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Election of Lincoln
In 1860, the United States needed someone to deal with the conflict between the North and the South. The election of Lincoln showed America that the conflict between the North and South could be resolved. However, the outcome of the election angered some Southerners, as Lincoln was an anti-slavery president. This meant that most Southerenrs wanted more control, which caused conflict. -
Texas Secedes from Union
Such a large state leaving the Union caused imbalnce and disruption in the union. Texas leaving meant another enemy for the Union, and a large one at that. The secession also angered the Union, as rebel-Texas formed a law in which no slaves could be released, under no circumstances. The secession also turned up the stakes of the war. -
Houston Kicked Out of Office
Since so many supported secession, and so few opposed it, Sam being one of those people, Houston retired out of office. President Lincoln actually offered military support to keep Houston in office TWICE, but Houston declined both offers. He did this as he did not wish to see Texas become a violent place. His retirement meant that Texas was now completely cut off from the Union, and there was no turning back. -
Battle at Fort Sumter
Union's Major Robert Anderson was positioned in Fort Moultrie, which was located near South Carolina, a Confederate state which had seceded a year earlier. Fearing the safety of his men, Anderson moved his forces to Fort Sumter. About five months later, Confederate forces demanded Fort Sumter be surrendered to the Confederacy. When Major Anderson refused, the Confederacy started firing upon the fort. The battle lasted thirty-four hours, but ended up with a Confederate win. No troops were killed. -
Battle of Galveston
In 1862, the Union took control of the Texan port of Galveston. On New Year's Eve of 1863, Confederate forces opened fire upon the Union-held Galveston. The Confederates were losing the battle though, and just when it looked over, Confederate "cottonclads" struck from behind the Union forces, and Galveston remained in Confederate control for the remainder of the war. A total of about one-hundered and eighty troops died in this battle. -
Battle of Gettysburg
After a succesful victory in Virginia, Robert E. Lee moved North, hopeful for another fruitful win. Abraham Lincoln had posed Major Meade's army, making sure it always stayed between Lee's army and Washington D.C. When Lee learned that Meade was in Pennsylvania, he concentrated all of his troops into Gettysburg. On July first, the first shots were fired. The first day ended up in a Confederate victory, pushing the Union back. The Union was surrounded, but still won after two days of fighting. -
Battle of Sabine Pass
In September, the Union attempted to take Fort Griffin. They came into the Sabine pass with four gunboats and seven troop transports, with a total of about five-thousand troops. However, the forty-four troops occupying the fort were VERY well-trained gunners, and they managed to bring down all of the ships. Even more impressive, the Union lost two-hundered and thirty troops, while the Confederacy lost none. -
Red River Campaign
The Red River Campaign was a movement by Abraham Lincoln, focused on Louisiana's Confederate capital, Shreveport. Abraham wanted Shreveport, as it had plenty of resources and was a gateway to Texas, a state which Lincoln desperatly wanted to be defeated. As a large Union army approached Shreveport, Confederate forces pulled back. When the Union attacked, the Confederates waited for them to need reinforcements, then attacked. The Union force was completely ravaged, with over 700 deaths. -
End of Civil War
On April 9th, Genral Robert E. Lee signed the terms of surrender offered by Union negotiators. The terms caused the last Confederate army to cease to exist, ending the bloodiest war in American history. With about 62000 casualities, the civil war had torn America apart. Robert E. Lee had finally surrendured due to lack of resources; he knew there was no way to win, and Lee would rather surrender over being defeated. -
Battle of Palmito Ranch
Near Brazos Santiago, Texas, Union troops were dispatched to destroy reported Rebel outposts. They attacked an outpost at Palmito Ranch, scattering the Confederates inside. Later, however, a large Confederate force appeared pushed back the Union to White's Ranch. Once they received reinforcements, they headed back to Palmito Ranch, and destroyed the supplies not torched the previous day. After continuing on, the Union met a Confederate cavalry, forcing them to retreat. The final battle was over. -
Juneteenth
Juneteenth is the annual celebration of the recognized end of slavery. Even though Lincoln had issued the Emancipation Proclimation over two years ago, not many of the Southerners had followed it. However, the end of the civil war was considered an official end to slavery in America. The civil war had finally had a resolution. -
Reconstruction Ends
After the civil war ended, many cities and homes had been damged or destroyed, especially on the Southern side. The rebuilding took many years, but it was necessary to erase the effects of the war. The end of reconstruction was important though, as it wrapped up the war and erased the damge. This was the last major event in the war era, as it was the final effort related to the war.
