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Republican Party is formed
The Republican Party was formed in 1854 in response to the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the expansion of slavery into new territories. It was established as an anti-slavery party, attracting former Whigs, Free Soilers, and anti-slavery Democrats. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act passed
The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed on May 30, 1854, allowing settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to decide for themselves whether to permit slavery, through popular sovereignty. This led to violent conflict known as "Bleeding Kansas" as pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces clashed. -
South Carolina Voted To Secede From The United States
On December 20, 1860, South Carolina voted to secede from the United States, becoming the first state to leave the Union over tensions surrounding slavery and states' rights. -
Jefferson Davis Elected President of the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Confederate States on November 6, 1861, and served throughout the Civil War until 1865. -
Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter
Confederate forces fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor on April 12, 1861, marking the start of the American Civil War. After 34 hours of bombardment, Union troops surrendered the fort. -
Lincoln suspends habeas corpus
In 1861, during the early months of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln suspended habeas corpus, allowing the government to detain individuals without trial in order to suppress dissent and maintain public order, especially in border states. This controversial move was aimed at quelling resistance to Union policies. -
Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy
Richmond became the capital of the Confederacy in May 1861, following the secession of Southern states. It remained the Confederate capital throughout most of the Civil War until it was captured by Union forces on April 3, 1865. -
First Battle of Bull Run is fought
The First Battle of Bull Run was fought on July 21, 1861, and was the first major battle of the Civil War. Confederate forces won the battle, shattering hopes of a quick Union victory. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg, fought in December 1862, was a major Civil War clash where Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee repelled repeated Union assaults led by General Ambrose Burnside. It was one of the most one-sided battles of the war, resulting in a devastating Union defeat. -
Freedman’s Bureau is created
The Freedman's Bureau was created on March 3, 1865, by Congress to assist formerly enslaved people and poor whites in the South. It provided food, housing, education, and legal aid, helping newly freed African Americans transition to freedom after the Civil War. -
The Merrimac and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast
The Battle of the Merrimack and Monitor, fought on March 9, 1862, off the coast of Virginia, was the first meeting of ironclad warships. The battle ended in a stalemate, but it marked a significant shift in naval warfare with the advent of iron-hulled ships. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, fought from April 6 to 7, 1862, in Tennessee, was one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. Union forces, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, ultimately defeated the Confederates, but both sides suffered heavy casualties, with over 23,000 men killed, wounded, or missing. -
Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
Robert E. Lee was named commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia on June 1, 1862. His leadership became crucial in many significant Confederate victories during the Civil War. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history with over 22,000 casualties. It ended in a tactical draw but gave the Union a strategic advantage, leading President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Abraham Lincoln elected president
Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States in November 1860. His election, without any support from Southern states, was a major factor leading to the secession of Southern states and the start of the Civil War. -
Emancipation Proclamation is announced
The Emancipation Proclamation was announced by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declaring all enslaved people in Confederate-held territory to be free. It shifted the focus of the Civil War to include the fight against slavery. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville, fought from April 30 to May 6, 1863, was a major Confederate victory in the Civil War. General Robert E. Lee outmaneuvered Union forces under General Joseph Hooker, but the Confederacy suffered the loss of General Stonewall Jackson, who was mortally wounded. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to 3, 1863, was a turning point in the Civil War and ended General Robert E. Lee’s invasion of the North. -
Confederates surrender at Vicksburg
The Confederates surrendered at Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, after a lengthy siege by Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant. The surrender gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two. -
New York City draft riots
The New York City Draft Riots occurred from July 13 to 16, 1863, in response to the newly implemented federal draft for the Civil War. The riots, fueled by anger over the draft and racial tensions, saw violent clashes, resulting in the deaths of at least 120 people and widespread destruction. -
Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address
Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a national cemetery on the Gettysburg battlefield. In just a few words, he honored the fallen and reaffirmed the nation’s commitment to liberty, equality, and democracy. -
Atlanta is captured
Atlanta was captured by Union forces under General William Tecumseh Sherman on September 2, 1864, during his famous Atlanta Campaign. The city's fall was a significant blow to the Confederacy, boosting Northern morale and helping secure President Lincoln's re-election. -
Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election
In the 1864 election, Abraham Lincoln defeated Democrat George McClellan to win re-election during the Civil War. His victory ensured the continuation of the Union war effort and the push to end slavery. -
Sherman begins his March to the Sea
General William Tecumseh Sherman began his famous March to the Sea on November 15, 1864, after capturing Atlanta. His forces traveled from Georgia to Savannah, cutting a path of destruction to cripple the Confederate war effort and break Southern morale. -
Congress passes the 13th Amendment
Congress passed the 13th Amendment on January 31, 1865, which abolished slavery throughout the United States. It was ratified by the states on December 6, 1865, formally ending the institution of slavery in the country. -
Richmond falls to the Union Army
Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, fell to the Union Army on April 3, 1865, as General Robert E. Lee's forces retreated. The city's capture marked a turning point in the Civil War, signaling the impending collapse of the Confederacy -
Lincoln gives his second inaugural address
Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address on March 4, 1865, as the Civil War was nearing its end. In his speech, he called for healing and reconciliation, urging the nation to "bind up the nation's wounds" and work towards lasting peace. -
Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox
Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the Civil War. The surrender marked the beginning of the Confederacy's collapse and the restoration of the Union. -
President Lincoln Assassinated
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford's Theater. -
John Wilkes Booth is killed
John Wilkes Booth was killed on April 26, 1865, by Union soldiers in a Virginia barn where he was hiding after assassinating President Abraham Lincoln. He was shot during a standoff and died from his wounds shortly after.