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Senator Jefferson Davis speaks for Slavery
Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis presents resolutions as to why slavery should be allowed in the territories. He also gave reasons as to why the nation should protect slaveholders. His intention was to unite the Democratic party. -
Cooper Union Address
Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Address, in which he validated the Federal Government banning slavery in new territories. This was Lincoln's most influential speech and many people believe it won him the presidency. -
The Pony Express
The Pony Express begins going from Saint Louis, Missouri to Sacremento, California. It had 119 stations that were each 12 miles apart. They made it possible for more letters to be delivered in a more timely manner. -
Constitutional Union Party Forms
The former members of the American and Whig parties meet in Baltimore and form the Constitutional Union Party, They elect John Bell to be their candidate for president and Edward Everett as candidate for vice president. -
Considering Secession
Governor William Henry Gist informs South states that South Carolina is considering secession. -
Election of 1860
During the election of 1860 Abraham Lincoln, with the highest electoral and popular vote, became our 16th president. This caused issues with the South because they were afraid that Lincoln would abolish slavery and alter their way of life. -
Senate Breaking
James Chesnut becomes the first Southerner to resign from the Senate -
First Sumter Threatened
Robert Anderson reports Fort Sumter is being threatened in Charleston -
Independent Nation
Georgia calls for a convention of Southern states to form an independent nation. -
South Carolina secedes
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union as a direct result of Lincoln becoming president. The south did not want their way of life changed and they knew that Lincoln would abolish slavery. -
Kansas Becomes A State
Kansas is admitted to the Union. It is 34th U.S. state and was supposed to be a slave state but much controversy led it to eventually becoming free. -
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. He is elected at the Weed convention in Montgomery, Alabama. -
Fort Sumter
The first battle of the Civil War happens at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The battle lasted two days and was a victory for the Confederate forces. -
Lincoln's Suspension
Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus. This meant that people could now be imprisoned without being seen by a judge and told what their crimes were. Technically this is against the constitution but during a time of war it was necessary. -
The Crittenden-Johnson Resolution
This resolution is passed by Congress to give reasoning behind going to war. It states that the war is to preserve the Union, not to end slavery. -
Capture of The Tennessee River
Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant, capture Paducah, Kentucky without spilling any blood. This gives the union control of the Tennessee River. -
Lincoln Appoints McClellan
Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army, He replaces the aging Winfield Scott. This is probably Lincoln's worst decision of the entire Civil War. -
USS San Jacinto
This Union ship stops the United Kingdom mail ship, The Trent. They arrest two Confederate envoys, James Mason and John Slidell. This causes tension with the previously uninvolved Britain. -
Judah Benjamin
Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjamin as his Secretary of War, this put him in charge of the Confederate army. After he resigned, Davis appointed him to Secretary of State. -
Kentucky and the Confederacy
Kentucky becomes the 13th Confederate state, This is really turning point because the Confederate states are becoming larger and larger. This also means they are gaining more power and resources. -
McClellan ignores Lincoln
Lincoln issues the first General War Order, telling all land and sea army forces to advance. McClellan ignores this, prolonging the war, but because of his backing Lincoln could not punish him. -
Battle of Fort Henry
The Battle of Fort Henry was fought in Donelson Middle Tennessee, during the American Civil War. It was the first important victory for the Union and Brig. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in the Western Theater. In an effort to gain control of rivers and supply lines west of the Appalachians, Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant and Commodore Andrew Foote launched an attack on the lightly defended Fort Henry in Tennessee. -
Greenbacks
This was a form of paper money introduced by Lincoln. It was the unified money for the United States and was used by the Union army. This money was distributed longer then any other money. -
Conscription
Davis and the Confederate Congress approve the conscription act. This calls forward any white male ages 18 to 35 to fight for the confederate army. -
Internal Revenue Law
