-
The Union Naval Blockade
Directly influenced by the succession of the states, to preserve the Union, Lincoln calls for a blockade on all Southern ports. This had the effect of stopping ships entering and leaving, stopped the movement of guns and ammunition, stopped the importation of medicine, and stopped cotton. This would put the North at an immense advantage throughout the war. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
In Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, at the fort, was where the first shots of the civil war were fired. After the Confederate States of America took control of Charleston Harbor, they aimed the coastal guns on the fort and fired. This battle was important because, after the battle, it cemented the means of both sides of the war to battle. The means were solidified in how four more states succeeded. The support for military action increased significantly. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
Taking place in Prince William County, VA, was the first major battle in the war. Going into the battle, the Union had unprepared soldiers that went into the conflict. Thus, this battle was not taken seriously by the Union, as evident in the spectators who came to watch. The Confederate had shown resolve and, after reinforcements came, held their position. The confederates had won because of the Union's unqualified troops. The casualties, and the outcome, would show the grit of the war to come. -
The Trent Affair
Regarding the Trent Affair, a Union warship stopped a British ship on its way to England and arrested 2 Confederate diplomats, those being James Mason and John Slidell. In light of this, Great Britain prepared for war against the US troops in Canada. Thus, Lincoln decided to release the Confederates because he did not want to fight a war from two fronts. He stated that the captain of the Union Ship acted without orders. -
The Battle of Shiloh
Fought in the Pittsburg Land, on the Tennesee River, The Union and Confederates clashed. In, the outcome of the battle, there were due to the Union's immense strength in numbers, in which their 66,000 troops outnumbered the 44,000 of the confederates. This Union win was crucial because it set a tone, as well as control for the Mississippi Valley. -
The Battle of Antietam
In this battle, the Union was victorious in stopping the Confederate invasion, led by General Robert E Lee. This conflict led to 25,000 casualties, being extremely casualty full. This battle was instrumental in allowing the Union to completely stop the invasion of the North, allowing Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, as well as allowing Lincoln to win the election. -
The Emancipation Proclemation
After the important Union victory at the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed all slaves in southern states. Lincoln did not want to free all slaves because he felt as though he did not have the congressional power. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
In this battle, in which took place the town of Fredricksburg, the North were striving to cross Rappahannock to get to the capitol of the south in Richmond. The North had failed because there were multiple delays, and, once the south had figured out their plan, they set up baricades on the other side of the river. This battle represented a bad place in the war for the North, as well as the fact that the race to end the war was prolonged. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
In this battle the Union suffered another loss to the Confederacy in the town of Chancellorsville, Virginia. It was due to Robert E. Lee's war tactics that led to the defeat of the Union. This battle had left General Thomas Jackson wounded and set more of a trend in Robert E. Lee's favor. -
Vicksburg Campaign
In Vicksburg, Mississippi, the Vicksburg Campaign consisted of the Union army trying to penetrate Vicksburg, and because they surrounded the city, there were no supplies/reinforcements for the confederates. This helped the Union have control of the Mississippi river and bettering Ulysses S. Grant. This also served as a turning point in the war, in favor of the union -
Battle of Gettysburg
Being the largest, and most casualty-full war(51,000 men), in the Civil War, was very crucial in the civil war. This battle took place in Pennsylvania in Gettysburg. The extremely high cost of life, as well as the northern location, directly spurred into Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Furthermore, this was a huge turning point in the war because of the Union's victory. -
Lincoln's Gettysburg Address
After the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln had decided to have an address to honor the lives lost in the Battle of Gettysburg, as well as inspire people to take action. In this short and powerful Address, he establishes the importance of human equality, as well as the preservation of the Union. This had a lingering effect of a powerful call to action that had influenced the American people. -
Overland Campaign
The Overland Campaign was a campaign started by the Union, embodied by General Grant, to attempt to end the war. Throughout a series of battles, Grant and Lee were pinned at the Siege of Petersburg. Although these didn't result in a definite winner, strategically, the Union had inflicted more damage to Lee in terms of their effectiveness in the future of the war. -
Sherman’s March to the Sea November
Between November to December, soldiers of the Union had a large amount of troops march towards the southern countryside of Atlanta and causing mayhem in their wake. After the conclusion of this Union victory, this had scared the people of Georgia into reevaluating their allegiance to their confederate agenda. -
Appomattox Campaign
In this campaign, the General lee's plan is to leave Richmond and defeat Sherman. Throughout these battles Lee ends up gets surrounded in the Battle of Sayler's Creek. These battles lead to Lee having eventually surrender to the Union's forces. This event had lead to the end of the civil war. -
Lee’s Surrender at Appomattox
After the various battles that have forced Lee into a horrible position, Lee made the decision to formally surrender his army. General Grant's terms of the surrender were only to make Lee's men give up their weapons and leave peacefully. Lee's surrender marked the beginning of the end of the Civil War.