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U.S. Civil War
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Lawrence Keitt Gives a Speech
Lawrence Keitt, a South Carolina representative, gives a speech explaining in his words, why slavery is right. He was part of a radical group called the "Fire-eaters". The Fire-eaters were ready ro secceed from the Union, and actually began the movement to. -
First Democratic Convention
In Charleston, SC a Denocratic Convention opens. During the convention, much conflict occurs between the Northern and Southern Democrats. Their conflict was mainly focused around the topic of slavery. -
Constitutional Union Convention
This convention served as a haven for Whigs and Know-Nothings who did not wish to join the Northern or Southern Democratics, or the Republicans. They chose John Bell as the presidential canidate; and Edward Everett as their Vice President. -
Republican Convention
The Republicans were deciding between William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Abraham Lincoln. Of these three men, Lincoln was chosen for his log cabin background and his ability to gain votes from the northwest. -
Second Democratic Convention
The Southern and North Democrats meet again to finish their arguements which began in Charleton. The Constitutional Democratic Party is formed as a result. Their presidental canidate was John C. Breckinridge. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln wins the election. This happened despite the fact that no southern electoral votes were cast for Lincoln. he managed to win by over 100 electoral votes. -
South Carolina Secession Convention
169 delegates from South Carolina first met in the Baptist Church in Columbia; but later decided to move to charleston, due to smallpox. At the convention, it was offically decided on to seceed from the Union. -
Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise was used as a last resort to maintain peace and unity in the Union. There had been suspicion that South Carolina would seceed. So in order to keep them loyal Kentucky Senator John J. Crittenden, created several laws and amendments. -
South Carolina Seceeds
South Carolina Seceeds from the Union. The first state to do so. -
Anderson Moves his troops to Fort Sumter
Major Robert Anderson who is currently controlling Fort Moultrie on the harbors of Charleston decides to move his troops to Fort Sumter. He had been at Charleston as preparation for war, but when the South Carloinians claimed that Anderson's presence was violation of a pledge president Buchman had said three weeks before, Anderson moved to Fort Sumter. -
Mississippi Seceeds
Mississippi seceeds from the Union -
Florida Seceeds
Florida seceeds from the Union -
Alabama Seceeds
Alabama Seceeds from the Union -
Georgia Seceeds
Georgia secceds from the Union -
Louisiana Seceeds
Louisiana seceeds from the Union. -
Texas Secceeds
Texas secceds from the Union. -
Virgina Secceeds
Virgina secceeds from the Union. -
Arkansas Secceeds
Arkansas secceeds from the Union. -
Tennessee Secceeds
Tennessee secceeds from the Union -
North Carolina Secceeds
North Carolina is the last state to secceed from the Union. -
Battle of Middle Creek
This battle took place in Kentucky when union troops were met with over 2,000 rebels led by Brig. Gen. Humphrey Marshall. The battle resulted in a union victory. -
Battle of Mill Springs
This battle took place in Kentucky, and secured Union control of eastern Kentucky. Brig. Gen. George Thomas is able to defeat teh Confederate troops led by Brig. Gen. Felix K. Zollicoffer. -
Battle of Fort Henry
Led by Gen. Ulyssess S. Grant, Confederate Fort Henry was captured by Union forces. This was the first important Union victory in the west. -
Battle of Fort Donnelson
Following the capture of Fort Henry, Grant moved his troops 12 miles overland to Fort Donelson. The success at these two battles caused Grant to rank up to 'Major General" and got him the nickname "Unconditional Surrender". -
Surrender of Nashville
Nashville was the first Confederate capitol to fall under control of the Union. Confederate Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston, knew that he could not hold Nashville and left it in control of Nathan Bedford Forrest. When Union General Don Carlos Buell arrives, the mayor of Nashville surrenders the city. -
Battle of Pea Ridge
Also known as the Battle of Elkhorn Tavern. This battle was fought in Arkansas. In this battle, Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Samuel R. Curtis were met with Confederate troops led by General Earl Van Dorn. The battle resulted in a union victory. -
Battle of Frist Kernstown
This battle was fought in Virgina, and was Stonewall Jackson's only defeat. The battle consisted of Gen. Shields' troops and Jackson's. It ended with a Union victory. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
Also known as the "Second Battle of Manassass". Three different Confederate troops met at this battle being led by: James Longstreet, 'Stonewall" Jackson, and Robert E. Lee. Meanwhile the Union troops were led by John Pope. The battle resulted in a victory for the Confederacy. -
Battle of Antietam
The bloodest single day battle. The battle had a total of over 23,000 casualties. Though the battle had no definte winner, it was the South's first invasion of the North. -
George B. McClellan is fired
