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Missouri Compromise
Years after the Louisiana purchase in 1803, congress was compelled to create a policy to guide the expansion of slavery westward. Missouri became a slave state and Maine became a free state, keeping the Congressional balance. -
Nat Turner's rebellion
Nat Turner led a group of rebellious slaves throughout multiple plantations killing at least 50 white males. -
Wilmot Proviso
The Wilmot Proviso was a piece of legislation proposed by David Wilmot. If passed, the Proviso would have outlawed slavery in territory acquired by the United States as a result of the war. All attempts failed. However, the intensity of the debate created the first serious discussions of secession. -
Secession
On December 20, 1860, a little over a month after lincoln became president, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Six more states followed by the spring of 1861. -
The Battle of Fort Sumter
With secession, several federal forts, including Fort Sumter in South Carolina, became outposts in a foreign land. Abraham Lincoln made the decision to send fresh supplies to the beleaguered garrisons. On April 12, 1861, Confederate warships turned back the supply convoy to Fort Sumter and opened a 34-hour bombardment on the stronghold. The garrison surrendered on April 14. The Civil War was now underway. -
President Lincoln issues a public declaration that an insurrection exists
President Lincoln issues a public declaration that an insurrection exists and calls for 75,000 militia to stop the rebellion. -
Battle of Big Bethel
the first land battle of the war in Virginia. -
Surrender of fort Henry, Tennessee
The lost of this southern fort on the Tennessee River opened the door to Union control of the river. -
The battle of shiloh
The first major battle in Tennessee. The Union victory further secures the career of Union General Ulysses S. Grant. -
The Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest single day of the Civil War. Following the Union victory, President Lincoln will introduce the Emancipation Proclamation, an executive order that freed every slave in the Confederate States. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect. Applauded by many abolitionists including Frederick Douglass, there are others who feel it does not go far enough to totally abolish slavery. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The bloodiest battle of the Civil War dashes Robert E. Lee's hopes for a successful invasion of the North. -
End of Civil War
General Simon Bolivar Buckner enters into terms for surrender of the Army of the Trans-Mississippi, which are agreed to on June 2, 1865.The Civil War officially ends.
