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Kansas Nebraska Act (Political)
The Kansas Nebraska Act was one of the most significant events leading to the Civil War. In the early 1850’s, a variety of settlers wanted to move into what is now Nebraska. This area was not yet recognized as a territory and anyone that moved there would have no ability to legally claim a portion of the land. Southern representatives in Congress did not want to recognize Nebraska as a territory because it was north of the 36 30 parallel. -
John Brown's raid (Social)
A small army of eighteen men was led into Harpers Ferry by John Brown. His goal was to create a major slave rebellion in the South. By starting in that small down and moving south along the Appalachian Mountains. John Brown and his army attacked Harper Ferry's federal complex, but did not receive any support from the slaves. The raid caused more problems than it advocated for. Eight of his men were killed in an effort to start a rebellion that lasted less than 36 hours. -
South Carolina secedes (Political)
Once Lincoln’s victory was assured, the governor and legislature of South Carolina called a secession convention meeting in Charleston, South Carolina. During this meeting they unanimously decided to leave the union. This decision made them the first state to secede. Two days after, commissioners were sent to Washington D.C. to debate for delivery of federal property within the states. -
MIssissippi secedes (Political)
A convention was held in Jackson, Mississippi to consider secession. Delegates voted eighty four to fifteen to secede from the union. On this day they joined South Carolina. -
Florida secedes (Political)
Delegates from around the state met in Tallahassee to decide if Florida should leave the Union. Both Governor Madison Starke Perry and Governor elect John Milton were strong supporters of secession. This issue was debated inside and outside the convention for days. Former territorial governor, Richard Keith Call, argued that secession would only ruin the state. The decision finally came down to withdraw from the Union in a vote of sixty two to seven. -
Alabama secedes (Political)
This delegation met in Montgomery, Alabama to pass their secession resolution. The vote was sixty one to thirty nine for secession. It provided a significant source of troops and leaders, military material, supplies, food, horses and mules. -
Georgia secedes (Political)
Georgia called delegates to Milledgeville and voted two hundred nine to eighty nine for secession. They joined the Confederacy as the “Republic of Georgia”. -
Louisiana secedes from the Union (Political)
Louisiana was one of the first seven states to secede from the Union to form the Confederate States of America. Louisiana Governer Thomas Overton Moore acted agressivly to insure Louisiana's secession during a convention on January 23. At that convention Louisiana secedes, despite only representing 5% of the public at the convention. -
Texas secedes from the Union (Political)
By Febuary 1861, 6 other states in its region seceded from the Union, and Texas was next. There was a delay in Texas's secession, mostly because of Sam Houstaon, the Texas Governer at the time who refused to secede until it became obvious that the state would secede with, or without him. On Febuary 1st, members of the legislature met at the House to tally the final vote on the question of secession. The final tally was 166 "yeas" to 7 "nays" -
Jefferson Davis elected Confederate president (Social)
For roughly a year before, Jefferson Davis served as a temporary president. Davis ran unopposed and elected to serve a six year term. Under Davis, soldiers barely got by. His mistrust of his generals led to his downfall. Davis is the one and only president of the Confederate States. -
Abraham Lincoln elected (Social)
Abraham Lincoln was elected with 40% of the popular vote. In many southern states, Lincoln did not even make an appearance on the presidential ticket. Southerners feel as if they have been cheated and not equally represented. Furious Southern states began to leave the Union. They voluntarily joined the Union and no longer agreed with their ideals, so they left. -
Confederates in Charleston bombard Fort Sumter (Military)
General Beauregard was the commander of the provisional Confederate forces at Charleston, South Carolina. He demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. Commander Anderson refused. On April 12, Confederate batteries opened fire on the fort, which was unable to reply effectively. -
End of Battle at Fort Sumter (Military)
The battle at Fort Sumter was the opening battle of the Civil War. It ended with a Confederate victory. During the bombardment no one was killed. However, one Union artillerist was killed and three were wounded when a cannon exploded prematurely. -
Lincoln calls for 75,000 troops (Social)
The attack on Fort Sumter causes President Abraham Lincoln to call for troops to fight in what becomes the Civil War. With Lincoln's extremely strong support from the North, 150,000 troops arrive. -
Tennessee secedes from the Union (Political)
Governer Isham G. Harris of Tennessee agreed with the idea of Popular Sovereignty and he had many greivences surrounding the Republican party. After the attack on Fort Sumter, and Lincoln's call for 75,000 troops, the public of Tennessee turned anti Union and the state seceded soon after. -
