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Abraham Lincoln was elected President of the United States
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South Carolina is the first state to secede from the United States of America.
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Mississippi (January 9), Florida (January 10), Alabama (January 11), Georgia (January 19), Louisiana (January 26), and Texas (February 1) secede over a months time.
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The Confederate States of America are formed with Jefferson Davis as president.
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Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina is attacked by Confederate troops. This marks the start of the Civil War.
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Virginia (April 17), Arkansas (May 6), North Carolina (May 20), and Tennessee (June 8) leave the Union to align with the Confederate States of America.
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President Lincoln issues a blockade against Southern ports. This limits the South's ability to get supplies for the war effort.
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Confederates under the command of Stonewall Jackson defeat the Union in the First Battle of Bull Run.
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The ironclad Confederate Merrimac and the Union Monitor battle to a draw. Wooden ships are no longer useful, which changes naval warfare forever.
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Under the command of Ulysses S. Grant the Union loses to the Confederate troops. 13,000 Union troops and 10,000 Confederate troops are killed or wounded, more than the total number of losses in all previous American wars combined.
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17 Union ships move up the Mississippi River to take New Orleans, the greatest shipping port in the South.
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Confederate Generals Stonewall Jackson and James Longstreet defeat the Union again at Bull Run.
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Described as "the bloodiest day in U.S. military history, the Union stops the Confederates at Antietam. 26,000 men are dead, wounded, or missing.
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The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia defeats the Union at Fredericksburg in Virginia. Union losses are twice that of Confederate losses.
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President Lincoln issues the Imancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves from the territories held by the Confederacy. He encouraged freed slaves to join the Union army.
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The Union army is easily defeated by the much smaller Confederate army lead by General Lee. The four day battle showcased Lees advanced military tactics.
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The Battle of Gettysburg is known as the turning point of the Civil War. The three day battle marks the first on Northern soil where the Union defeats Lee's confederate troops.
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The Union defeats the Confederates to claim the last Southern stronghold on the Mississippi River.
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The Confederates defeat the Union Army of the Cumberland leaving them stranded in Tennessee.
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Gettysburg AddressPresident Lincoln delivers his Gettyburg Address at the dedication ceremony of the National Cemetary in Gettysburg, PA.
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The Union avenges their defeat at Chickamauga by defeating Confederate troops at Chattanooga.
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The Union army of 120,00 puts together a planned attack on the Confederate army of 64,000 with the Battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, and Cold Harbor.
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Atlanta is captured by the Union army under the command of General Sherman.
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President Lincoln is reelected carrying 55% of the popular vote 212 of the 233 electoral votes.
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General Sherman begins his March to the Sea. His goal is to take Savannah, Georgia, which he does on December 21, 1864.
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The 13th Amendment, which abolishes slavery, is approved but it must be ratified by the states before it can be passed into law.
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The Union army captures the Confederate capital of Richmond after Lee evacuates.
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Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House, Virginia.
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President Lincoln is shot by John Wilkes Booth, who is upset with the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House. He dies the next day on April 15, 1865.
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Confederate Genernal Joseph Johnston surrenders to Union General William Sherman in North Carolina.
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President Johnson declares the end of the Civil War with the capture of Confederate President Jefferson Davis.
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Slavery is abolished in the United States of America with the ratification of the 13th Amendment.
