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The liberator goes into print
William lloyd garrison wrote and published "The Liberator" a anti-slavery newspaper. It sparked a fire in the abolitionist group. New anti-slavery societies started popping up everywhere. -
Compromise of 1850 passed
The Compromise of 1850 was drafted by Senator Henry Clay, a Whig from Kentucky. It proposed to end all slavery in new territories, but have a harsher fugitive slave act. It was unliked by both the north and south. It was unpopular in the north because it might allow more slave states above the Mason-Dixon line. It was unpopular in the south because it banned slavery in new territories. -
Uncle Tom's cabin was published
Harriet Stowe published Uncle Tom's Cabin, and it changed history. it quickly became a hit in the north. It showed the darker side of slavery. Because of that, it was banned in the south. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska act was proposed by Senator Stephan Douglass of Illinois, Lincoln's opponent. He said that even though Kansas was above the Mason-Dixon line, it could be a slave state, but it had popular sovereignty, meaning it's voters decided. It would also add Nebraska as a free sate. This eventually caused an incident called bleeding Kansas. -
James Buchanan was sworn into office
James Buchanan was the 15th president of the United States of America. He was the last president before the civil war started. He only served one term in office, before Lincoln was sworn in. He was the only president to always remain a bachelor. His views on slavery were, unpopular. He thought the north would accept a compromise. -
Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott decision changed peoples views on slavery forever. In this 1857 supreme court case, Dred Scott proposed that since he had lived in a free area, he should be free. But the supreme court, witch was stacked against him, decided he was still his owner's property. So because he was property, he wasn't allowed to file a lawsuit. He was still property. 3 -
John Brown's Raid at Harper's ferry
John Brown raided Harper's Virginia, to try to arm slaves with the weapons there. But, He was unsuccessful and was executed. While his plan failed, his actions and death caused the nation to split in two. -
Lincoln was elected president
During the election of 1860, Lincoln won partly because democrats were split, Although Lincoln lost to Stephan Douglass in the Illinois election, Lincoln was able to surpass him in this race. Once the south heard about his winning, they though he would attempt to destroy their way of life. It was the final nail in the coffin of a whole union. -
South Carolina Seceded
Once Lincoln was elected, the south was thrown in turmoil. States were arguing if secession was imminent. South Carolina was the first to secede, many followed it's example, and after the battle of fort Sumter, each side prepared for war. -
Battle of fort Sumter.
After Lincoln was elected and southern states started seceding, the south started applying pressure to union forts. One of them was fort Sumter, in Charleston bay. It was running out of supplies, so lincoln sent an unarmed group to deliver supplies, before they got there, President Jefferson Davis ordered troops to attack. Fort Sumter surrendered, and the civil war started. -
First Battle of Bull Run
Northerners thought that the war would be easy, but they were wrong. One example was the battle of Bull Run, where northerner citizens tagged along to watch. The north pushed down on the south, but the south had something the north didn't, a cause they would die for. Thomas "Stonewall' Jackson rallied confederates and crashed through union lines. While northerners fled, they were slowed by the spectators. -
The battle of Antietam
The confederacy was trying to take Maryland, where the north was vulnerable. Confederate general, Robert E Lee, planned to attack the north in multiple groups. The north figured out their plan, and met one group in Antietam. McClellan waited, and that gave the south enough time to prepare. The two armies clashed, and a bloody battle ensued. The battle was close, but the next day the confederates retreated. In the end, there were 23,000 casualties, the bloodiest day of fighting in U.S history. -
The Battle of Shiloh
As northern troops lead by General Grant moved to capture Corinth, Mississippi, the confederates grew weary. After more troops joined them, the south decided to strike, before there were too many. The attacked early morning April 6th, catching the union off guard. While Generals Johnston and Beauregard lead valiantly, they narrowly lost to the union. But after two days, the causalities were high. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg
The battle of Fredericksburg had more combatants than any other battle in the civil war. Newly appointed Union General Burnside split his forces, trying to take the smaller confederate force by attacking on two sides. However, his plan failed and union troops weer massacred by southern fire from above them. The battle greatly lowered union morale, but southerners had found a new energy. -
The Emancipation proclamation goes into effect
In 1862, Lincoln was worried about the war, so far he hadn't viewed it as a war on slavery, but he was willing to change his mind. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation to free slaves. He thought that the south might not get support from Counties where slavery was illegal, Britain and France. He knew that it would get him support from the abolitionists, and would allow slaves to fight, giving him more troops. While it was made in 1862, it didn't go into effect until the beginning of 1863. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville.
Confederate General Lee was outnumbered. In The battle of Chancellorsville, spanning from April 30th to may 6th, lee made a daring plan. He split his forces in two, and attacked union forces on two fronts. The union fell to defensive positions, and lee tried the same strategy again, and it worked again. Lee won, but Stonewall Jackson was mortally wounded. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The battle of Gettysburg was one of the most influential events of the civil war. After victory at Chancellorsville, confederate general Lee moved his troops into Pennsylvania. He met northern forces at Gettysburg, and a fierce battle ensued. It lasted from July 1st to July 3rd. Lee attempted to rush union troops and failed, resulting in many Rebel casualties. The next day, southern troops retreated back to Virginia, and the battle turned out to be a decisive victory for the north. -
Vicksburg surrenders
In the winter of 62, Union general Grant tried and failed to take Vicksburg, but his efforts were renewed in the spring. His troops got past, engaged in a few skirmishes, then returned to find the confederates entrenched. He built trenches and trapped the 29,000 rebel troops inside. Eventually he was able to get the southerners to surrender on July 4th. The city was ravage, and didn't celebrate the fourth of July for 81 years -
Sherman's March
From November 15th to December 21st, Union general William Sherman led troops from Atlanta to Savannah to frighten the civilians to give up the rebel cause. They stole food and livestock, and burned the houses of people who resisted. The strategy didn't work, and the union had wasted it's time. -
South Surrenders at Appomattox court House
The south surrendered at Appomattox court House in virginia, after Lee's failed attempt to rally his troops. Lee was met by union troops and his army was desecrated in only a few hours, and surrendered in the smae town. That small skirmish effectively ended the four year civil war.
