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Period: to
Civil War Timespan
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Compromise of 1850
California was admitted as a free state while New Mexico and Utah could decide if they wanted to be free states or slave states (both chose to be free states). Texas would give up claim to the New Mexico territory and there would be no sale of slaves in Washington D.C. The only benefit for slave states was the Fugitive Slave Act, which required citizens to apprehend runaway slaves. -
Dred Scott Decision
Dred Scott, a slave, went to court against his slave owner on the account of the fact that his owner brought Scott to free states. Scott believes that he should be a free man since he was in these free states. However, the court ruled that slaves were property, not citizens, and thereby are not eligible to sue in court. Thus, raising tensions in the north while the south felt the benefit of expanding slavery. -
Election of 1860
Lincoln became the 16th president of the United States, which caused South Carolina, a slave state, to secede the Union. This formed a chain reaction of southern states seceding the Union and forming their own country, the Confederate States of America. In 1861, Jefferson Davis became the first, and only, president of the CSA. -
Confederates Attack Fort Sumter
On April 6, 1861, Lincoln sends food and medical supplies to Fort Sumter. Jefferson Davis sends orders for the Confederate army to take over the fort and destroy the food and medical supplies. On April 12, 1861, PGT Beauregard open fire on the fort. Thus, Lincoln was forced to declare war against the Confederate States. -
Battle of Bull Run
The first major battle of the civil war. The Union should have had an easy victory due to their massive army compared to the Confederates, however, their cockiness got in the way and thus the Confederates had their first victory of the war. -
Anaconda Plan Issued
Lincoln established the Anaconda Plan to help the Union win the war. This plan was effective for General Grant's army in the west but not effective for other generals who were going up against General Lee in the East. In addition, this plan involved the Union using their navy to block the CSA from gaining supplies. However, this also fails since the naval battle ends in a draw, neither doing damage to the other. -
Draw at Antietam
What should have been a Union victory turned out to end in a draw between General McClellan and General Lee. Before the battle, McClellan obtained the CSA orders wrapped around some cigars. This should've given him the upper-hand. Instead, 12,000 soldiers were killed within the first three hours, to which neither side won anything. The Confederates retreated, and instead of finishing them off, McClellan celebrated his "victory." Lincoln had him replaced shortly after the battle. -
Lincoln Issues the Emancipation Proclamation
Not long after the bloodiest war in history, Lincoln issues his Emancipation Proclamation, which allows freedom to all slaves along the southern boarders. This in turn allows former slaves to join in the Union military, increasing men in the Union army. -
Chancellorsville, Stonewall Jackson's Last Stand
This battle turned out to be one of Lee's greatest victories. He made the biggest risk by splitting his small army into two smaller armies, one led by him and the other led by his right hand general, Stonewall Jackson. Lee led a 12 mile surprise attack in the woods against Hooker's army and won the battle. However, Jackson was shot three times by friendly fire and died from his wounds a few days later. -
Gettysburg - Turning Point for the Union
After years of having a perfect winning streak, Lee finally slips up and ends up changing the course of the war for the Union. During the battle of Gettysburg, Lee's new general. General Picket's charge, to where the Confederates had to climb a hill. They were massacred and loss about 20,000 men to the Union. Afterwards, Lincoln produced his most famous speech, the Gettysburg Address. -
Sherman's March
William Tecumseh Sherman led a grueling march through South Carolina and Georgia to the sea, destroying as many towns and homes as they can, as well as killing any Confederate civilians in their paths. This was an attempt to lose southern supporters for the war and weaken the Confederates even more. This March lasted for over a month. -
Abolition of Slavery
During the war, the Radical Republicans wanted to abolish slavery, so they created the 13th amendment, which officially ended slavery. It was ratified in December, but this was already going through the House of Representative in January. -
Freedman's Bureau Established
This was developed in order to help Blacks and poor Whites recover during the aftermaths of the war. This place provided food, shelter, and education. However, this declined rapidly and fell in 1872. -
Appomattox Court House
Lee makes one final attempt to protect the Confederate capital, Richmond. His army is completely weakened and supplies are running short. Grant's massive army vastly outnumbers Lee and Grant surrounds Lee at Richmond. With no hope of winning the war, Lee surrenders to Grant at the Appomattox Court House, officially ending the Civil War. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Not even a week after the war ended, the President, Abraham Lincoln, was shot in the back of the head by a man named John Wilkes Booth. Attempting to escape, Booth and his partner flee and take refuge in a barn. However, while the barn was burning, a man named Boston Corbett kills Booth with his gun. -
President Johnson's Impeachment
The Radicals devised a trap in order to get President Johnson impeached from office. They passed the Tenure Act, which the President cannot remove office holders without Senate approval. Shortly after, Johnson removed Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War, and thus opened the opportunity for the Congress to impeach him. However, he went to court against them since this was a set up. -
Grant Becomes President
Grant became the first President who had black males vote for him (9 out of 10), which gave him a large lead. Right when he was elected into office, he passed the 15th amendment, which no citizen of any race, color, or previous servitude would be denied any rights to vote. However, during the Reconstruction Period, people in congress stole millions of dollars while rebuilding places. Grant also had other major problems during his time, since he was more for war than for politics.
