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Period: to
Civil War
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Louisiana State Seminary is established
The Louisiana State Seminary of Higher Learning is established at Pineville. William Tecumseh Sherman is Superintendent. -
Jefferson Davis and Secession
Jefferson Davis comes out in favor of secession for the first time. -
Democrats meet in Charleston, S.C
A crucial event in the lead-up to the American Civil War. William Lowndes Yancey leads a walkout of 8 Southern delegations over a plank in the party platform to protect slavery -
Republicans meet in Chicago.
233 votes needed to secure the nomination. First ballot: William Seward 173.5, Abraham Lincoln 102
Second ballot: Seward 184.5, Lincoln 181
Third ballot: Lincoln secures the nomination -
Northern Democrats meet
Northern Democrats meet in Baltimore and select Stephen Douglas as their standard-bearer -
Southern Democrats meet
Southern Democrats meet and choose John C. Breckinridge as nominee -
Abraham elected as president
Elected as 16th president. Though he did not recieve many votes from the South due to his thoughts on slavery, he won by a considerable margin. -
The Republican ticket of Abraham Lincoln
The Republican ticket of Abraham Lincoln and Hannibal Hamlin receives sufficient electoral support for the men to become President-elect and Vice President-elect. -
distressed State of the Union message to Congress
Outgoing President James Buchanan sends a distressed State of the Union message to Congress. In it he states that secession is unconstitutional. -
First secession convention
Convention met in South Carolina. Discussesed whether the convention would adopt Ordiance. It adopted an ordinance that dissolved the connection between South Carolina and the U.S. Since SC was a new nation, the convention passed laws and resolutions. -
South Carolina Seceeds from Union
On this day, a secession convention meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, unanimously adopted an ordinance dissolving the connection between South Carolina and the United States of America. -
Charleston
Federal arsenal at Charleston falls into the hands of the Rebels Charleston is notified by telegraph that a man of war with troops is on the way -
Kansas enters union as a free state
Kansas is admitted to the Union as free state. It was the 34th state to join the Union. -
6 states seceed from the union
Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Texas and Louisiana Seceed from the Union and created their own government. Later Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina jorined them, seceeding from the Union as well. -
Jefferson Davis becomes pres of the Confederate States
He was elected to serve a six year term as the president, not of America, but of the Confederate States of America. Since Abraham Lincoln was antislavery, the South Supported Jefferson Davis because he was pro slavery. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The surrender of Fort Sumter was the start of the Civil War. Following declarations of secession by seven Southern states, South Carolina demanded that the US Army abandon its facilities in Charleston Harbor. -
Big Bethel
This was the first land battle in Virginia. Ended as a victory for the confederates. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The first major land battle of the Civil War. It took place in Manasses, Virginia.35,000 Union troops marched from the federal capital in Washington, D.C. to strike a Confederate force of 20,000 along a small river known as Bull Run. Victory for the Confederates. -
Battle of Wilson's Creek
Wilson's Creek was the first major Civil War battle fought west of the Mississippi River. This battle lead to the death of Nathaniel Lyon who was the first Union General killed in combat. Victory for the South. -
Battle of Santa Rosa Island
The battle of Santa Rosa Island stands as one of the most significant Civil War engagements in Florida. This was the most serious attempt by the Confederacy to take Fort Pickens from U.S. control. -
Battle of Belmont
Union forces under Ulysses S. Grant overran a Confederate camp at the Battle of Belmont, Missouri, but were forced to flee when additional Confederate troops arrive.d Although this battle was a victory fpr Grant, the Union gained no ground. -
Battle of Port Royal
A major Union victory early in the American Civil War that demonstrated how difficult it would be for the Confederacy to defend its coastline. Port Royal Sound was secured as an important refueling depot for the federal blockaders operating in the area. -
Surrender of Fort Henry
The Battle of Fort Henry was the first significant Union victory of the American Civil War. The fighting at Fort Henry also marked the first combat involving ironclad gunboats during the Civil War. -
Victory for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant
Victory for Grant in Tennessee, capturing Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. Grant earns the nickname "Unconditional Surrender". -
Battle of Hampton Roads
The battle between the Monitor and the Merrimack was history’s first duel between ironclad warships. It was part of a Confederate effort to break the Union blockade of Southern ports. -
Battle of Shiloh
