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Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is famous for the Battle of Fort Sumter and the first shots fired in the Civil War. After the Battle of Fort Sumter four more states seceded and there was more military support. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The first major battle of the war, this happened right outside of Washington DC. People went to watch with picnic baskets, the South was victorious. This proved the war would be longer than first thought. -
Legal Tender Act
Lincoln signed the Tender Act in 1862, this authorized $150 million in greenbacks. The confederacy never made its paper money legal tender, responded by making more paper money. This caused Southern inflation. -
Emancipation Proclamation
This was a warning that unless the South laid down in arms by the end of 1862, Lincoln would decree abolition and he did. He freed all slaves in rebellious states. -
Battle of Antietam
Two union soldiers found a copy of Lee's battle plans. It was the bloodiest single day in American history. -
Writ of Habeas Corpus
A legal action through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. This can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. It has been important historically. -
Battle of Vicksburg
General Grant led the forces to battle. Grant defeated two Confederate armies and destroyed Vicksburg in the process. Five day after the battle the North had complete control of Mississippi -
Battle of Gettysburg
The North defeated the South in this major, expensive battle. This battle changed the direction of the war and made it clear the North would win the war, the South had lost unofficially. -
New York Draft Riots
Mobs of Irish working men and women swarmed the streets for four days before the federal troops suppressed them. They hated the idea of being drafted in war to fight for slaves. -
Gettysburg Address
In this speech Lincoln framed the war as a means to uphold the values of liberty. This was only a two minute address however it is extraordinarily famous. This was given where the Battle of Gettysburg took place. -
Assassination of President Lincoln
Lincoln was shot in Ford's Theater in Washington DC. The Civil war was drawing to a close, Lincoln was assassinated 6 days after Lee surrendered to Grant the the Union. It was carried out by John Wilkes Booth.