McCellan was a hesitant general and was given several oppertunities to end the war. However, he refused to pursue Lee and his troops each time. This eventually led to Lincoln removing him from his position. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issued the document called the "Emancipation Proclamation" which called from the immediate release of all slaves. -
Battle of Fort Hindman
Also known as the Battle of Arkansas Post. The Confederacy had built a large four-sided earthwork fortification near the Arkansas post to prevent the Union from gaining access to the Arkansas River. However, when Union General Porter and McClenard led boats to this fort, it didn't hold up. Resulting in a Union victory. -
Arizona Territory Organized
The House of Representatives, without any Southern representives, created the Arizona Territory using the north-south border of the 107th meridian. -
National Banking Act
The Act set standards for private banking corporations which would invest a large part of their capital in bonds of the United States and that might then issue their notes as currency. -
Idaho Territory Organized
It was orginally created from areas of other territrories. It was officially organized by Act of Congress and signed into law by Abraham Lincoln. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Near Fredricksburg, VA Gen. Hooker's army met Gen. Lee's. Hookers troops were twice the size of Lee's troops. However, the battle still ended in a Confederate victory after six days. -
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson is Killed
While fighting in the Battle of Chancellorsville Jackson was shot by his own men. he survived the shot, only loosing an arm. But died of pneumonia eight days later. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle is considered to be the turning point of the Civil War. Despite the fact that both sides had more casualities than in any other battle. It took place in Pennsylvannia, the farthest north the War ever went. It ended with a Union victory. -
Surrender of Vicksburg
Vickburg was a fort along the Mississippi River. Its surrender meant the union had control of the Mississippi. Following the Battle of Gettysburg, this surrender meant that the Union was making a comeback in the war. -
The Gettysburg Adress
A famous speech made by President Abraham Lincoln. The speech lasted two minutes, and was presented at a Gettysburg military cemetary dedication ceremony in Gettysburg, PA. -
First Union Soldiers Arrive at Andersonville
The Confederate prison which is remember for its horrible conditions. More than 13,000 prisons died there mostly from neglect and disease. -
Dahlgren's Raid
An incident involving a failed union raid on Richmond, VA. According to papers found on the body of the leading officer, colonel Ulric Dahlgren, one of the raid's objectives was to assassinate Confederate President Jefferson Davis. -
Fort Pillow Massacre
Fort Pillow was a Union fort under the control of Maj. Lionel F. Booth. Fort Pillow was attacked by Confederate troops led by Maj. Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest. The casulities of the battle were high when Union troops eventually surrendered, however there were more than 300 blacks, including women and children, who were killed after the fort surrendered. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
General William Sherman led a march from chattanooga, TN to Fayetteville, NC. The goal of the march was to end the Civil War by completely devestating the South. Aswell as the capture of Richmond, VA and Atlanta, GA. -
Arlington National Cemetery Founded
Established by Brig. Gen. Montgomery C. Meigs. The property originally belonged to mary Curtis Lee, wife of Robert E. Lee, but it was confiscated by federal troops to be turned into a military cemetery. -
Wade-Davis Bill
A bill which was passed that gave the power to readmit a state into the Union to Congress. For a state to be readmitted, 10% of the citizens had to swear allegiance to the Union and the 15th amendment had to be passed in the state. -
Capture of Atlanta
In conclusion to Sherman's March to the Sea, Atlanta is captured. Atlanta hold much political power and is a very signifigant loss for the South. -
Battle of Opequon
Also known as the third Battle of Winchester. Maj. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan was given command of union troops with which he led many minor skirmishes with Confederate Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early's troops. Eventually the two were led into a battle, resulting in a Union victory. -
Battle of Allatoona
After the fall of Atlanta, Maj. Gen. Samuel G. French's Confederate division was met with General John M. Corse reinforcement brigade at Allatoona. the Confederates attacked the fort for 2 and a half hours straight, but was forced to return to Lt. Gen. John Bell Hood force when they began to run low on amunition. -
Election of 1864
Lincoln ran for his second term against George McClellan. Lincoln won by a landslide. -
13th Amendment
The United States Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which will abolish slavery. -
Lincoln's Second Inauguration
Lincoln has his second inauguration, after being re-elected as president. -
Lincoln's Second Inauguration
Lincon is sworn in for his second term as president. -
Robert E. Lee's Surrender
After fighting for four years, Lee eventually surrendered his troops to the Union. Even though the Confederate States of America were gone, they were gratefully welcomed back by Lincoln. -
Lee Surrenders