Fought in Tennessee at a church named Shiloh near the Mississippi boarder. Grant makes the fatal mistake of not sending out scouts. Grant's failure inables the confederates to take him by surprise. 1/4th of the 100,000 men were killed during this battle. -
Seven Day Battles
Seven day's battle or seven day's campaign was a series of battles that occured from June 25th- July 1st 1862 and featured six different battles along the Virginia Peninsula east of Richmond. -
The second Battle Bull Run
Proved to be the deciding battle in the Civil War campaign waged between Union and Confederate armies in northern Virginia. -
Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest single day in American military history ended in a draw, but the Confederate retreat gave Abraham Lincoln the “victory” he desired before issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln announces that if the rebels did not end the fighting and rejoin the Union by January 1, 1863, all slaves in the rebellious states would be free. -
Lincoln fires George McClellan
The president replaces McClellan with Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside as the new Commander of the Army of the Potomac because McClellan was hesitant when in battle. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
Burnside, in command of the Army of the Potomac, sent a corps to occupy the vicinity of Falmouth near Fredericksburg. The rest of the army soon followed. The battle ended in a confederate victory. -
Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect
Issued by President Lincoln, the proclamation freed the border slave states that remained in the Union at the start of the Civil War and all or parts of three Confederate states controlled by the Union army. -
Conscription
The drafting of soldiers into military service, begins in the North. -
Chancellorsville
The Union Army under Gen. Hooker is decisively defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia as a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded by his own soldiers. -
Stonewall Jackson's Death
Jackson dies from his wounds he suffered at Chancellorsville. His death causes a major setback for the South. -
Battle of Vicksburg
Ulysses S. Grant could not win an assault on the city so he decided to shell vicksburg for several days. The townspeople and the southern troops who had a shortage on on food and supplies were forced to eat squirrels and dogs rather than starving to death. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, is considered the most important engagement of the American Civil War. It was a great victory over the union forces. -
Draft Riots begin in New York City
Mobs harassed and sometimes killed blacks and their supporters and destroyed their property. Black men and black women were attacked. -
Frederick Douglass
The president meets with abolitionist Frederick Douglass who pushes for full equality for Union Negro troops. -
The Gettysburg Address
President Abraham Lincoln was invited to deliver remarks, which later became known as the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln’s 273-word address would be remembered as one of the most important speeches in American history. -
Lincoln Issues his Proclomation Of Amnesty and Reconstruction
The proclamation addressed three main areas of concern. First, it allowed for a full pardon for and restoration of property to all engaged in the rebellion with the exception of the highest Confederate officials and military leaders. Second, it allowed for a new state government to be formed . Third, the Southern states were encouraged to enact plans to deal with the freed slaves s -
First Successful Submarine Attack of the Civil War
The H. L. Hunley was a submarine of the Confederate States of America that played a small part in the American Civil War. The Hunley demonstrated the advantages and the dangers of undersea warfare. -
Andersonville Prison Camp
The Camp Sumter military prison at Andersonville was one of the largest Confederate military prisons during the Civil War. During the 14 months the prison existed, more than 45,000 Union soldiers were confined here, 13,000 of which died. -
Ulysses S Grant is appointed lieutenant general
Representative Elihu B. Washburne of Illinois introduced H.R. 26, a bill which revived the rank of Lieutenant General. The bill authorized the President "to appoint, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, a lieutenant-general, to be selected among those officers in the military service of the United States, Lincoln appointed Grant as lieutenant general. -
Red River Campaign
Part of a Union strategy to strike deep into several parts of the Confederacy, a combined force of army and navy commands under General Nathaniel Banks begins a campaign on the Red River in Louisiana. -
Ulysses S Grant's fatal mistake
A costly mistake by Grant results in 7,000 Union casualties in twenty minutes during an offensive against fortified Rebels at Cold Harbor in Virginia. -
Lincoln nominated to serve second term
Abraham Lincoln was nominated for another term as president during the National Union Party's convention in Baltimore. -
Missed opportunity to capture Petersburg
Union forces miss an opportunity to capture Petersburg and cut off the Confederate rail lines. As a result, a nine month siege of Petersburg begins with Grant's forces surrounding Lee. -
