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Pre - Civil War Era
This was an era of territorial and economic expansion and sectionalism. States Rights versus Federal authority was creating deep political divides. The underlying issue was slavery. The south wanted to abolish laws preventing the spread of slavery and the north wanted to abolish slavery! The crescendo grew slowly to Lincoln's election as president and the first shots being fired. -
Missouri Compromise
The Missouri Compromise was an effort by congress to defuse the sectional and political rivalries between slave and free states. Missouri was admitted as a slave state. Maine, which was formerly part of Massachusetts, was added as a free state. -
Nat Turner Slave Rebellion
In Virginia on September 20th 1850 Nat Turner a slave led a revolt that killed 60 people. The revolt was defeated by local militia and ended with the hanging of Nat Turner and all slaves involved. The backlash was awful, as the state of Virginia passed laws that made teaching slaves illegal as well as religious meeting between blacks without a white man present. -
Compromise of 1850
The compromise resolved divisions over slavery in territory gained in Mexican- American War. It admitting California as a free state. One of the bill of the compromise of 1850 was a new version of the Fugitive Slave Act. -
Dred Scott Case
One of the most controversial events preceding the American Civil War. The U.S. supreme court issued its decision in the case Dred Scott vs Sandford. The decision was that the case couldn’t be brought in front of judge because they weren’t a citizens. -
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Civil War
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Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an order by U.S. President Abraham Lincoln to free slaves in 10 states. It applied to slaves in the states still in rebellion in 1863 during the American Civil War. However, slavery was not unconstitutional until the 13th Amendment was passed. -
Battle of Antietam
On September 1862 General Robert Lee was confronted by Union General George McClellan. On the dawn of September 17th the Union attacked. Due to the Unions greater numbers the rebels lost however the union lost many soldiers. Thanks to their sacrifice however, President Lincoln was able to pass the Emancipation Proclamation which boosted the moral of the union and gave black solders in the union a reason to fight for there freedom -
Battle of Gettysburg
The battle lasted 3 days. There were 75,000 troops. The Union lost 23,000 troops. The Confederate lost 28,000 troops. The Union won the battle of Gettysburg. Robert E. Lee surrendered. -
Sherman's March to Sea
Sherman's march in November 15th 1864 was led by General Sherman and ended in the capture of the port city of Savannah. Sherman's actions however resulted in the destruction of many Southern industries and farms and caused hundreds of Southerners to lose their homes. -
Passing of the 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was passed on January 31st in 1865 ending slavery in the United States. the Amendment however did no effect the Southern States until the end of the war. -
End of the Civil War
On April 9th General Lee of the Rebel Army surrendered and marked the official end of the Civil War however fighting continued until May 9th when the last battle ended. After this battle the broken country could finally begin to pick up the pieces. -
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Post Civil War Reconstruction
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Lincoln Assassination
On April 15th President Lincoln was shot and killed by John Wilkes Booth a well known actor and rebel sympathizer. Lincoln's body was toured around the country to allow people to pay their respects. After his death his Vice President Andrew Johnson took the role of president and worked to finish what Lincoln had started. -
President Andrew Johnson Impeachment
Andrew Johnson was the first president to be impeached becuse he discontinued to to carry out the reconstruction plan
