-
-
Abe Lincoln was the first Republican eleceted President. While camapigning, Lincoln said, "Government cannot endure the permanently half slave, half free...". He was very important in the abolishment of slavery
-
Followed within a couple months by, MS, FL, AL, GA, LA, TX. These were the first states to begin to form an eventual 11 state Confederacy.
-
The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer, as president. Jefferson Davis becomes one of the most famous people of the Civil War, behind Abe Lincoln.
-
Confederates Attack Fort Sumter, in Charleston, NC. This begins the Civil War.
-
The Confederacy defeats the Union and Gen. Irvin McDowell at the First Bull Run. President Lincoln then realizes the war will be long.
-
Victory for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Tennessee, capturing Fort Henry. First victory for Gen. Grant of the Civil War. He becomes one of the most decorated Generals of the Civil War
-
More Soldiers are killed than any other American wars combined. Within 2 days, the Confederacy loses 10,000 men and the Union loses 13,000.
-
Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command, replacing the wounded Joseph E. Johnston. Lee then renames his force the Army of Northern Virginia.
-
75,000 Federals under Gen. John Pope are defeated by 55,000 Confederates under Gen. Stonewall Jackson and Gen. James Longstreet at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia.
-
The bloodiest day in U.S military history up to that point. By nightfall 26,000 men are dead, wounded, or missing. General Robert E. Lee retreats to Virginia.
-
President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates and emphasizes the enlisting of black soldiers in the Union Army.
-
The momentum of the war changes as the Union defeats the Confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. Confederate causalities in dead, wounded and missing were 28,000. Union casualties were 23,000.
-
Gen. Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Gen. Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia. This is the first step to the Union proving victorious over the Confederacy.
-
The Stars and Stripes is ceremoniously raised over Fort Sumter. That night, Lincoln and his wife Mary see the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater. At 10:13 p.m., John Wilkes Booth shoots the president in the head.
-
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified. Slavery is abolished.