George mcClellan
Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for president to run against Republican Abraham Lincoln -
Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army
"Atlanta is ours, and fairly won," is Sherman,s message he telegraphs it to Lincoln. The victory greatly helps President Lincoln's bid for re-election. -
General Sherman's Army of Georgia begins the "March to the Sea"
Sherman begins his expedition across Georgia by torching the industrial section of Atlanta and pulling away from his supply lines. He also captured the Confederate seaport of Savannah, Georgia. -
The 13th Amendment
The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification. -
Peace Conferance
A peace conference occurs as President Lincoln meets with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens at Hampton Roads in Virginia, but the meeting ends in failure - the war will continue. -
The last offensive for Lee's Army
The last offensive for Lee's Army of Northern Virginia begins with an attack on the center of Grant's forces at Petersburg. Four hours later the attack is broken. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant met at Appmattox Court House. Here, Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant. -
President Lincoln Assasinated
5 days after Robert E. Lee surrenders Lincoln and his wife went to see a play at Ford's theatre. An actor named John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head. Lincoln didnt die immedietly but passed the next day. -
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrenders
Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to William tecumseh Sherman near Durham in North Carolina. -
Lincoln's Funeral
Funeral Procession on Pennsylvania Ave after dieing on April 5th at 7:22 in the morning. -
Death of John Wilkes Booth
John Wilkes Booth is shot and killed in a tobacco barn in Virginia, for killing President Lincoln. -
Confederate President Jefferson Davis captured
Jefferson Davis, president of the fallen Confederate government, is captured with his wife and entourage near Irwinville, Georgia, by a detachment of Union General James H. Wilson’s cavalry. -
Final Battle of the Civil War
The last battle was fought at Palmito Ranch, Texas, on May 13, 1865. Confederates victory. -
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The thirteenth amendment is passed to the U.S constitution and passed by congress. On January 31st it is ratified and abolishes slavery. -
Freedmen's Bureau
The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands was created by Congress to assist for one year in the transition from slavery to freedom in the South. -
The U.S declares peace
The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
the act confirms the citizenship of African Americans, as well as guaranteeing equal rights. -
Memphis Race Riots
Riots took place in Memphis Tennessee, white citizens rioted against African Americans. White civilians as well as police officers killed 46 African Americans and destroyed 90 buildings which included houses, schools, and churches. -
Congress establishes "general of the armies"
Congress establishes "general of the armies" and Ulysses S. Grant is immediately promoted to 4-star general and put in this position. -
Investigation of KKK
The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan -
New Orleans Race Riots
Fatal Riots break out in new orleans. Police officers kill both white and African American republicans as well as wounding more than 150. -
Ku Klux Klan
Secret group of white civilians establish a group to terrerize African American civilians. The Ku Klux Klan was a group of racist and cruel civilians who didnt agree African Americans were equal. -
peace with texas
A proclaimation of peace with Texas is issued by United States President Andrew Johnson -
Ohio ratifies 14th amendment
State lawmakers say they will sponsor a resolution to ratify the 14th Amendment to the U.S. -
African Americans gain right to vote
African Americans in Washington D. C. gain the right to vote in a bill passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto -
First Reconstruction Act passed over Johnson's veto
The act applied to all the ex-Confederate states in the South, except Tennessee who had already ratified the Fourteenth Amendment. -
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act
the act denied the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress. -
Viginia reject African American Votes
Alexandria, Virginia rejects thousand of votes cast by African Americans, who were granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act. -
Second Reconstruction Act
Second Reconstruction Act passed over Johnson's veto. The act supplemented the First Reconstruction Act. -
Republican convention in New Orleans
Republican convention in New Orleans. Party platform includes equality for African-Americans. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Third Reconstruction Act passed over Johnson's veto.President Andrew Johnson attempted to veto all three acts, but each time Congress passed the act despite these objections. the third of the Reconstruction Acts gave supreme power to the five Union generals overseeing Reconstruction in the five districts of the South.