This law would give the government funds to use towards the civil war. It put a tax on inheritance, tobacco, and incomes over $600. -
African Americans and The Army
The Union army is officially allowed to hire African Americans as laborers. This is a step in the right direction because they are on their way to becoming equal. The slaves are now allowed to help in the army that is being fought to free them. -
Antietam
The battle of Antietam is the bloodiest single day battle in American history. Neither side won the war but the Confederate retreat during the battle made it a victory in Lincoln's eyes. The battle ended in a loss of 110 men. -
Emacipation
Lincoln's plan for Emancipation is published in the Union newspapers. This gives the slaves hope for their freedom and even more of a reason behind the war. -
Grant Against the Jewish
Grant issues an order to ban Jewish people from serving under his command. This is horribly ironic because he is fighting to free a group of people because of the harsh treatment they are receiving. He then discriminates against another group of people simply because they have different beliefs. -
Lincoln hangs Indians
Lincoln orders 39 Sioux Indian men to be hanged. This is ironic because he is trying to gain one group of people equality and he should be doing the same things for the Native Americans. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln signs the Emancipation and officially frees 3.1 million of the nation's slaves. This document only freed slaves that were not under Union control but allowed them to serve in the Union army. -
National Banking Act
Lincoln signs the National Banking Act, making it a law. It put someone in charge of controlling currency and it led to the creation of local banks. -
Conscription Act
The National Conscription Act is signed forcing able bodied males aged 18-35 into joining the Union Army, The signing of this act led to the week long New York Draft Riots. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle took place from May 1st to May 4th, ending in a Confederate victory. Both sides lost many of their soldiers, the Union casualties were 17,500 men and the Confederate casualties were 13,000. The most devastating Confederate loss was General Stonewall Jackson. -
Gettysburg
This is the largest battle of the Civil War, taking place in a field in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. General Meade's Union forces turn back Lee's Confederates during this battle. There were 28,000 Confederate casualties and 23,000 Union casualties. This is a Union Victory. -
Lee resigns
Following his shameful defeat at Gettysburg, General Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Davis refuses the request. -
Battle of Lawrence
This battle took place in Lawrence, Kansas, the site of much previous violence over the issue of slavery. William Qauntrill's raiders kill over 200 men and boys. The north views this as one of the most vicious atrocities of the war, -
Thanksgiving
Lincoln declares Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated the last Thursday in November, This holiday is to celebrate the colonists and Native Americans coming together and sharing their resources. This is ironic because during Lincoln's time the Natives were still being treated with disrespect. -
The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's speech dedicating the military cemetery at Gettysburg. The address is not very long but considered the most influential speech. It boosted Northern morale and made them feel like there was a purpose behind the war. -
The Great Escape
John Hunt Morgan, a confederate cavalry leader, and some of his men escape the Ohio state prison. They escape by cutting a hole in a cell and crawling through the ventilation system. They return safely to the South and Morgan picks up his cavalry activities. Later in the war he is killed by the Union army. -
Andersonville
The first 500 prisoners of war arrive at the Confederate prison camp, Andersonville. This was the harshest prison camp of the Civil War. Many of the men held there did not survive because of the brutal conditions faced there. -
The Coinage Act
Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864. This act states the the inscription "In God we Trust" must be on all coins that are to be used as US currency -
Conscription Hoax
The New York World and the New York Journal of Commerce publish an article stating that Lincoln has drafted 400,000 more soldiers into the Union army, The public decided it was not true when they found that only two papers had published the news. -
Arlington National Cemetery
The Arlington National Cemetery is established by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. It is created using 200 acres land from Robert E Lee's home, Arlington House. -
Lincoln's Conscription Law
Lincoln signs away the fee that someone could pay to avoid being drafted into the Union Army. -
Confederate Spy
Confederate spy Belle Boyd is arrested by Union forces. She is held at the Old Capital Prison in Washington D.C. -
Gold!
