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The Pemberton mill in Lawrence Massachusetts, collapsed without warning on January 10, 1860 in what is likely "the worst industrial accident in Massachusetts history" and "one of the worst industrial calamities in American history". An estimated 145 workers were killed and 166 injured.
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In a speech at the Cooper Institute in New York, Abraham Lincoln attacks slavery and insists that the Federal government has "the power of restraining the extension of the institution."
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On February 27th, 1860, The united states population stands at 31,443,321
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The Pony Express was founded by William H. Russell, William B. Waddell, and Alexander Majors. Plans for the Pony Express were spurred by the threat of the Civil War and the need for faster communication with the West. The Pony Express consisted of relays of men riding horses carrying saddlebags of mail across a 2000-mile trail. The service opened officially on April 3, 1860.
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The former members of the American and Whig parties meet in Baltimore and form the Constitutional Union Party, They elect John Bell to be their candidate for president and Edward Everett as candidate for vice president.
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A Homestead Bill, providing federal land grants to Western settlers, is vetoed by President Buchanan under pressure from the South. The veto divides Buchanan's Democratic party, clearing the way for Abraham Lincoln's election in a three-way race.
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Grace Bedell, an 11 year old girl, writes Lincoln. In her letter she tells him that a beard would make his face look better because it is so thin. Lincoln immediatly decides to let his beard grow out.
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On November 6th, 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected president after running against Stephen douglass and winning most of the popular votes and electorial votes.
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The Crittenden Compromise was a last ditch effort to help solve the seccession crisis in the United States in 1860. It was an unsuccessful proposal introduced by kentucky senator John J. Crittenden.
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On December 20th, 1860, South Carolina is the first from the states to sucede from the union. This eventually causes a chain reaction with other southern states which leads the the creation of the Confederate states of America, leading to the Civil war.
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Kansas is admitted to the Union. It is 34th U.S. state and was supposed to be a slave state. Much controversy led it to eventualy become free.
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Jefferson Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. He is elected at the Weed convention in Montgomery, Alabama.
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Attack on Fort Sumter off the coast of Charleston, South Carolina, signals the beginning of the Civil War.
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After being offered field command of the Union forces, Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the U. S. Army and takes up a commission in the Confederate Army.
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Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus. This meant that people could now be imprisoned without being seen by a judge and told what their crimes were. Technically this is against the constitution but during a time of war it was necessary.
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Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant, capture Paducah, Kentucky without spilling any blood. This gives the union control of the Tennesse River.
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Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army, He replaces the aging Winfield Scott. This is probably Lincoln's worst decision of the entire Civil War.
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This Union ship stops the United Kingdom mail ship, The Trent. They arrest two Confederate envoys, James Mason and John Slidell. This causes tension with the previously uninvolved Britain.
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Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjmamin as his Secretary of War, This put him in charge of the Confederate army. After he resigned, Davis appointed him to Secretary of State.
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On the 14th of April, 1865, Abraham lincoln was assassinated while watching the play "Our American Cousin" The plot was planned and carried out by stage actor John Wilkes Booth.
