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United States Civil War
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Jefferson Davis speaks for slavery
Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis demonstrates resolutions as to why slavery should be allowed in the territories. -
Cooper Union Address
Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Address, where he stated that the Federal Government would be banning slavery in new territories. This was Lincoln's most moving speech and most people believe it won him the presidency. -
The Pony Express
The Pony Express began by going from Saint Louis, Missouri to Sacremento, California. It had 119 stations that were each 12 miles apart. It was a better way of improving communication. -
Constitutional Union Party is formed
The members of the American and Whig parties met in Baltimore and formed the Constitutional Union Party, They elected John Bell to be their candidate to run for president and Edward Everett as their candidate for vice president. -
Grace Bedell wrote to Lincoln
Grace Bedell, an 11 year old young girl, wrote to Lincoln. In her letter she told him that a beard would make his face look more healthy and appealing because it was so thin. Lincoln then decided to let a beard grow out. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President of the United States
Abraham Lincoln of Illinois wins the 1860 Presidential Election by obtaining 180 electoral votes. Lincoln won 39% of the popular vote and would become Chief of Party for the Republicans. -
Secession is urged in the south
Seven senators and twenty-three representatives present a manifesto urging southern secession. It recommended forming a Southern Confederacy. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina had enough and decided to secede from the Union. -
South Carolina Congressman
The South Carolina Congressmen resigned due to secession. -
South Carolina's Declaration
South Carolina issued their "Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Seccession of South Carolina from the Federal Union". -
Star of the West is fired upon
Star of the West, an unarmed merchant vessel secretly carrying federal troops and supplies to Fort Sumter, is fired upon by South Carolina artillery at the entrance to Charleston harbor. -
Kansas admitted
Kansas is admitted as a state with a constitution that will prohibit slavery, -
Confederate States of America are formed
The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate and former U.S Army Officer, as President. -
Abraham Lincoln Sworn In
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as the sixteenth President of the United States of America. -
Fort Sumter Attacked
At 4:30 A.M the Confederate general, General Pierre Beauregard, opened fire with fifty cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. -
Lincoln calls for men
Lincoln calls for 75,000 militiamen and summons a special session of Congress for July 4th. -
More states secede from the Union
Virginia secedes from the Union. Up until May 20th, Arkansas, Tenessee, and North Carolina also seceded from the Union. -
Robert. E Lee resigns
Colonel Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States Army. -
Capital of the Confederacy
Richmond becomes the capitol of the Confederacy. -
General is replaced
George B. McClellan, thirty-four, replaces the aging Winfield Scott as general-in-chief of the Union armies. -
Fort Henry captured
General Ulysses S. Grant captures Fort Henry located in Tennessee. Ten days later he accepts the unconditional surrender of Fort Donelson. This is where he recieved his nickname, "unconditional surrender." -
Union wins Shiloh
General Ulysses S. Grant wins the Battle of Shiloh, but still suffers tremendous losses in his troops. -
Conscription
The Confederacy starts to use conscription in order to get more soldiers to fight in the war. -
New Orleans captured
Union fleet commander, David G. Farragut, captures New Orleans from the Confederacy. -
Battle of McDowell
Stonewall Jackson’s Shenandoah Valley campaign begins successfully with a victory at the Battle of McDowell in Virginia. -
The Prayer of Twenty Millions
Horace Greely of the New York Tribune publishes The Prayer of Twenty Millions. It was a plea for Lincoln to liberate slaves in the Union. -
Battle of Antietam
There is a major battle in Antietam, Maryland. Both sides suffer tremendous losses and it is one of the bloodiest battles of all time. -
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln issues the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. -
McClellan relieved
General McClellan receives Lincoln’s order relieving him of command of the Army of the Potomac. -
A Win for Lee
Robert E. Lee decisively wins the Battle of Fredericksburg. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, which declares that slaves in the seceded states are now free -
Federal Draft Act
President Lincoln signs a Federal Draft Act to volunteer more soldiers to fight the war without them having to actually volunteer. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Lee hands the Army of the Potomac another serious loss at the Battle of Chancellorsville. “Stonewall” Jackson is wounded during the battle. -
Stonewall Jackson dies
After getting shot, Stonewall Jackson develops pneumonia and dies on May 10. -
Battle at Brandy Station
Confederate cavalry under Jeb Stuart clash with the Union mounts of Alfred Pleasonton in an all day battle at Brandy Station, Virginia. Some 18,000 troopers, approximately nine thousand on either side take part, making this the largest cavalry battle on American soil. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg is fought in Pennsylvania. General George G. Meade compromises his victory by allowing Lee to retreat South across the Potomac. This battle last until July 3. -
