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The Civil War
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Election of 1860
The election of 1860 made the ball roll when it came to The Civil War. The main Northern Democratic Party nomination was Stephen A. Douglas and the main Republican Party nomination was Abraham Lincoln. The Northern Democrat platform, led by Douglas, called for making all new states pro-slavery by default. Abraham's Republican presedential platform, however, called for slavery to not go on any further, that tariffs protecting industry would be imposed, the Homestead Act, and the funding of a RR. -
Jefferson Davis becomes President of Confederacy
Jefferson Davis resigned from the U.S. Senate and joined the Confederacy as its President on this day. He was able to get stable control of the Confederate army, but was up against the very large and very powerful Union army. -
Robert E. Lee
On this date Robert Edward Lee accepted a promotion to general of the Confederate army. His major defining victories were at the Battle of Fredericksburg, Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Cold Harbor, Seven Days Battles, and the Second Battle of Bull Run. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter was the battle that started the Civil War. South Carolina, a slave state, demanded that the U.S. Army vacate the South Carolinian Fort Sumter, since SC did not consider itself a part of the Union. The Union army refused to leave, leading to a battle. The battle ended the day after, on April 13th, 1861. -
Winfield Scott and the Anaconda Plan
On this date, General-in-Chief Winfield Scott proposed a gradual, outlined takeover of all Southern ports. It was called the "Anaconda Plan" because of the route's inexplicably clear image of an anaconda devouring its prey. -
George B. McClellan
On this date, General George B. McClellan was assigned the Ohio Union army. He was known as a very successful general. -
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson
On this date, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson led his Confederate troops to Harper's Ferry, where a very surprising and expertly managed win was made for the Confederate arny. The battle at Harper's Ferry was later called the "Stonewall Brigade" for Stonewall Jackson's perfect skills as a general. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run was fought because of the North's attempted capture of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia. The Confederates ran the Union away to Washington, D.C. -
Appointment of Ulysses S. Grant as general of Union army
Ulysses S. Grant was a victor of the Mexican-American war, and was personally chosen by President Abraham Lincoln to be the general of the Union army. He was very influential and rewarded the Union with several victories. -
Monitor and Merrimack (Battle of Hampton Roads)
The Monitor and Merrimack (often spelled Merrimac) was one of the most important naval battles of the Civil War. It was a result of the Confederate army fighting off the Union blockade of the South's harbors. The results were indecisive - both sides claimed victory. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was a battle fought near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek. It was the bloodiest fight seen during the American Civil War, with about 23,000 casualties. The first blow was from the Union army when it tried to capture Robert E. Lee's Confederate army. Union General McClellan did not have success with wounding the Confederate army, but Robert E. Lee did decide to not invade Maryland. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle was fought in Fredericksburg, Virginia between General Lee's Confederate army and Major General Ambrose E. Burnside, who was leading the Union Army of the Potomac. It was a Confederate victory. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an issued bill proposed and subsequently signed by Abraham Lincoln on the date provided that freed all slaves in the Confederate states unless the Confederacy joined the Union side. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Battle (or Siege) of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign portion of the Civil War. It took place in Warren County, Mississippi. It was considered a decisive Union victory. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle, which lasted from the date provided to July 3, 1863, was the bloodiest battle in the Civil War. It was a Union victory. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a famous speech written and given by Abraham Lincoln to address the site of the Battle of Gettysburg as a national cemetery for the fallen soldiers. -
Sherman's March
Sherman's March to the Sea involved the attempted Union takeover (by force) of Atlanta, Georgia under management of Major General William Tecumseh Sherman. It lasted until December 21, and was considered fairly successful for the Union. -
(Battle of) Appomattox Court House
The Battle of Appomattox Court House, fought in the aforementioned sight in Virginia early in the morning, was the last armed engagement between Confederate General Robert E. Lee and the Union army before the Confederacy surrendered. It was (obviously) a total Union victory. -
Lincoln's assassination
President Abraham Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth, B-rated actor and brother of A-listers Edwin Booth and Junius Brutus Booth, Jr., at the Ford Theatre while watching "Our American Cousin" with his wife, Mary Todd. John Wilkes Booth is later hanged after attempting to flee the scene. Lincoln is killed.