Arkansas Secedes from the Union
Arkansas was unsure of seceding and had many conditional Unionist, even though the majority was siding with the seceding states. Arkansas State Militia seized a Federal arsenal before it actually voted to secede. The unsure opionion of secession, like many states, was changed after the attack on Fort Sumter and the call for 7,500 troop from Lincoln, and they seceded soon after. -
North Carolina secedes from the Union (Political)
North Carolina seceded from the Union on May 20th, 1861. NC Government was reluctant to leave the Union, even when Abraham Lincoln had won the presidential election. North Carolina did not secede until after Fort Sumter fell and Lincoln called for an army. -
Kentucky Declares Neutrality (Political)
A telegram was sent to Kentucky governer Beriah Magoffin from Abraham Lincoln requesting for troops from the public of Kentucky. Magoffin was a Southern sympathizer and replied that not a single man would be sent from him. Most people in the state beleived that they should act as a mediator between the two sides, and the houses of the General Assembaly passed the declarations of neutrality with respect from both sides. -
1st Major Battle of Bull Run, VA (Military)
McDowell attacked the Confederates on Matthews Hill. Fights throughout the day lead the Confederate forces back up to Henry Hill. Later in the day, Confederates attacked the Union. They were successful, but were too unorganized to continue. The Confederate pointed to Thomas Jackson, who remained firm while withstanding the attack, and said “There stands Jackson like a stonewall!” Thus his nickname, Stonewall Jackson. -
Confederate territory of Arizona formed (political)
The territory of Arizona was claimed by the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. It consisted of the portion of New Mexico territory south of the 34th parallel north including parts of the modern states of New Mexico and Arizona.The proposal to organize the Confederate Territory of Arizona was passed by the Confederate Congress on January 19 and proclaimed by President Jefferson Davis on February 19, 1862. -
Bombardment of Fort Henry in Tennessee leads to surrender (Milirtary)
Fort Henry was built on low ground and was often flooded by the Tennesse River. When Grant received word that Henry was in a weak position, he immediatly began seeking permission to attack. When news got through that the Union was preparing for an attack, the Confederacy was left in a tight spot because between 2 forts (Henry and Heiman) had only 2,500 men. The Confederacty almost completly abandoned, but left just enough men to fire the heavy guns. The heavy guns were not enough to stop the -
#2 Bombardment of Fort Henry in Tennessee leads to surrender (Milirtary)
bow guns of the gunboats. One of the heavy guns exploded during the battle killing most of the remaining crew. -
Battle of Val Verde (Military)
Confederate troops under General Henry Hopkins Sibley attack Union troops commanded by Colonel Edward R.S Canby in the New Mexico Territory. It was the first major engagement of the Civil war in the far West. This battle was a part of a larger movement to capture more parts of the West. With bold attacks planned by Colonel Tom Green who filled in for the sick Sibley, the Confederates forced to retreat back to Fort Craig. The purpose of the battle was to stop communications to the Fort. -
Battle of First Kernstown (Military)
"Stonewall" Jackson, relying on faulty information that the Union garrison at Winchester only had about 3,000 men, marched 3,400 men north for an attack. 8,500 Federals commanded by Col. Nathan Kimball stopped Jackson at Kernstown and Forced them to retreat. Even though it was a Union victory, Lincoln was disturbed by the threat to Washington and sent a lot of reinforcements to the Valley. -
#2 The Battle of Yorktown (Military)
bombardment of the fort, the Confederate army slipped away in the night towards Williamsburg -
The Battle of Yorktown begins (Military)
Marching from Fort Monroe, the Union forces lead by Maj. Gen B. McClellan's ran into John B. Magruder's small Confederate army at York Town behind the Warkwick River. Thinking the works were strongly held, McClellan ordered the construction of seige forts and brought his heavy guns to the front. In the meantime, Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston brought reinforcements to Magruder. Weeks went by with little casualties while Union probed for weakness. When McClellan planned for a massive -
Battle of Shiloh
On the morning of April 6th, 1862, 40,000 Confederate soldiers under General Albert Sidney Johnson attacked a line of Union soldiers occupying ground near Pittsburg Landing on the Tennessee River. The unprepared Union forces were forced from their camp. Battle waged at the sunked road known as the "Hornets Nest" until Confederates surrounded Union troops and killed, capured, or wounded most. When reinforcements were sent, the remaining 30,000 confederate troops retired. -
#2 Union advances on Corinth Missisipi (Military)
ran out of amunition and retreated. -
Union advances on Corinth Mississippi
