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Election of 1856
James Buchanana takes the Presidency with the strong support of the Democrats. The Republican Party was still fairly new then and didn't garner enough support. The Know-Nothing Party was there as well, but did not get enough electoral votes at all to even make a splash. Democrats now ruled the Congress. -
Dred Scott v. Sandford
Dred Scott, a slave, attempted to purchase his and his family's freedom, but was rejected. He argued that he was free because he lived in free land when his master died. This case went up to the Supreme Court and he was shot down because he was still considered property and not an actual person to make a case. -
John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown, a radical abolitionist, raided a United States arsenal. His plan was to start a slave revolt by handing out weapons to slaves to kill their masters. However, his plan was foiled when no slaves showed up; he was sentenced to execution. -
Election of 1860
Lincoln won the presidency only because of the split between the Democratic Party. Lincoln did not take a stance on slavery at the time, however South Carolina and others threathened to if he was elected president. Lincoln was even denied to be on the ballot in ten southern states. -
South Carolina Secession
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union. It had always been the first to react against anti-slavery measures, even threatening secession before as well. This was only the start of the snowball that got other states to secede together to from the Confederate States of America. -
Formation of the Confederate States of America
The Confederacy was formed before Lincoln's inauguration in March. It included all the seceded states, including South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Its president was named Jefferson Davis, who was the only one through the course of the war. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
This is the event that most people consider the beginning of the Civil War. After South Carolina seceded, they considered military bases in their territory theirs. The Union resisted, but they were bombarded and they had to surrender. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first land battle of the Civil War. It proved to the Union that it was not going to be an easy war. The prowess of the Confederacy shown through in this fight, with great generals and strategy. -
Battle of Antietam
This was the Confederate's last offensive in the war. General Lee forced McClellan to turn back and fight as they chased. Both sides suffered heavy losses, but more influential to the Confederacy because they had less troops in the first place. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle demonstrated the waning power of the Union in politics. There wer no direct results of the war and people were getting restless against Lincoln for starting the war. This battle only reinforced the opinion, saying that the cost of the war wasn't worth the time to free the slaves. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Freed all the slaves in the Confederacy, but not the border states in the Union. This had no realistic effect, as the Confederacy weren't even a part of the Union in the first place. What this really did was dissuade foreign powers from meddling with the Confederacy as they didn't like slavery as much and this document directly contrasted their views. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Lee's much smaller army defeats the Union army under General Hooker. With Lee's brilliant tactics, the Confederacy gains an edge. The Union faces even heavier losses. -
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Siege of Vicksburg
This siege was initiated by Grant to gain control of the Mississippi River. The fort held out for fourty days before running out of supplies and surrendering. This was significant as it gave the control of the Mississippi River to the Union and turned the tide of the war in favor the Union. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The bloodiest battle in American History. This battle marks the turning point of the war in which it leans toward the Union's favor. Lincoln rallied up the populace with his famous Gettysburg Address after this battle. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
General Tecumseh Sherman captured Atlanta geogia on November 15 and started the March then. Whereever his troops went, there was fire. He burned everything down, earning him a reputation of a brutal belligerant, however ensuring that the Confederacy will not return. -
Surrender at Appomatox Court House
Marked the end of the Civil War. Cornered and resourceless, Lee tried to fight back aginst the Union, but realized that they were heavily outnumbered and outgunned. This led to other surrenders throughout the land that was the end of the Civil War. -
Lincoln Assassinated
Lincoln is watching a play at Ford's Theater to commemorate the victory of the Union. John Wilkes Booth, a pro-Confederate actor, shoots him in the head, killing him. The presidency goes over to Andrew Johnson. -
13th Amendment
The First of the three Recontruction Amendments. It abolished slavery and involuntary servitude, freeing slaves everywhere in the country. Slaves were not private property anymore but rather owned their own life now. -
14th Amendment
The second of the three Reconstruction Acts. This amendment allowed slaves to become actual citizens of the United States. This was an effort for ex-slaves to have citizenship rights and have equal protection from the law. -
15th Amendment
The third of the three Reconstruction Amendments. This allowed all MALE citizens to vote. It said that nobody could deny a man's right to vote if they are a citizen. Any male could vote, regardless of 'race, color, or previous condition of servitude', addresssing former slaves.