Battle of Vicksburg
After a long siege, Confederates surrender Vicksburg to Ulysses S. Grant, which secured the Mississippi River for the Union. -
Riots
Violent riots erupt in New York City in protest to the draft. People were every upset about randomly being called to war. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln delivers his famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, in which he demonstrates the nation’s fundamental principle that all men are created equal. -
Battle of Chattanooga
After three days of battle, the Union victory at Chattanooga, Tennessee, opens the way for Union advancement into the heart of the Confederacy. -
Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant
After being commissioned to the rank of lieutenant general, Ulysses S. Grant is given official authority to command all of the armies of the United States. -
Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia is the first of a bloody series of month-long squarrels between Ulysses S. Grant and Robert E. Lee. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor results in many Union deaths. Grant prepares for a ten month siege of Petersburg. -
Repeal of Fugitive Slave Laws
President Lincoln signs a bill repealing the fugitive slave laws. -
High security at the Capital
Confederate forces under Jubal Early fire upon the defenses of Washington, D.C., putting the Capital in a state of high alert. -
Battle of Mobile Bay
Union Admiral David G. Farragut wins the Battle of Mobile Bay. -
Cedar Creek
A Union victory at Cedar Creek scares the Confederates and ends the threat in the Shenandoah Valley. -
Lincoln re-elected
Lincoln is reelected President, with Andrew Johnson as his Vice President. -
March to the sea
Sherman leaves Atlanta and begins his “march to the sea,” in an attempt to demoralize the South and speed up their surrender. -
Lincoln's birthday present
Savannah falls to Sherman’s army without resistance. Sherman gives the city to Lincoln as a Christmas present. -
13th Amendment
Congress passes the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolishes slavery throughout the United States. -
Columbia destroyed
Columbia, South Carolina, is almost completely destroyed by fire, most likely set off by Sherman’s troops. -
Lincoln inaugurated
Lincoln is inaugurated as President for a second term. -
Appomattox campaign begins
The Appomattox campaign begins, with Grant’s move against Lee’s defenses at Petersburg, Virginia. -
Richmond occupied
Union troops take over and occupy Richmond. -
Lee surrenders at Appomattox
Robert E. Lee surrenders his Army of Virginia to Grant at the Appomattox Courthouse. -
John Wilkes Booth shoots Lincoln
John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Ford’s Theater and Secretary of State William H. Seward is stabbed and wounded in an assassination attempt inside his Washington home. -
Lincoln dies
President Lincoln dies, and his Vice President Andrew Johnson is inaugurated as President. -
Jefferson Davis captured
Jefferson Davis is captured and taken prisoner near Irwinville, Georgia. -
Assassins death sentence
All eight conspirators are convicted for the assassination of President Lincoln; four are sentenced to death. -
The Liberator
The last issue of the Liberator was published. The newspaper had now becames unnecessary because the slaves had been free. -
Jesse James
The first day light bank robbery takes place in Liberty, Missouri. This was carried out by Jesse James and his gang, although no one is quite sure where Jesse James fits into this event. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is founded in New York by Henry Bergh. -
The Nickel
Congress approved the minting of a five cent piece, known as the nickel. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment is ratified. This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans. -
Tennessee
After the Civil War Tennessee became the first state readmitted to the Union -
The General of the Army
Congress passed the legislation making General of the Army a rank. Ulysses S. Grant was the first to hold this title. -
Atlantic Cable
The Atlantic Cable was built allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time. -
Train robbery
The first train robbery took place. The Reno brothers ran away with $13,000 -
Jesse and the gang
Jesse James and his gang robbed a bank in Lexington, Missouri. They got away with $2,000. -
African Americsn MALES given the right to vote
African American males were given the right to vote in Washington D.C. Congress overcame President Johnson's veto to give the African Americans this right. -
Jesse James in Savannah
Jesse James robbed a bank in Savannah,Missouri. The attempt failed with one death. -
First Reconstruction Act
The first reconstruction act set up five military districts in the South, each under the control of a military commander. -
Ride ins
African Americans staged a ride on streetcars in New Orleans to protest segregation. -
Alaska
President Andrew Johnson announced the purchase of Alaska. It is the second to last state added to the United States of America. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Johnson vetods the third reconstruction act which described lection procedures in the South and re-established congressional control over the Reconstruction. -
Johnson suspends Stanton
Johnson suspended Stanton as Secretary of War after the two fought over reconstruction plans. Johnson placed Ulysses S. Grant in the position. -
Alaska is gained
The United States takes full control of Alaska by purchasing it from Russia for 7.2 million dollars. -
Impeachment
Congress looked into impeaching Johnson for his lack of unwillingness to follow through with the idea of reconstruction. -
Grange
Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley found the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry.
