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The Election of 1860
The election of 1860 had four different candidates: Abraham Lincoln, John C. Breckenridge, John Bell, and Stephen A. Douglas. The U.S. had been almost on the brink of sectional chaos. Essentially, this was the final trigger. Lincoln, representing the Republicans, won all of the northern votes, including Calfronia and Oregon. As a result, the south retaliated. -
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Civil War
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Jefferson Davis
He was the President of the Confederacy for its entirety. He believed that the states had the right to secede if they had to. After the defeat of the South and his capture, he was tried for treason. -
Fort Sumter
By this time, seven southern states have seceded from the Union. Having left the Union, the southerners believed the fort belonged to them and they demanded it. After being refused, they attack. -
Winfield Scott and the Anaconda Plan
Plan proposed by General Winfield Scott to cut off ports and the Mississippi River. By doing so the south would lose what little resources they were recieving for the war effort. It was compared to an anaconda squeezing the life from someone. -
Battle of Bull Run
There was actually two battles. They gave Stonewall Jackson his reputation. The confederacy won both battles. Also known as The Battle of Manasas -
Thomas Stonewall Jackson
He was one of the generals of the Confederacy. He had many crucial victories. After his death during the war, the south took a huge blow, not only losing a military leader, but also troop morale. -
George McClellan
He was General-in-Chief for the Union for a short time. Many saw him as a terrible general. Many of his actions during the war are questionable. He also formed the Army of the Potomac. -
Monitor and Merrimac
Essentially the first form of modern naval warfare. They were two iron ships that fought each other, and resulted the loss of both. This was a victory for the north because they could continue with the Ananconda Plan. -
Battle of Antietam
The most violent battle of the war. There was no clear winner, but it led to Lincoln issuing the emancipation proclamation. There were heavy losses on both sides. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Confederacy won the battle. The generals involved were Robert E. Lee and Ambrose E. Burnside. The Union was at a huge strategical disadvantage in this battle. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln issued that slaves be freed in the Confederacy. It didn't free all of the slaves, only those in the Confederacy. It did not have a very immediate impact, but slowly stared to free southern slaves. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The final battle of the Vicksburg Campaign. Along with Gettysburg, it was a turning point in the war as a result of another Union victory. Led by Gen. Grant. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Had the most casualties in the war. Considered the turning point. The Union won. It led to Lincoln and his famous Gettysburg Adress. -
Gettysburg Adress
Famous Speech by Abraham Lincoln. He talks about freedom, but not the same kind as in the Declaration of Independence. It was a crucial turning point in the war. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Union commander, and eventually president. He led the Union to victory in the war. Often fought Robert E. Lee in that Overland Campigns. -
Sherman's March
Major General William Tecumseh Sherman marched from Atlanta to the sea. He is famous for destrpying everything in his path literally. He caused the south huge losses in supplies, and morality. -
Robert E. Lee
He was the commanding general of the Confederacy. He was the best military expert from either side of the war. The Confederacy could not have accomplished as much as it did without him. -
Appomattox Court
This is where Lee surrendered to The Union. It actually happened at the nearby McLean House. Put a stop to the bloodiest war in U.S. history. Lee was surrounded and had no other choice but to surrender. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln was killed only a few days after the end of the war. His assassin was John Wilkes Booth. He was killed in the now famous Ford's Theatre. This changed the entire plan of Reconstruction as Andrew Johnson became president.