Helena, Montana is founded by four prospectors. They create it after finding gold at Last Chance Gulch, it is their last attempt at finding gold after weeks of looking in the Rockies. -
Lincoln's Re-election
Lincoln is re-elected in 1864. His victory is overwhelming because of how many votes he received over George B. McClellan. -
Burning New York
A group of Confederate operatives that call themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan set fires in more then 20 places. This is their unsuccessful attempt at burning New York down. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
At Waynesboro, Georgia forces the Union prevent Confederate troops from interfering with General Sherman's plan to destroy part of the South by matching to Savannah, Georgia. Union suffers three times as many casualties as the Confederacy. -
Fort Stedman
The Confederate forces capture Fort Stedman from the Union forces. About 2,900 of Lee's men are killed and 1,000 are captured during the counter attack. -
Richmond
Confederate President Davis and his cabinet flee the confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia as Union forces near it. The very next day it is captured by the Union. -
Appomattox
General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appomattox courthouse. This marks the end of the Civil War, -
John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Fords Theater during a performance of My American Cousin. Lincoln is pronounced dead early the next morning. In addition, William Seward and his family are attacked by Booth's co-conspirator, Lewis Powell. -
Booth is Captured
John Wilkes Booth is captured in a barn in Virginia at the Garret's farm. He is shot and killed by Boston Corbett. -
Conspirators hanged
The four conspirators in Lincoln's assassination are hanged. These men are Davide Harold, George Atzerodt, Lewis Payne, and Mary Surratt. John Surratt escapes to Canada and later makes his way to Egypt so he does not pay for his involvement in Lincoln's death. -
General of the Army
Congress passes the legislation making General of the Army a rank. Ulysses S. Grant is the first to hold that title. -
Henry Wirz
Major Henry Wirz is hanged. He was the leader of the atrocious war camp, Andersonville. He becomes the only soldier hanged for war crimes. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment is ratified by three-quarters of the states. This amendment permanently abolishes slavery in the United States. -
KKK
Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan to resist reconstruction as well as to repress the freed African Americans. -
The Liberator
The last issue of the Liberator is published. The newspaper has now becomes unnecessary because the slaves have been freed. -
Fisk University Established
One of the first historically black colleges is established in Tennessee. -
Jesse James
Jesse James holds up his first bank, stealing $15,000 from the Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The United States Congress overwhelmingly passes the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the first federal legislation to protect the rights of African-Americans. -
State of Peace With States
The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. -
Ford's Theater Purchased
Congress appropriates $100,000 to buy Ford's Theater. It will house the Army Medical Museum, the Office of the Surgeon General and War Department records until 1893. -
14th Amendment
The 14th amendment is ratified. This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans -
Tennessee
Following the Civil War Tennessee becomes the first state readmitted to the Union. -
Atlantic Cable
The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time. -
Peace With Texas
A proclamation of peace with Texas is issued by United States President Andrew Johnson. -
African American Males are given the right to Vote
African American males are given the right to vote in Washington D.C. Congress over came President Johnson's veto to give the African Americans this right. -
First Reconstruction Act
The first reconstruction act sets up five military districts in the South, each under the control of a military commander. The Army Appropriations Act is passed, lessening Johnsons' control on the army. The final act passed is The Tenure Office Act which states that Johnson cannot remove cabinet members without the Senate's consent. -
Tenure of office Act
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act, denying the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress. -
Rides Ins
African Americans stage a ride on streetcars in New Orleans to protest segregation. -
Alaska
President Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. This would be the second to last state added to the United States of America. -
States readmitted to the Union
Congress passes a bill readmitting Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina into the Union. Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, having refused to ratify the fourteenth amendment, were refused admission into the Union. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Johnson vetoes the third reconstruction act which spells out election procedures in the South and reasserts congressional control over the Reconstruction. Congress overrides Johnsons' veto, -
Johnson suspends Stanton
Johnson suspends Stanton as Secretary of War after the two clash over reconstruction plans. Johnson places Ulysses S. Grant in the position. -
Alaska is formerly acquired
The United States officially takes possession of Alaska from Russia. $7.2 million is paid for it. -
Impeachment
Congress looks into impeaching Johnson for his lack of effectiveness and unwillingness to follow through with reconstruction.
