Civil War

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    Civil War

  • Jefferson Davis Favors Secession

    Jefferson Davis Favors Secession
    On this date, Jefferson Davis expresses his opinion on the subject of sucession. He is in favor of it and was the president of the Confederates.
  • Jefferson Davis Speaks for Slavery

    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

    Cooper Union Address
    Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Adress, in which he validated the Federal Government banning slavery in new territories. This was Lincoln's most influencial speech and many people believe it won him in presidency.
  • The Pony Express

    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 delievered in a more timely manner.
  • Constitutional Union Party Forms

    Constitutional Union Party Forms
    The previous members of the American and Whig parties meet in Baltimore and form the Constituational Union Party. They elect John Bell to be their candidate for president and Edward Everett as candidate for vice president.
  • South Holds a National Democratic Convention

    South Holds a National Democratic Convention
    In Richmond, Virginia the southern delegates were responsible for holding a convention. The party leaders urged a "wait and see" approach.
  • Grace Bedell Beard

    Grace Bedell Beard
    Grace Bedell, an 11 year old girl, writes Lincoln. In her letter she tells him that a beard would make his face look better because it is so thin. Lincoln decides to let his facial hair grow out.
  • Abraham Lincoln Elected as President

    Abraham Lincoln Elected as President
    Lincoln was elected as president in November 1860.
  • South Carolina

    South Carolina
    South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the union.
  • South Carolina Congressmen

    South Carolina Congressmen
    The South Carolina Congressmen resign due to secession.
  • Kansas becomes a State

    Kansas becomes a State
    Kansas is admitted to the Union. It is the 34th U.S. state and was suppost to be a slave state. Much controversy led it to eventually become free.
  • Jefferson Davis

    Jefferson Davis
    Jefferson Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America.
  • Fort Sumter

    Fort Sumter
    The fisrt battle of the Civil War happens at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The battle lasted two days and was a victory to the Confederates.
  • Lincoln's Suspension

    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.
  • Capture of the Tennesse River

    Capture of the Tennesse River
    Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant capture Paducah, Kentucky without any blood . This gives the union control of the Tennesse River.
  • The Crittenden- Johnson Resolution

    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.
  • Lincoln appoints McClellan

    Lincoln appoints McClellan
    Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army.
  • USS San Jacinto

    USS San Jacinto
    The 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

    Judah Benjamin
    Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjamin as his Secretary of War. This put him in charge of the Confederate army.
  • Kentucky

    Kentucky
    Kentucky becomes the 13th Confederate state. This is really the turning point because the Confederate states are becoming larger and larger. This also means they are gaining more power and resources.
  • McClellan Ignores Lincoln

    McClellan Ignores Lincoln
    Lincoln issues the first General War Order, telling all land and sea army forces to advance. McClellan ignores this.
  • Battle of Fort Henry

    Battle of Fort Henry
    Battle that took place in Tennessee, 4332 casualties.
  • Battle of Fort Donelson

    Battle of Fort Donelson
    Battle in Tennessee, 4332 casualties.
  • Willie Lincoln Dies

    Willie Lincoln Dies
    Willie Lincoln dies of typhoid fever in the White House.
  • Greenbacks

    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.
  • Battle of Shiloh

    Battle of Shiloh
    Battle of Shiloh at Pittsburgh Landing in Tennessee, 23,700 casualties.
  • Conscription

    Conscription
    Davis and the Confederate Congress approve the conscription act. This calls any white males ages 18 to 35 to fight for the confederate army.
  • African Americans and the Army

    African Americans and the Army
    The Union army is officially allowed to hire African Americans as laborers.
  • Antietam

    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 which made it a victory in Lincoln's eyes.
  • Emancipation

    Emancipation
    Lincoln's plan for Emancipation is published in the Union newspapers. This gives the slave hope for their freedom.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    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

    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

    Conscription Act
    The National Conscription Act is signed forcing able bodied males ages 18-35 into joining the Union Army.
  • Battle of Chancellorsville

    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.
  • Gettysburg

    Gettysburg
    This is the largest battle of the Civil War, taking place in a field in Getthsburg, Pennsylvania. General Meade's Union forces turn back Lee's Confederates during this battle.
  • Lee Resigns

    Lee Resigns
    Following his defeat at Gettysburg, General Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Davis refuses the request.
  • Battle of Lawrence

    Battle of Lawrence
    This battle took place in Lawrence, Kansas, the site of much previous violence over the issue of slavery.
  • Thanksgiving

    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.
  • The Gettysburg Address

