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Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th president, and the first Republican to win the election. He received only 40% of the popular vote, but he overthrew the other three candidates. His opponents were Southern Democrat John Breckinridge, Constitutional Union candidate John Bell, and Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas. -
The South Secedes
On this day, a secession convention meeting was held in Charleston, SC that ended the connection between SC and the union of the U.S. The convention was held by the governor and legislature of SC. This meeting caused SC to be the first Southern state to secede. -
April-May Upper South Secedes
After the attack on Fort Sumter, Lincoln declared a state of insurrection and asked for 75,000 volunteers to put down the rebellion. The North agreed right away, but the remaining Southern states that had not seceded refused to agree with his request. Four more states left the Union, Virginia being the first. After Virginia, Arkansas and North Carolina seceded in May. -
Firing on Fort Sumter
General P.G.T. Beauregard, the commander of forces around Charleston Harbor, opened fire on the Union, which was the first gunfire of the Civil War. As they were unable to reply effectively, Major Anderson surrendered the next day. -
Confederacy seeks help from Europe
The Confederacy couldn't defeat the North without the help of outside powers, specifically Europe. They didn't have enough industry or manufacturing capability to me weapons. the North also outnumbered the South's army so they needed more help. Therefor,they had to seek help from Europe. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
This was also known as the First Manassas, which took place near the city Manassas. General Winfield Scott mounted a major attack against the Confederate Army. It began when 35,000 Union troops marched from Washington D.C. to strike a force of 20,000 along the river bull Run, which gives it its name. -
Congress passes First Federal Income Tax, August 1861
This event took place on August 5th, 1861 was known as the Revenue Act of 1861 which was caused because they needed to fund the Civil War. this was the first U.S. Federal income tax statute. Abraham Lincoln signed the agreement to provide increased revenue from imports to pay interest on the Public Debt and for other reasons. -
Battles of Fort Henry and Donelson
The Battle of fort Henry was fought in western Middle Tennessee, while the Civil War was happening. It was the first significant Union Victory of the war. the attack was launched because in hope of gaining control of rivers and supply lines west of the Appalachians. Union Brigadier S. Grant and Commodore Andrew Foote were responsible for this attack. the aftermaths of this lasted for ten days, leading to the capture of Fort Donelson. After Fort Henry, Grant advanced cross- country to cont -
Battle of the Monitor and Merimack
This event was known as the first battle between two ironclad warships. On this date the two ships, Monitor and Merrimack clashed to a draw at Hampton Roads. The battle essentially ended in a tie because both sides claimed victory. -
Confederacy imposes draft
The Confederate government imposed the first general American military draft in April of 1862. This draft was written because its territory was being bashed on every front by overwhelming figures, and the defending army needed more troops. The draft required three years of service for those between he ages of 18 and 35. -
Second Battle of bull Run
This battle took place in Prince William County, Virginia on the same ground as the first battle of Bull Run. Although, it was a much larger scale and and numbers than the first battle. General Robert E. Lee defeated General John Pope, in this battle against the North and South. -
Battle of Antietem
This was the first battle to happen in the Civil War to take place on Union soil. The number of people dead, missing or wounded was at a count of, 22,717. George McClellan mounted numerous attacks against Robert Lee’s forces, in Maryland. McClellan failed to destroy Lee’s army. Although, Lee was still able to withdraw his army back to Virginia without any trouble from McClellan. -
Emacipation Proclamation
This document was a presidential proclamation written by Abraham Lincoln. It gave freedom to slaves of ten states that were still in rebellion. The proclamation was based on Lincoln’s constitutional authority as commander in chief of the armed forces. It led the way to total abolition of slavery in the U.S. -
The Siege of Vicksburg, May-July 4th
The Siege of Vicksburg was the final major military action in the Vicksburg Campaign of the Civil War. General Grant and his army of Tennessee crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate Army into the area surrounding the city of vicksburg, Mississippi. The Confederates surrendered which was considered as the turning point of the war. The goal of this battle was to gain control of the Mississippi River. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This was fought around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania between Union and Confederate forces during the Civil War. This has often been described as the war’s turning point. This was the end of Lee’s attempt to invade the North. -
Sherman's March to the Sea, Nov.-December 21st
Sherman’s march to the sea is a name given to the military Savannah campaign in the Civil War. This campaign began by Sherman’s troops leaving Atlanta, Georgia, which ended with the capture of the port of Savannah. His actions destroyed military targets and industry, infrastructure and civilian property. Sherman’s motives are considered revolutionary annals of war. -
The 13th Amendement Proposal, Feb. 1865
The 13th Amendment to the constitution declared that, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the U.S., or any place subject to their jurisdiction.” It was a way to abolish slavery and was passed by the Congress in 1865. -
Confederate forces surrender at Appomomattox Courthouse
This battle was fought on the morning of April 9th 1865. It was the final engagement of General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. The confederates were cut off and surrounded by Union troops near the Appomattox Courthouse. As Lee’s army tried to escape they ended up trapped, as a result he surrendered the troops he still had to General Grant. -
Lincoln is Assassanated
Lincoln was assassinated in shortly after ten p.m. by actor John Wilkes Booth. They were at Ford’s theatre in Washington D.C. in the presidential box. John shot Lincoln and a doctor in the audience tried to save Lincoln, while carrying him across the street to a boarding house. He died early the next morning. Lincoln was the first president in history to be assassinated. It's believed that John did this horrible crime in order to help the South, since they did not admire Lincoln.