There was alot of Union troops lead by Grant sread along western Tennessee and northern Mississippi because of attack focused on Kentucky. Mj. Gen Earl Van Dorn was focused on Corinth as the place to attack the most. After the Battle of Iuka, Grant transferred his headquarters to Jackson TN leaving Maj. Gen William Rosecrans in command at Corinth. Von Dorn was discovered and Rosecrans concentrated his forces. Days of large scale skirmishes and many casualties went by until Confederate forces -
Battle of Williamsburg (Military)
Following up the Confederate retreat from yourtown, a Union division encountered the Confederate reargaurd near Williamsburg. Federals assulted for Magruder, a fort near the Williamsburg road, but was repulsed. While Confederates counter attacked, the Federals were reinforced and moved to attack oncoming Confederates and were unsuccessful. The Confederate army continued its retreat during the night. -
Lincoln signs a law prohibiting slavery in the Western territories (Political)
Lincoln wrote a law that stated no slavery will exist in any Territories that the United States had aquired, or any Territores that would be aqquired after the law was passed. The law was approved on June 18th,1862. -
Battle of Mechanicsville
Robert E. Lee initiated his offensive against McClellan’s right flank north of the Chickahominy River. Hill threw his division into a series of pointless assaults behind Beaver Dam Creek. Confederate attacks returned with many casualties. -
the U.S. Senate approved the West Virginia Statehood Bill (political)
the U.S. Senate approved the West Virginia Statehood Bill and the House of Representatives did the same on December 10, 1862. Lincoln received the statehood bill on December 15 and conferred with his cabinet about its constitutionality. Despite divisions within his cabinet, Lincoln signed the bill on December 31, 1862. After receiving word that the Wheeling delegates and western voters had approved the revised state constitution. -
Lincoln presents emancipation proclamation to the cabinet (political)
On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln informs his chief advisors and cabinet that he will issue a proclamation to free slaves, but adds that he will wait until the Union Army has achieved a substantial military victory to make the announcement.As promised, Lincoln waited to unveil the proclamation until he could do so on the heels of a successful Union military advance. On September 22, 1862, after a victory at Antietam, he publicly announced a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. -
Second Battle of Bull Run VA (Military)
Stonewall Jackson ordered an attack on a Federal column that passed across Pope’s army. The fighting at brawner Farm lasted several hours and ended in a stalemate. Pope was convicted of trapping Jackson and had most of his army attack him. A large amount of Confederate artillery demolished a Union assault by Fitz John Porter’a command. The Union left flank was destroyed and the army was driven back to Bull Run. -
Battle of Fredericksburg, VA (Military)
This is the first battle that used trench warfare. Trench warfare is a type of combat in which opposing troops fight from trenches facing each other. In the middle of the trenches is an open field, going out there would more than likely end in death. Ambrose Burnside sent Union troops across this open field at Robert E. Lee and his men who were behind a stone wall. Many Union troops that were sent died. -
Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclomation (Social)
The Emancipation Proclomation was an executive order written by President Abraham Lincoln and signed on the First of January 1863. It called forll remainging slaves in the rebelling Confederate states to be freed. As the Union gained regions of the South that had slaves, thoes slaves were to be recognized as ex-slaves. Not only were they no longer slaves. but they were also elligable to joined the Union Armed Forces. The Proclomation enraged the South, and it fueled the anti-slavery movement. -
Lincoln signs immediate payment of troops and calls for currency reform (political)
President Lincoln signed a congressional resolution providing for the immediate payment of military personnel. Lincoln also requested currency reforms, as the war was costing $2.5 million per day by this year. The cost was financed by selling war bonds, borrowing over $1 billion from foreign countries, and issuing paper currency called greenbacks. These measures caused a massive increase in the cost of living through a new economic term called inflation. -
Cherokee Indian national council leaves the confederacy to join the Union #2 (military)
The Declaration dissolved the Cherokee alliance with the Confederacy and reaffirmed its loyalty to the United States, it repudiated any tribal members under arms against the United States, and it freed all slaves un Cherokee territory. -
Cherokee Indian national council leaves the confederazy to join the union ( military)
The Cherokee Nation had made an alliance with the Confederate States, and the war was going badly for the Southern armies as well as the civilians in that area.Under command of Gen. James Blunt, a brigade of Unionist Indian troops crosses back into the Indian Territories. On Feb. 26, a document was adopted and a vote on this date made it official. -
Naval attack on Charleston SC (military)
