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Election of 1860
President Lincoln is sworn into office. -
Confederate States Formed
The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer, as president. -
Secession during the Civil War
The first state secede was South Carolina. -
Secession during the Civil War
The second state to secede was Mississippi. -
Secession during the Civil War
The next day Florida secedes. -
Secession during the Civil War
The 4th state to secede was Alabama. -
Secession during the Civil War
The next state to secede was Georgia. -
Secession during the Civil War
The next state to secede was Louisiana. -
Fort Sumter Attacked
At 4:30 a.m. Confederates under Gen. Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins. -
Battle of Philippi
The first land battle of the Civil War. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Union Army under Gen. Irvin McDowell suffers a defeat at Bull Run -
New appointed commander
General McClellan appointed to command the army of the Potomac. -
McClellan ignores Lincoln
Lincoln issues the first General War Order, telling all land and sea army forces to advance. McClellan igornes this. -
Greenbacks
This was a form of paper money introduced by Lincoln. It was the unified money for the United States and was used by the Union army. This money was distributed longer then any other money. -
Internal Revenue Law
This law would give the government funds to use towards the civil war. It put a tax on inheritance, tobacco, and incomes over $600. -
Alice in Wonderland
Lewis Carroll creates Alice in Wonderland during Civil War. -
Freedom in the North
The Union finally allows African Americans to fight in the war. -
Conscription Act
Davis and the Confederate Congress approve the conscription act. This calls forward any white male ages 18 to 35 to fight for the confederate army. -
Antietam
The battle of Antietam is the bloodiest single day battle in American history. Neither side won the war but the Confederate retreat during the battle made it a victory in Lincoln's eyes -
Lincoln issues a Proclamation
Lincoln's plan for Emancipation is published in the Union newspapers. This gives the slaves hope for their freedom and even more of a reason behind the war. -
Grant and his dislikes
Grant issues an order to bar Jewish people from serving under his command. This is horribly ironic because he is fighting to free a group of people because of the harsh treatment they are receiving. -
Racism
Lincoln orders 39 Sioux Indian men to be hanged. This is crazy because he is trying to gain one group of people equality and he should be doing the same things for the Native Americans. -
Emancipation
Lincoln signs the Emancipation and officially frees 3.1 million of the nation's slaves. This document only freed slaves that were not under Union control but allowed them to serve in the Union army. -
National Bank
Lincoln signs the National Banking Act, making it a law. It put someone in charge of controlling currency and it led to the creation of local banks. -
The Confederates adding numbers
The National Conscription Act is signed, forcing males aged 18-35 into joining the Union Army, The signing of this act led to the week long New York Draft Riots. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle took place from May 1st to May 4th, ending in a Confederate victory. Both sides lost many of their soldiers, the Union casualties were 17,500 men and the Confederate casualties were 13,000. The most devestating Confederate loss was General Stonewall Jackson. -
Gettysburg
This is the largest battle of the Civil War, taking place in a field in Gettysburg, Pennyslvania. General Meade's Union forces turn back Lee's Confederates during this battle. There were 28,000 Confederate casualties and 23,000 Union casualties. This is a Union Victory. -
Robert E. Lee resigns
Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the Confederate Army after a loss at Gettysburg. -
Battle of Lawrence
This battle took place in Lawrence, Kansas, the site of much previous violence over the issue of slavery. William Qauntrill's raiders kill over 200 men and boys. -
Thanksgiving
Lincoln declares Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated the last Thursday in November, This holiday is to celebrate the colonists and Native Americans coming together and sharing their resources. This is ironic because during Lincoln's time the Natives were still being treated with disrespect. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's speech dedicating the military cemetary at Gettysburg. The address is not very long but considered the most influential speech. It boosted Northern morale and made them feel like there was a purpose behind the war. -
Morgan's Escape
John Hunt Morgan, a confederate calvary leader, and some of his men escape the Ohio state prison. They escape by cutting a hole in a cell and crawling through the ventilation system. They return safetly to the South and Morgan picks up his calvary activities. Later in the war he is killed by the Union army. -
Andersonville
The first 500 prisoners of war arrive at the Confederate prison camp, Andersonville. This was the harshest prison camp of the Civil War. Many of the men held there did not survive because of the brutal conditions faced there. -
Coinage Act of 1864
Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864. This act states the the inscription "In God we Trust" must be on all coins that are to be used as US currency. -
Conscription Hoax
The New York World and the New York Journal of Commerce publish an article stating that Lincoln has drafted 400,000 more soldiers into the Union army, The public decided it was not true when they found that only two papers had published the news. -