    The Gettysburg Address
    Lincoln's speech dedicating the military cemetary at Gettysburg. The address is not very long but it is considered the most influential speech. It boosted Northern morale and made them feel like there was a purpose behind the war.
  • The Great Escape

    The Great Escape
    John Hunt Morgan, a confederate calvary leader, and some of his men escape the Ohio state prison. They escape by cutting a hole in the cell and crawling through the ventilation system.
  • Andersonville

    Andersonville
    The first 500 prisoners of war arrive at the Confederate prison camp, Andersonville. This was the harshest prison camp of the Civil War.
  • General Grant

    General Grant
    President Lincoln appoints Gen. Grant to command all of the armies of the United States.
  • Coinage Act

    Coinage Act
    Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864. This act states that the inscription "In God we Trust" must be on all coins that are to be used as US currency.
  • Conscription Hoax

    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 papershad published the news.
  • Arlington National Cemetery

    Arlington National Cemetery
    The Arlington National Cemetary 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's Conscription Law
    Lincoln signs away the fee that someone could pay to aviod being drafted into the Union Army.
  • Confederate Spy

    Confederate Spy
    Confederate spy Belle Boyd is arrested by Union forces.
  • Lincoln's Re-election

    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 of New York

    Burning of New York
    A group of Confederate operatives that call themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan set fires in more then 2o places. This is their unsuccessful attempt at burning New York down.
  • Sherman's March to the Sea

    Sherman's March to the Sea
    At Waynesboro, Georgia forces the Union to prevent Confederate troops from interfering with General Sherman's plan to destroy part of the South by marching to Savannah, Georgia. Union suffers three times as many casualties as the Confederacy.
  • Fort Stedman

    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

    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.
  • Appottamax

    Appottamax
    General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appottamax courthouse. This marks the end of the Civil War.
  • John Wilkes Booth

    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.
  • Booth is Captured

    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.
  • Juneteenth

    Juneteenth
    General Granger arrives in Texas and tells them about the Emancipation Proclamation. It is now celebrated as a holiday called Juneteenth.
  • Conspirators Hanged

    Conspirators Hanged
    The four conspirators in Lincoln's assassination are hanged. These men are David Harnold, 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.
  • Henry Wirz

    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

    13th Amendment
    The 13th Amendment is ratified by three-quarters of the states. This amendment permenantly abolishes slavery in the United States.
  • KKK

    KKK
    Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan to resist reconstuction as well as to repress the freed African Americans.
  • The Liberator

    The Liberator
    The last issue of the Liberator is published. The newspaper has now become unnecessary because the slaves have been freed.
  • Jesse James

    Jesse James
    The first day light bank robbery takes place in Libery, Missouri. This was carried out by Jesse James and his gang.
  • ASPCA

    ASPCA
    The American Society for the Prevention of Cruely to Animals is founded in New York by Henry Bergh.
  • Nickel

    Nickel
    Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, known as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime.
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment
    The 14th amendment is ratified. This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans.
  • Tennessee

    Tennessee
    Following the Civil War,Tennessee becomes the first state readmitted to the Union.
  • General of the Army

    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.
  • Atlantic Cable

    Atlantic Cable
    The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time.
  • Train Robbery

    Train Robbery
    The first train robbery takes place. The Reno brothers get away with $13,000.
  • Jesse and Gang

    Jesse and Gang
    Jesse James and his gang robs a bank in Lexington, Missouri. They get away with $2,000.
  • African American Males

    African American Males
    African American males are given the right to vote in Washington D.C. Congress over came President Johnson's veto to give African Americans this right.
  • Nebraska

    Nebraska
    Nebraska offically becomes a state and is part of the Union.
  • Jesse James in Savannah

    Jesse James in Savannah
    Jesse James robs a bank in Savannah, Missouri.
  • First Reconstruction Act

    First Reconstruction Act
    The first reconstruction Act sets up five military districts in the South, each under the control of a military commander.
  • Ride Ins

    Ride Ins
    African Americans stage a ride on street cars in New Orleans to protest segregation.
  • Alaska Bought

    Alaska Bought
    President Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. This would be the second to last state added to the United States of America.
  • Third Reconstruction Act

    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 Johnson's veto.
  • Johnson Suspends Stanton

    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

    Alaska is Formerly Acquired
    The United States oficially takes possesion of Alaska from Russia. $7.2 million is paid for it.
  • Impeachment

    Impeachment
    Congress looks into impeaching Johnson for his lack of effectiveness and unwillingness to follow through with reconstruction.