The striking force was a fleet of nine ironclad warships of the Union Navy, including seven monitors that were improved versions of the original USS Monitor. Thus the battle fizzled out. The Union had lost one ironclad, and Fort Sumter had sustained damage that could be repaired in short order. -
Confederate government passes a tax in kind on 1/10 of all produce (social)
With so'many changes made in the original bill, a joint committee of both Houses was compelled to work weeks for an acceptable adjustment. An agreement was finally reached and the tax bill was approved April 24, 1863.Law passed to "assess taxes" for defence, requiring 1/10 of the produce to be given to the Confederate government. -
Death of Stonewall Jackson (social)
General Stonewall Jackson was badly wounded in the arm at the battles of Chancellorsville, and had his arm amputated. The operation did not succeed, and pneumonia setting in near Richmond, Virginia.On his death bed, though he became weaker, he remained spiritually strong, saying that he always wanted to die on a sunday, the Lord's day. -
Battle of Gettysburg PN begins (military)
The battle of Gettysburg began July 1, it lasted three days and T he battle involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war and is often described as the war's turning point.The two armies suffered between 46,000 and 51,000 casualties. Union casualties were 23,055, while Confederate casualties are more difficult to estimate. Many authors have referred to as many as 28,000 Confederate casualties. -
Draft riots in NYC (social)
The New York City draft riots were violent disturbance caused by the working-class discontent with the new laws passed by Congress that year to draft men to fight in the ongoing American Civil War. Those riots were the largest civil insurrection in American history outside of the civil war itself.President Lincoln was forced to divert several regiments of militia and volunteer troops from following up after the Battle of Gettysburg to control the city. -
Robert E lee offers to resign as commander of the army of northern VA (military)
Because of his reputation as one of the finest officers in the United States Army, Abraham Lincoln offered Lee the command of the Federal forces in April 1861. Lee declined and tendered his resignation from the army when the state of Virginia seceded, arguing that he could not fight against his own people. Instead, he accepted a general’s commission in the newly formed Confederate Army. -
Lincoln calls for 300,000 new troops to join the union army (social)
Abraham Lincoln called for another 300,000 volunteer to fight for three years of the war, not however exceeding those three years. Though he issued the call, he knew that the draft for these troops would have to be deferred until the Enrollment Act could be revised. Consequently the actual collection of these forces had to be put off until Congress could meet. Thus the North was more than two years behind the South in the efficiency of gaining reinforcements. -
Gettysburg Address (Social)
On November 19, Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address. The speech was given at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This is where Lincoln coined the historic phrase, "Four score and seven years ago...". -
The motto "In God We Trust" first stamped on U.S. coins (Social)
On April 22, legislation was passed to have the U.S. motto, "In God We Trust", first stamped on U.S. coins. The phrase originated in "The Star Spangled Banner" as "In God is our Trust", but was shortened to "In God We Trust" and used as a battle cry in the Battle of Antietam. The decision to put a religious motto on coins was made to make people think that God sided with the Union in the Civil War. -
Battle of Spotsylvania (Military)
The battle of Spotsylvania was the second major battle in Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland campaign of the Civil War. The battle was 13 days long and was tactically inconclusive. With 32,000 casualties on both sides, this battle was the costliest of the campaign. -
Battle of New Market, VA
At the Battle of Newmarket, Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant ordered Major General Franz Sigel to move up the Shenandoah Valley to destroy the railroad and canal complex at Lynchburg. On May 15, Confederate Maj. Gen. John C Breckinridge attacked Sigel's force of 10,000 soldiers with only 4,100 of his own. At a crucial point in the battle Breckinridge broke through Sigel's defenses forcing Sigel to withdraw his troops. -
Major Union attack at Cold Harbor, Virginia (Military)
On June 1, Major General Sheridan's cavalry seized Old Cold Harbor. The next day, the Confederates attempted to reclaim the crossroads and their clashes with Union forces created a seven mile battle front. Fatigued Union soldiers delayed General Grant's assaults which gave the Confederates enough time to create an extensive line of trenches. The trenches gave the Confederates the upper hand in every clash, slaughtering the Union soldiers at every point. -
Maryland Abolishes Slavery (Social)
On June 24, the Constitutional Convention of Maryland passed an article of the Bill of Rights stating, "Hereafter, in this State, there shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except in punishment of crime, whereof the party shall have been duly convicted; and all persons held to service or labor as slaves are hereby declared free." -
