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United States Civil War
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Jefferson Davis public speaking about salvery
Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis presents resolutions as to why slavery should be allowed in the territories. He also gave reasons as to why the nation should protect slaveholders. His intention was to unite the Democratic party and protect the South. -
Cooper Union Address
Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Address, in which he validated the Federal Government banning slavery in new territories. This was Lincoln's most influential speech and many people believe it won him the presidency. -
Pony Express
The Pony Express begins going from Saint Louis, Missouri to Sacremento, California. It had 119 stations that were each 12 miles apart. They made it possible for more letters to be delivered in a more timely manner. -
Formation of Constitutional Union Party
The former members of the American and Whig parties meet in Baltimore and form the Constitutional Union Party, They elect John Bell to be their candidate for president and Edward Everett as candidate for vice president. -
Battle at Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run, otherwise known as Manassas, saw its first major land battle on July 21st, 1861. This was the first major land battle of the armies in Virginia. On July 16, 1861, the untried Union army under Brig. Gen. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington against the Confederate army, which was drawn up behind Bull Run beyond Centreville. On the 21st, McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. Fighting raged throughout the day as Con -
Lincoln Issues Emancipation Proclamation
n September of 1862, after the Union's victory at Antietam, Lincoln issued a preliminary decree stating that, unless the rebellious states returned to the Union by January 1, freedom would be granted to slaves within those states. After no confederate states took the offer, Lincoln then finally presented the Emancipation Proclamation which declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." -
Presidential Election
Abraham Lincoln is elected president -
South urges for secession
Seven senators and twenty-three representatives issue a manifesto urging southern secession. It also recommends forming a Souther Confederacy. -
South Carolina secedes
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union as a direct result of Lincoln becoming president. The south did not want their way of life changed and they knew that Lincoln would abolish slavery. -
South Carolina Secedes
During the presidential election of 1860, Southern leaders told the South to secede from the Union if Lincoln were to win the election because they believed Lincoln was an abolitionist. Abolitionists were people who worked to get rid of slavery. The South was afraid that Lincoln would outlaw slavery while in office. This would have created a problem for the South since its way of life depended on slaves. -
Kansas becomes 34th U.S State
Kansas is admitted to the Union. It is 34th U.S. state and was supposed to be a slave state. However, due to controversy it led it to become a free state. -
Jefferson Davis becomes President
Jefferson Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. He is elected at the Weed convention in Montgomery, Alabama. -
Fort Sumter
The first battle of the Civil War occurs at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The battle lasted two days and was a victory for the Confederate forces. -
Suspension of the writ of Habeas Corpus
Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus. This meant that people could now be imprisoned without being seen by a judge and told what their crimes were. -
The Crittenden Johnson Resolution
This resolution is passed by Congress to give reasoning behind going to war. It states that the war is to preserve the Union, not to end slavery. -
Unions gains Tennesse River
Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant, capture Paducah, Kentucky without spilling any blood. This gives the union control of the Tennesse River. -
Lincoln appoints George McClellan
Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army, He replaces the aging Winfield Scott. Lincoln later fires him for having "the slows" -
Judah Benjmamin appointed
Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjmamin as his Secretary of War, This put him in charge of the Confederate army. After he resigned, Davis appointed him to Secretary of State. -
Kentucky joins Confederacy
Kentucy becomes the 13th Confederate state.This is really turning point because the Confederate states are becoming larger and gaining more power and resources. -
Grants earns "Unconiditional Surrender"
General Ulysses S. Grant earns his nickname, the "Unconditional Surrender" after his victory in Tennessee after capturing Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. -
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. -
Battle at Shiloh
Confederates surprise Grant and his troops with an attack at Shiloh on the Tennessee River. 13,000 Unions are killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates. -
Conscription
Jefferson 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. -
Battle of Seven Pines
McClellan's troops are attacked in front of Richmond by General Joseph E. Johnston. Johnnston is seriously injured therefore, they do not defeat McClellan and his troops. -
Seven Days Battle
McClellan is attacked by Lee near Richmond. Both sides lose many men. Continues until July 1st; McClellan begins withdrawal back to Washington. -
Internal Revenue Law created
This law would give the government funds to use towards the civil war. It put a tax on inheritance, tobacco, and incomes over $600. -
Second Battle at Bull Run
55,000 Confederates under command of General Stonewall Jackson and General James Longstreet in northern Virginia defeat 75,000 Federals under General John Pope. Union army heads to Washington again, Pope is released. -
Battle of Antietam
McClellan stops Lee and the Confederate army at Antietam in Maryland. By nighttime, 25,000 men were either missing, dead or hurt. Lee withdrawals back to Virginia. Marks history as the bloodiest single day battle in the U.S. -
McClellan is fired
President Abraham Lincoln fires General George McClellan, claiming he has the "slows" and replaces him with Ambrose E. Burnside as the new Commander of the Army of the Potomac. -
Emancipation Proclamation
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. This document infuriated the Southerners as well. -
National Banking Act
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. -
Conscription Act signed
The National Conscription Act is signed forcing able bodied males aged 18-35 into joining the Union Army, The signing of this act led to the week long New York Draft Riots. -
Battle at 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. -
