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Jefferson Davis, Senator of Mississippi, submits several resolutions as to why slavery is important in certain territories.
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Abraham Lincoln gives a speech in which he openly states that he opposes slavery in new territories. This speech was highly influential in his winning the presidential election.
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The Pony Express is debuted, and while short-lived and not very successful, it allowed for the government to think of new ways to transport messages across distances.
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The Constitutional Union Party is formed at a convention in Baltimore. Made up of former Whigs, the party's was highly opposed to secession.
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Lincoln in elected president and promises to emancipate the slaves. He is a strong leader for the North and is remembered as one of the country's greatest presidents.
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At Fort Sumter in Charleston, Major Robert Anderson reports of threats from southern rebels and asks for reinforcements; none are sent.
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South Carolina secedes from the United States of America. The rest of the southern states shortly followed in South Carolina's suit. This was a leading factor of the Civil War.
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After South Carolina approved the Ordinance of Secession, the House Representatives from that state abandoned the House.
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Secretary of War John B. Floyd resigns from office. Shortly after, he is indicted for corrupt behavior while in office, but the indictment was overruled in 1861.
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Rebel forces seize a federal arsenal at Charleston. The next day, a telegram is sent informing of troops on their way to Charleston.
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Jefferson Davis is selected as president of the Confederate States of America, and his vice president is Alexander Stephens.
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Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter, which is under the command of Major Robert Anderson.
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The first land engagement of the Civil War, but it was seen not so much as a battle but more of a skirmish.
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The first official battle of the Civil War is fought in Manassas, Virginia. The result was a surprising Confederate victory.
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Explained the goals of the Union in the Civil War, however it made no mention of slaves or freeing them.
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Under Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, Union forces gain control of the Tennessee River after capturing Paducah, Kentucky.
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William Tecumseh Sherman replaces Major Robert Anderson as commander of the Department of Cumberland after Anderson sufferes a severe mental breakdown.
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Appointed by Lincoln, George McClellan replaces Winfield Scott as commander of the Union army.
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Confederates James Mason and John Slidell are arrested on British mail ship, the Trent, after being stopped by the USS San Jacinto.
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Kentucky becomes the 13th Confederate State.
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The Union captured Fort Donelson, near the Cumberland River. It was here that Grant earned the nickname "Unconditional Surrender."
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Two ironclad ships, the Union Monitor and the Confederate Merrimack, fought at Hampton Roads, Virginia at the mouth of the James River. The battle was indecisive.
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Fought in Tennessee, the Union emerges victorious from Shiloh, however both sides suffered heavy losses and also learned the importance of trench warfare.
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David G. Farragut captures the largest city and most important port, New Orleans, commanding the Union fleet.
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Robert E. Lee replaces Joseph E. Johnston as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia.
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Another victory at Manassas for the Confederates, Lee and Gen. James Longstreet defeat Union Gen. John Pope.
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The bloodiest single-day battle in American history, the Battle of Antietam resulted in the Army of the Potomac defeating the Army of Northern Virginia.
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Lincoln's plans for the Emancipation Proclamation are published in newspapers, giving African Americans hope of freedom.
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Gen. Ambrose Burnisde replaces McClellan as commander of the Army of the Potomac.
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Burnside and the Army of the Potomac are beaten by Lee and his Army of Northern Virginia.
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The Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect, freeing slaves in the Confederate states.
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Lincoln replaces Ambrose Burnside with Gen. Joseph Hooker as commander of the Army of the Potomac.
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Hooker and his troops are defeated by Lee and his army on their way to Richmond, Virginia.
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West Virginia becomes the 35th state to enter the United States, but the terms free and slave did not matter here.
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A turning point in the Civil War, Lee and the Confederate forces are defeated by the Union after battling for three days.
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A major battle fought in Georgia, this resulted in a significant loss for the Union and is the second highest number of casualties in the war following Gettysburg.
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Lincoln gives a two-minute speech, the Gettysburg Address, at the dedication of the National Cemetery at Gettysburg.
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In Chattanooga, under Grant, the Union forces assaulted and defeated the Confederate Army of Tennessee and its commander, Gen. Braxton Bragg.
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Longstreet skirmishes with Brig. Gen. James Shackelford before driving Union forces back. Shackleford later withdrew on the evening of December 14th.
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Gen. Joesph E. Johnston is appointed to command the Army of Tennessee by Davis.
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The amendment to end slavery is proposed by Senator John B. Henderson of Missouri to Congress.
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William Techumseh Sherman begins the Meridian Campaign after arriving in Vicksburg.
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The USS Houstatonic is destroyed by the CSS Hunley by torpedo. Both ships sink in the Charleston harbor.
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In Andersonville, federal POWs begin arriving at Camp Sumter.
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Nathan Bedford Forrest begins raiding villages in Kentucky and West Tennessee.
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Grant retreats to Spotsylvania Court House after being badly beaten by Lee on the field.
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Grant and Lee battle for several days southwest of Fredericksburg. The result was inconclusive.
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Farragut orders the Hartford to take lead near the entrance to Mobile Bay, where the ironclad Tennessee was waiting. The Confederate fleet was destroyed by the Union ships.
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Lincoln wins the reelection against George McClellan to serve a second term as President. His Vice President is Andrew Johnson.
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Sherman begins his March to the Sea, burning and destroying many villages on the way to Georgia.
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The 13th Amendment is passed by the US House of Representatives.
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The city of Charleston is surrendered.
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The Confederacy allowed African Americans to enlist in the army, and those who fought for the army were to be freed.
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Lee surrenders his Army of Northern Virginia to Grant in Appomattox Court House,
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President Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a southern sympathizer, in Ford's Theatre.
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Joe Johnston surrenders to William Tecumseh Sherman.
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Jefferson Davis is captured near Irwinville, Georgia.
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Johnson grants a pardon to anyone who directly or indirectly aided the southern war effort and restored property rights, except to slaves.
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Lincoln assassination conspirators Lewis Payne, George A. Atzerodt, David Herold and Mary Surratt are hung in Washington, D. C..
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The 13th Amendment is proclaimed, abolishing slavery throughout the United States.
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Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention
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President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional.
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The US declares a state of peace with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.
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Congress overrides President Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act.
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A cholera epidemic begins in New York.
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Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
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Congress overrides President Johnson's veto of the Freedman's Bureau bill.
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The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan.
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President Johnson issues a peace proclamation with Texas.
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South Carolina rejects the 14th Amendment on the 6th anniversary of the secession.
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Nebraska becomes a state.
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Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act which denies the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress.
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Thousands of votes cast by African Americans are rejected in Alexandria, Virginia after they were granted suffrage.
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Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act over Johnson's veto.
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William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia buying Alaska for 2 cents an acre. It was known as "Seward's Folly."
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Congress passes a bill admitting Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina into the Union.
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Presideng Johnson demands Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War, to resign.
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The Senate ratifies the treaty purchasing the Alaska territory.
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Edwin Stanton is suspended by Presudent Johnson.
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Russia turns over Alaska to the United States.