Battle of Monocacy, Maryland (Military)
On July 9, Lieutenant General Jubal A. Early's Confederate Army snuck past Federal defenses and into Maryland. Major General Lew Wallace and a small force of Union soldiers tried to intercept the Confederates, but were defeated in the Battle of Monocacy. Wallace's defeat bought enough time for Union forces to bolster The capitals defenses. -
Union general McClellan nominated for president (political)
George B. McClellan vied for the presidential nomination. Additionally, friends of Horatio Seymour insisted on placing his name before the convention, which was held in Chicago, Illinois, on August 29–31, 1864. But on the day before the organization of that body, Horatio Seymour announced that he would not be a candidate.Since the Democrats were divided by issues of war and peace, they sought a strong candidate who could unify the party. The compromise was to nominate McClellan for president. -
Nevada earns statehood
On October 31, Nevada became the 36th state in the Union. It's statehood was rushed to eight days before the November 8 presidential election to help secure Abraham Lincoln's reelection. Nevada's mining based economy made it a sensible addition to the union -
Abraham Lincoln is reelected president
On November 8, 1864, Abraham Lincoln was reelected President of the United States. Because of the problems that were present during his first term, Lincoln secretly made plans to stay in the White House until he could end the Civil War. In the final months of the campaign, several Union victories strengthened Lincoln's chances of winning. When Lincoln was inaugurated he called for "malice towards none" and "charity for all". He ended the war one month later. -
Fort Fisher, North Carolina stormed (Military)
After the Union's first loss against Fort Fischer, Major General Alfred Terry was placed in charge of a "Provisional Corps" including Paine's Division of US Colored Troops and a naval force of 60 ships. After a preliminary bombardment, the Union forces landed and stormed the fort. The Confederate garrison surrendered opening the way for an attack on the South's last open seaport. -
House passes 13th amendment (Political)
On January 31, the House of Representatives passed the 13th amendment, abolishing slavery in the United States. Though, many slaves were freed by Lincoln's emancipation proclamation, this amendment outlawed all forms of slavery in all territories under U.S. jurisdiction. -
Battle of Hatcher's Run (Military)
The Battle of Hatcher's Run was a three day encounter in which Ulysses S. Grant sought to block a confederate supply route and to take control of the last railroads in Pennsylvania. Grant sent 34,000 troops into battle and they were stopped by 14,000 confederates. Although the Union was not successful in battle, they were able to extend their trenches 3 miles closer to the South Side Railroad. -
Lincoln's 2nd inauguration (Political)
On March 4, Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated for 2nd term as President of the U.S.. The recent Union Army losses made Lincoln's reelection prospects seem dim, but he vowed to end the war whether or not he served a second term. -
Battle of Natural Bridge (Military)
On March 6, Major General John Newton went on a mission to take out a Confederate encampment near Ft. Marks. When Newton's Navy was unable to continue, the Army force moved on. They attempted to cross the river at Natural Bridge but the bridge was too heavily protected by Rebels. The union troops were forced to retreat. -
Battle at Fort Stedman (Military)
During the Battle at Fort Stedman, General Robert E. Lee used a large portion of his army to try to break through Grant's Petersburg defenses and threaten his supply depot. The confederates broke through, but 1,900 of their soldiers were soon captured. Later on, Union forces assaulted and captured the Confederate trenches which devastated Lee's army. -
Battle of Five Forks, Virginia (Military)
On April 1, Ulysses S. Grant saw an opportunity to force Robert E. Lee's army out of Northern Virginia by threatening the South Side Railroad, Lee's last supply line. Grant told Major General Phil Sheridan and his cavalry to advance on the rail road by following a road junction known as "Five Forks", while Lee ordered Major General George Pickett to hold the crossroads at all costs. Sheridan discovered the Confederate force and secured additional infantry support. When the fighting began and Pic -
Lee surrenders to Grant (Military)
Because General Robert E. Lee was unable to return south or fend off the constant Union barrages, he headed west and ended up in Appomattox County. Lee tried to move his army to the South Side Railroad to find supplies, but they were cut off by Union troops near the small village of Appomattox Court House. General Lee's army was trapped and he had no choice but to surrender to General U.S. Grant. -
A $100,000 reward offered for the arrest of Jefferson Davis(Social)
On May 2, a $100,000 reward was offered for the arrest of Jefferson Davis. Davis was the president of the Confederate States of America during the Civil War and was accused of helping to plan President Lincoln's assassination.