Battle at Ghettysburg
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. With a Union Victory. -
Robert E.Lee sends resignation
After his shameful defeat at Gettysburg, General Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. However, Davis refuses the request. -
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. The north views this as one of the most vicious events during the war. -
Thanksgiving becomes a holiday
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. -
Ghettysburg Address
Lincoln's famous speech dedicating the military cemetary at Gettysburg. The address is considered the most influential speech. It boosted Northern morale and made them feel like there was a purpose behind the war. -
Prison 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 safelyto the South and Morgan picks up his calvary activities. Later in the war he is killed by the Union army. -
Conferates fail to take Athens, Alabama
Confederate force fails in its attempt to take Athens, Alabama. Confederate cavalry, numbering about 600 men, attacked Athens, held by about 100 Union troops, around 4:00 am on the morning of January 26, 1864. After a two-hour battle, the Confederates retreated. -
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. -
Lincoln selects Generals
Lincoln places Grant in charge to command all of the armies of the United States. General Sherman succeeds Grant as commander in the west. -
Coinage Act
Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864. This act states that the inscription "In God we Trust" must be on all coins that are to be used as US currency. -
Battle of Rocky Face Ridge
in Whitfield County, Georgia, during the Atlanta Campaign of the American Civil War. -
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Following the Battle of the Wilderness, Grant marched the Union army south with the hope of capturing Spotsylvania Court House. Lee's Confederates, however, managed to get ahead of the Federals and block the road. For the next two weeks, the two armies continued fighting -
Cold Harbor
In twenty minutes, 7,000 casualties from the Union occur because of Grant's attack at Cold Harbor in Virginia. -
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 who ran. -
Sherman's March
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. -
Arrival at Savannah, Georgia
After a 300 mile long path of destruction from Atlanta, Sherrman and his men arrive at Savannah in Georgia. -
Peace Meeting
President Lincoln meets with the Confederate Vice President, Alexander Stephens for a peace meeting in Virginia at Hampton Roads. After an unsuccessful meeting, the war continues. -
Capture Columbis, South Carolina
Sherman and his army capture Columbia, South Carolina and Confederate defenders evacuate Charleston, South Carolina. -
Confederates capture 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. -
Union Captures Capital
Confederate President Davis and his cabinet flee the confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia as Union forces near it. The next day it is captured by the Union forces. -
General Lee Surrenders
General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appottamax courthouse. This marks the end of the Civil War, -
Lincoln is Assassinated
John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Fords Theater during a performance of My American Cousin. Lincoln is pronounced dead early the next morning. In addition, William Seward and his family are attacked by Booth's co-conspirator, Lewis Powell. -
Surrender to Sherman
General Joseph E. Johnston, Confederate general, surrenders to Sherman in North Carolina near Durham. -
Jefferson Davis Captured
In Georgia, the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis is captured. -
Conspirators are executed
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. -
13th Amendment ratified
The 13th Amendment is ratified by three-quarters of the states. This amendment permenantly abolishes slavery in the United States. -
Ku Klux Klan is formed
Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan to resist reconstruction as well as to repress the freed African Americans during Civil War. -
Andrew Johnson Vetoes
The bill that authorizes military trial for those accused of disrespecting and depriving negroes of the Civil Rights is vetoed by President Johnson. On that same day, the Freedman's Bureau bill is passed by Congress. -
Civil Rights Act
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 is vetoed by President Johnson for being unconstitutional. -
Ford's Theater Purchased
Congress buys Ford's Theater for $100,000. After bought, it housed the Army Medical Museum and the Office of the Surgeon General and War Department until 1893. -
Veto Denied
President Johnson's veto on the Civil RIghts Act of 1866 is overrided by Congress. -
Nickel is formed
Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, know as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime. -
Winfield Scott Dies
In West Point, NY, Winfield Scott dies. WInfield Scott was a U.S. Army general. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment is ratified. This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans. -
Tennessee is readmitted
After the Civil War, Tennessee becomes the first state readmitted to the Union. -
General of the Armies
The "general of the armies" are established by Congress. Grant is awarded to 4 star general and put in this position. Sherman recieves the rank of Lt. General. -
Civil War Ships Destroyed
Ships used in the Civil War were destroyed after a fire in the Philadelphia shipyard occurs. -
African Americans gain right to vote
In Washington, D.C. African Americans acquire the right to vote from a bill that is passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Tenure of Office
Tenure of Office Act is passed by Congress. This act denies the right of the President to remove officials who have been appointed with the consent of Congress. It restricts the Presidents power. -
Second Reconstruction
The 2nd Reconstruction Act is passed by Congress over Johnson's veto. -
Purchase of Alaska
Alaska is purchased by William H. Seward, Secretary of State. It is the second to last state that the United States purchases. -
Segregation Ride-In
On New Orleans streetcars, black demonstrators staged a segregation protest ride-in. -
States admitted to Union
Congress passes a bill that admits Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisianna, North Carolina and South Carolina into the Union. -
Demanded Resignation
The resignation of Edwin Stanton as Secretary of War is demanded by President Andrew Johnson. -
Texas Proclamation of Peace
President Andrew Johnson issues a proclamation of peace with Texas. -
Alaska joins U.S
Russia officially signs Alaska over to the United States. -
Possible Impeachment of Pres. Johnson
Due to his lack of effectiveness with reconstruction, Congress looks into impeaching President Johnson.
