrew Johnson attends. -
Secessionist Convention
Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention. -
Andrew Johnson vetos
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. -
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
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act. -
Winfield Scott dies
Died in West Point, NY and he served on active duty as a general longer than any other man in American history, and many historians rate him the best American commander of his time. -
KKK
The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan. -
Proclaimation Of Peace
A proclaimation of peace with Texas is issued by United States President Andrew Johnson. -
Philadelphia Fire
A fire in the Philadelphia ship-yard accidently destroys a number of ships used during the Civil War. -
South Carolina Rejects
On the 6th anniversary of secession, South Carolina rejects the 14th Amendment. -
Black's Can Vote
Blacks in Washington D. C. gain the right to vote in a bill passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Nebraska Admitted
Nebraska becomes a state. -
Mississippi Is Restored
Federal army restores military rule to Mississippi (2nd Reconstruction). -
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. -
2nd Reconstruction Act
Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act over Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Alaska Is Purchased
Senate ratifies treaty purchasing Alaska. -
Reconstruction Committee
House Select Committee on Reconstruction is appointed. -
Edwin Stanton
President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant becomes ad interim Secretary of War. -
Alaska for U.S.
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States.
