-
Period: to
Civil War
-
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
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 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 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
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
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, 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
Lincoln was elected as president in November 1860. -
South Carolina
South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the union. -
South Carolina Congressmen
The South Carolina Congressmen resign due to secession. -
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 is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. -
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 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
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
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 George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army. -
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
Jefferson Davis appoints Judah Benjamin as his Secretary of War. This put him in charge of the Confederate army. -
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
Lincoln issues the first General War Order, telling all land and sea army forces to advance. McClellan ignores this. -
Battle of Fort Henry
Battle that took place in Tennessee, 4332 casualties. -
Battle of Fort Donelson
Battle in Tennessee, 4332 casualties. -
Willie Lincoln Dies
Willie Lincoln dies of typhoid fever in the White House. -
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 at Pittsburgh Landing in Tennessee, 23,700 casualties. -
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
The Union army is officially allowed to hire African Americans as laborers. -
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
Lincoln's plan for Emancipation is published in the Union newspapers. This gives the slave hope for their freedom. -
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 ages 18-35 into joining the Union Army. -
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
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
Following his 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. -
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
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
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
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
President Lincoln appoints Gen. Grant to command all of the armies of the United States. -
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
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
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 signs away the fee that someone could pay to aviod being drafted into the Union Army. -
Confederate Spy
Confederate spy Belle Boyd is arrested by Union forces. -
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
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
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
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. -
Appottamax
General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appottamax 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. -
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
General Granger arrives in Texas and tells them about the Emancipation Proclamation. It is now celebrated as a holiday called Juneteenth. -
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
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 permenantly abolishes slavery in the United States. -
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 last issue of the Liberator is published. The newspaper has now become unnecessary because the slaves have been freed. -
Jesse James
The first day light bank robbery takes place in Libery, Missouri. This was carried out by Jesse James and his gang. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruely to Animals is founded in New York by Henry Bergh. -
Nickel
Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, known as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime. -
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. -
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
The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time. -
Train Robbery
The first train robbery takes place. The Reno brothers get away with $13,000. -
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 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 offically becomes a state and is part of the Union. -
Jesse James in Savannah
Jesse James robs a bank in Savannah, Missouri. -
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
African Americans stage a ride on street cars in New Orleans to protest segregation. -
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
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 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 oficially takes possesion 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.