The two leaders planned the end of their conflict to be at the house of Wilmer McLean in the village of Appomattox Courthouse. There they met, and Lee surrendered his troops to Grant and that of the Union. -
Lincoln's Assassination
At Ford's Theatre Lincon was watching a play when he was shot in the back of the head by an actor, John Wilkes Booth. -
John Wilkes Booth is Killed
After a twelve day man hunt, Booth is trapped in a barn and forced to come out. However he is shot before he can be arrested and be subject to questioning. -
Battle of Petersburg
Union troops lead by Gen. Meade marched across the James and Appomattox Rivers. They were met with Gen. Beauregard's Confederate troops, and were driven back to Harrison Creek. This battle resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Slavery is Abolished
The 13th Amendment is adopted by all the states. Slavery is offically abolished. -
Ku Klux Klan
Six college students formed the extremist group in Pulaski, Tennessee. At first it was just a group of college students and former confederate soldiers who rode around at night for fun. But when they were informed that they were causing fear especially in that of former slaves they decided to take advantage of it. -
Fisk Free School is Established
A school founded for freedmen created by the Union Military during their occupation of Nashville, Tennesse. In 1871 it became Fisk University. -
Civil Rights Act
Federal Law that made everyone born in the U.S. and no subject to foreign power, a citizen. -
Memphis Race Riot
Race Rios last three days break out in Memphis, Tennesse. The riots included 46 blacks (most of them Union veterans) being murdered, more than 70 wounded, 5 black women raped, and 12 churches and 4 schools burned. -
Congress Passes the 14th Amendment
Congress passed the 14th Amendment, which granted former slave and anyone born in the U.S. citizenship. Congress passed the amendment, but President Johnson disagreed. It wasn't ratified until 1868. -
Southern homestead Act of 1866
A United States federal Law enacted inorder to break the cycle of debt during Reconstruction. Before this law, both white and black farmers had been relying on sharecropping anf tenant farming as ways of life. -
Tennessee is Readmitted to Representation in Congress
Tennessee was the first state to be readmitted to the Union, and was the only for almost two years. -
New Orleans Race Riot
The riot began out of anger, from the black community, towards the government for the Black Codes and for refusing to allow Blacks to vote. -
Congress Approves of Six New Black Regiments
These new regiments are nicknamed "Buffalo Soldiers". They were assigned to territories in the West. These regiments continued to serve the government throughout history. -
Andrew Johnson "Swing Around the Circle"
A 18-day tour made by president Andrew Johnson inorder to gain support for his Reconstruction plan. However, all the tour accomplished was creating more opposition between the North and South and caused Johnson to lose support. -
House of Representatives Elections of 1866
Many radical republicans were elected into office in this election. There now were enough radicals to override President Johnson's vetoes. -
First Reconstruction Act of 1867
Four statutes passed by Congress to help the process of reconstruction. These statutes included: that for any southern state to be readmitted to the Union 10% of the population must swear allegiance to the Union; before each state was readmitted it was under military control. -
Howard University is Founded
In Washington D.C. Howard University is formed as “a University for the education of youth in the liberal arts and sciences.” -
Tenure of Office Act
A federal law which took away the president's power to remove certain office holders without the consent of the Senate. President Johnson opposed this law and replaced his Secretary of War with Ulyssess S. Grant, without the consent of the Senate. This eventually led to his impeachment. -
Second Reconstruction Act of 1867
This Act was made in addition to the first and clarified that the military commanders held responsibility to register voters and hold elections in their territories. It also stripped southern office holders, who had entered their position before the Civil War, of their position. -
Johnson C. Smith College is Founded
in Charlotte, North Carolina the first session only had eight men enrolled but soon spread to more and more African Americans. -
Morgan State College is Founded
In Baltimore, Maryland it was founded as the Centenary Biblical Institute by the Baltimore Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church but was later renamed. The mission of the college was to train boys in ministry. -
Third Reconstruction Act
The Third Reconstruction Act gave complete power to five Union generals overseeing the five districts of the South. These generals held the power to remove any official, elected or otherwise, from office if they believed the official to impede rather than expedite the process of Reconstruction. -
Edmonia Lewis Forever Free
Sculptor, Edmonia Lewis creates "Forever Free" which is one of her besst known sculptures. It depicts an African American couple hearing that slavery is over. -
St. Augistine's College is Founded
In Raliegh, North Carolina it was formed by an Episcopal clergy to help educate freed slaves. -
Talladega College is Founded
In Talladega, Alabama a black college is formed. It was formed originally as a one-room school house for the children of former slaves in the area, but soon grew to become a college.