Arlington National Cemetery
The Arlington National Cemetary is established by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. It is created using 200 acres land from Robert E Lee's home, Arlington House. -
Lincoln's Conscription Law
Lincoln signs away the fee that someone could pay to avoid being drafted into the Union Army. -
Confederates Spy
Confederate spy Belle Boyd is arrested by Union forces. He is held at the Old Capital Prison in Washington D.C. -
Gold
Helena, Montana is founded by four prospectors. They create it after finding gold at Last Chance Gulch -
Lincoln's Re-election
Lincoln is re-elected in 1864. His victory is overwhelming because of how many votes he received over George B. McClellan. -
Confederate Army of Manhattan
A group of Confederate operatives that call themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan set fires in more then 20 places. -
Sherman's march to sea
At Waynesboro, Georgia forces the Union prevent Confederate troops from interfering with General Sherman's plan to destroy part of the South by matching to Savannah, Georgia. Union suffers three times as many casualties as the Confederacy. -
Fort Stedman
The Confederate forces capture Fort Stedman from the Union forces. About 2,900 of Lee's men are killed and 1,000 are captured during the counter attack. -
Davis runs
Confederate President Jefferson Davis and his cabinet flee the confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia as Union forces near it. The very next day it is captured by the Union. -
Lee surrenders
General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appottamax courthouse. This marks the end of the Civil War!! -
Lincoln is shot
John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Fords Theater during a performance of My American Cousin. -
Booth is found
John Wilkes Booth is captured in a barn in Virginia at the Garret's farm. He is shot and killed by Boston Corbett. -
Juneteenth
General Granger arrives in Texas and tells them about the Emancipation Proclamation. It is now celebrated as holiday called Juneteenth. -
Conspirators hanged
The four conspirators in Lincoln's assassination are hanged. These men are Davide Harold, George Atzerodt, Lewis Payne, and Mary Surratt. John Surratt escapes to Canada and later makes his way to Egypt so he does not pay for his involvement in Lincoln's death. -
Henry Wirz
Major Henry Wirz is hanged. He was the leader of the atrocious war camp, Andersonville. He becomes the only soldier hanged for war crimes. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment is ratified by three-quarters of the states. This amendment permenantly abolishes slavery in the United States. -
The KKK
Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan to resist reconstruction as well as to repress the freed African Americans. -
The Liberator
The last issue of the Liberator is published. The newspaper has now becomes unnecessary because the slaves have been freed. -
Jesse James
The first day light bank robbery takes place in Liberty, Missouri. This was carried out by Jesse James and his gang. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is founded in New York by Henry Bergh. -
Nickel
Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, know as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment is ratified. This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans. -
Tennessee
Following the Civil War Tennessee becomes the first state readmitted to the Union. -
General of the Army
Congress passes the legislation making General of the Army a rank. Ulysses S. Grant is the first to hold that title. -
Atlantic Cable
The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time. -
The First Train Robbery
The first train robbery takes place. The Reno brothers get away with $13,000. -
Jesse James and his gang pt. 2
Jesse James and his gang robs another bank in Lexington, Missouri. They get away with $2,000. -
African Americans can vote too!!
African American males are given the right to vote in Washington D.C. Congress over came President Johnson's veto to give the African Americans this right. -
Jess James and his gang are back
Jesse James robs a bank in Savannah, Missouri. The attempt failed with one casualty. -
Reconstruction Act
The first reconstruction act sets up five military districts in the South, each under the control of a military commander. The Army Appropriations Act is passed, lessening Johnsons' control on the army. The final act passed is The Tenure Office Act which states that Johnson cannot remove cabinet members without the Senate's consent. -
Protest of Segregation
African Americans stage a ride on streetcars in New Orleans to protest segregation. -
Alaska
President Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. This would be the second to last state added to the United States of America. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Johnson vetoes the third reconstruction act which spells out election procedures in the South and reasserts congressional control over the Reconstruction. Congress overrides Johnsons' veto. -
Johnson suspends Stanton
Johnson suspends Stanton as Secretary of War after the two clash over reconstruction plans. Johnson places Ulysses S. Grant in the position. -
Alaska pt. 2
The United States officially takes possesion of Alaska from Russia. $7.2 million is paid for it. -
Impeachment of Johnson
Congress looks into impeaching Johnson for his lack of effectiveness and unwillingness to follow through with reconstruction. -
Farmers Organization Grange
Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry. Today this order is known as the farmers organization Grange.
