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Abraham Lincoln inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln is elected the 16th president of the United States over a deeply divided Democratic Party, becoming the first Republican to win the presidency. Lincoln received only 40 percent of the popular vote but handily defeated the three other candidates. -
South Carolina Secedes
December 2, 1860 South Carolina Secedes When Abraham Lincoln was re-elected in 1860, South Carolina’s 169 delegates unanimously agreed to secede from the Union, repealing the Constitution and its amendments. -
Virgini Secedes
Virginia seceded from the Union. On April 16th, the delegates met in secrecy, passing the Ordinance of Secession the next day. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Triggered the start of the Civil War in Charleston, South Carolina. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders Commission
On the night of April 19, 1861, Colonel Robert E. Lee resolved to resign his commission in the US Army. He wrote two letters. The first was a brief letter to the Secretary of War resigning his commission in the US Army. -
1st Battle of Bull Run
This was the first major land battle of the armies in Virginia. The union was winning most of the battle, but the serge of the confederates came in a late win. -
Battle of Monitor and the Merrimac
During the battle of the Monitor and the Merrimac, the new ship called the Monitor was used for the first time. The union had to use this because of the Confederate's new ship called the Ironclad which was apparently unsinkable. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh resulted in a victory for the Union. But both sides paid the price estimated Casualties 23,746 total (U 13,047; C 10,699). -
Battles of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major battle of the American Civil War, and the principal engagement of the Chancellorsville Campaign. he campaign pitted Union Army Maj. Gen. -
McClellan Returns to Washington after the Peninsula Campaign
Major General George B. McClellan returned to Washington after his Peninsula Campaign, the strategy against the Confederates to take their capital of Richmond, Virginia. -
2nd Battle of Bull Run
One of the most significant battles of the Civil War, the 2nd Battle of Bull Run was a two day battle, during which the Union attacked General John Pope’s Union army first, and the North retaliated. -
Battle of Antietam
On September 16, 1862, Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan and his Union Army of the Potomac confronted Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia at Sharpsburg, Maryland. Mccellan led his army to victory over Lee's big army. -
Emancipation Proclmation Takes Effect
Lincoln made the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves. It freed the slaves in states that di not rejoin the Union. -
Battle of Vicksburg
Vicksburg Major General Ulysses S. Grant's army attacks Vicksburg,trapping the Confederates under Lt. Gen. John Pemberton. On July 4th, Vicksburg surrendered. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Turning point of the Civil War. The Union army beat the Confederates and the Confederates lost military and political control. Days later, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Battle at Fort Wagner
At dusk July 18, Gillmore launched an attack spearheaded by the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, a black regiment. The unit’s colonel, Robert Gould Shaw, was killed. -
Lincoln Delivers Gettysburg Address
Website Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address four months after the Battle of Gettysburg. In his surpsingly short speech, dedicating a cemetary to soldiers who fought and died in the battle, Lincoln explained that the reason for their sacrifice was for the preservation of the Union and ending slavery. -
Sherman Reaches Savannah
Website After stoping at Milledgeville, Sherman reached Savannah, Georgia. It was defended by General Hardee with 10,000 men but after a few days, Hardee knew it would be impossible to hold Savannah so he withdrew his army into South Carolina. -
Atlanta Burns to the Ground
Atlanta burns to the ground from Sherman's army. They followed the scorched Earth Policy and burned everything so the Confederates couldnt have any of it. -
Richmond the Confederate Capital Falls
Besides being the political home of the Confederacy, Richmond was a center of rail and industry, military hospitals, and prisoner-of-war camps and prisons. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle was the Civil War’s first urban combat, as it was fought on the streets of Fredericksburg. General Burnside, the Union commander, attempted a diversion during the battle, which split his forces up and ultimately led to a Confederate victory, with Burnside and his men’s retreat.