-
Free Soilers Party Formed
The free soil party opposed the extension of slavery - not necessarily slavery itself. They supported the restrictive laws on African Americans though. And they feared there was a secret plan to spread slavery all over the US. -
California Statehood
California wanted to become a state. They were admitted as a free state. They got to decide whether they wanted to be a free or slave state and they chose free. -
Winfield Scott Runs for President
Winfield Scott ran for president on behalf of the Whig Party. But his party doesn't win because they are too divided. -
Franklin Pierce Wins Elction
Franklin Pierce won the Election of 1852. He ran for the Democratic pary. From there on out, the whig party died. -
The Attack on Lawrence
Lawrence is a town in Kansas that was founded by antislavery settlers. A group of proslavery people destroyed Lawrence. They looted two printing presses, several houses and stores, and set the antislavery headquarters on fire. -
The Pottawatomie Massacre
The Pottawatomie Massacre was the effect of the attack on Lawrence. It was led by John Brown. He and his followers were infuriated about the sack on Lawrence so they went to Pottawatomie Creek and pulled 5 men out of bed, cut their hands off,and stabbed them. This leads to Bleeding Kansas. -
Harper Ferry
After John Brown masacred 5 men for the sack on Lawrence, he began to believe it was time for slaves to fight for themselves as well. A Federal Arsenal was placed at Harper Ferry, Virginia. John Brown decided to take it over and arm slaves with the weapons. He led a small group of men, more whites than blacks, and held 60 men hostage. Eventually the U.S. Marines arrested John Brown. -
Hanging of Brown
John Brown was hanged for high treason. Northerners considered John Brown a martyr and the southerners began to fear a slave uprising being organized by the northerners. -
Southern Secession
South Carolina seceded from the United States. They felt as though they had lost their political voice. And they were afraid the North was going to force their beliefs on them. Afterwards, 6 other states secede as well - Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. -
Confederate States of America
The states that seceded decide to become a whole new country. They call themselves the Confederate States of America. -
Fort Sumter
The Confederacy demanded that the U.S. evacuate Fort Sumter as soon as possible. When they don't, the confederacy opens fire on the Fort. South Carolina destroyed it with more than 4,000 rounds. -
Battle of First Bull Run
Both the Confederates and the Union have inexperienced soldiers fighting for them. The Union makes their way to Richmond.They fight well in the begining, but the Confederacy takes the win. This win boosts the Confederates morale and confidence. -
Fort Henry
The Union wanted to attack Fort Henry on both land and water so Grant put the army in 2 places - the East bank of Tennessee river (water troops) and on the Kentucky side (land troops). Fort Henry was designed to stop water traffic – not withstand the degree of military force it actually did -
Monitor v. Merrimack
The Monitor was the Union ironclad and the Merrimack was the Confederate ironclad. This battle was the first ironclad battle in history. The battle resulted in a draw and neither the Confederacy not the Union won. -
Battle of New Orleans
David Farragut, the “flag officer,” was in charge of 40 ships on the Mississippi River, towards New Orleans. He zoomed past 3 forts, set them on fire, & made his way to New Orleans & took it. He put 1 of the parts of the Anaconda plan into place by doing this because it divided Confederacy into 2 parts. After this, he was awarded Navy’s first rear Admiral. Port Hudson & Vicksburg were the only towns left to take. -
Antietam
This battle was between Lee (head of Confederacy) and McClellan. Lee used all his men & McClellan only used ¾ of his. The battle was the bloodiest, single-day battle in American history. There was no clear winner. Lee retreated & McClellan didn't pursue. It was a Union strategic win. -
Lincoln Fires McClellan
Lincoln got tired of McClellan complaining and being to cautious with his men and attacks so he fired him. -
Emancipation Proclamation Issued
Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation as a tacticla move against the south. It stated that all slaves in the rebaellion states were free.But the Confederacy considered themselves a seperate country so Lincoln wasn't their president; they didn't have to follow his laws he made. -
Vicksburg Battle
Vicksburg is the last remaining fort that the Union has to take in order to complete the anaconda plan and split the Confederate states into two parts. -
Battle at Gettysburg
The battle at Gettysburg was the farthest north battle in the civil war. The Confederacy gets no farther than Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In this battle the Union and Confederate soldiers literally run into each other. After this battle, the confederates never recover. -
Confederates Surrender
After Pickett's Charge, the Confederates are so weakened by the fight that they surrendered. -
Victory at Vicksburg
Vicksburg is destroyed by the Union. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln made a speech to honor the soldiers that fought and died on both sides. He wanted to dedicate a plot of land to the soldiers as well. -
Burning of Atlanta
Atlanta was burned down by William Sherman. The Confederate troops tried to cut off Grant's supply lines by burning the city. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment, which freed all slaves, was created. -
Lee Surrenders
Lee surrendered to Grant at the Appomattox Court House. The war is officially over. -
Lincoln Assasination
Lincoln was shot by a man named James Wilkes Booth at the Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C.
