Civil War Major Events

Confederation Formed

Nov 15, 1777

Benjamin Franklin wrote the first Articles of Confederation then presented it to Congress. They were formed in Philadelphia. It allowed congress to make alliances and treaties (States Meet to Form Confederacy.)

Lincoln Elected

Nov 6, 1860

Abraham Lincoln was involved. In total there were 4 people running for president (including Lincoln.) They were: John. C Breckinridge, John Bell, and Stephen A. Douglas (Abraham Lincoln’s Election.) The election caused a few problems. Some of them would include: the relationship between the states, federal government, and territories. It caused problems with abolition and slavery. And it also caused problems with secession (Slavery, Secession, and States’ Rights.)

South Carolina Secedes

Dec 20, 1860

South Carolina broke off from the union. The fights about slavery set South Carolina off. South Carolina isn’t a part of the union now (Richard Cavendish.)

Civil War Begins

Apr 12, 1861

The War began in Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor. The United States of America and the Confederate States of America was involved. The War happened because the southern states no longer wanted to be a part of the United States anymore (The American Civil War for Kids.) Some of the outcomes was the Reconstruction of Southern America, the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Assassination of the President Lincoln, etc. (10 Facts: What Everyone Should Know about the Civil War.)

First Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

First major land battle of the American Civil War. The armies met at Manassas Junction, Virginia. Even though Confederates won they were not smart enough to take it as an advantage and pursue the Yankees (History.com).

Naval Battles: Merrimack

Mar 8, 1862

The battle of Merrimack was on Hampton Roads and Sewell’s Point, which are both in Virginia (Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack.) Confederate Soldiers destroyed the ship because the Union took over the port. This was important because this was the first battle between the ironclad warships (American Civil War.) Who Won: Monitor defeated Merrimack (Battle of Monitor and Merrimack.)

Naval Battles: Monitor

Mar 9, 1862

That morning the ships repeatedly went back and forth at each other. Sewell’s Point, which are both in Virginia. The Virginia sunk two union ships then shoved them off Hampton Roads. Monitor sank. Who Won: Monitor (U.S.S. Monitor Battles C.S.S. Virginia.)

Battle of Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

The Confederates were ready for battle only a mile away from the union army. Johnston and his troops attacked, sending the blue coats back to Shiloh Church. The Confederates pushed the Union troops back towards Pittsburgh threatening to trap it against the Tennessee River. Who Won: The Union (History.com Editors.)

Second Battle of Bull Run

Aug 28, 1862

The battle was in Prince William County. The battle was a victory for the rebels. This led Robert E. Lee to his first invasion of the North. This battle also persuaded upset Union leaders in Washington D.C. that freeing slaves was necessary for the military (Greenspan, Jesse.) Who Won: Robert E. Lee of the Confederate Army.

Battle of Antietam

Oct 17, 1862

The Confederate Army lost around 10,700 soldiers and the Union lost around 12,400 soldiers. This battle was the bloodiest one-day-battle in the Civil War (Bowman, Tom.) This battle took place near Sharpsburg, Maryland near Antietam Creek (History.com Editors.) The outcome of the battle was that people now knew that the Union was able to go against the Confederate Army and win (Antietam.) The Union (McClellan’s Army) won the battle (History.com Editors.)

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

It said that all slaves that were being held in the rebellious states, are free. This applied to the enslaved people in the Confederacy (History.com Editors). It was read in Washington D.C. The result of the Emancipation Proclamation was the abolition of slavery for the US (10 Facts: The Emancipation Proclamation.)

Siege of Vicksburg

May 18, 1863

General Ulysses S. Grant led the Union side of the battle and John C. Pemberton led the Confederate side of the Battle (American Civil War.) Ulysses S Grant gained control of the Mississippi River (American Civil War.) The outcome was that the Union now had control of the Mississippi River during the Civil War (Siege of Vicksburg.) This affected the Civil War because after this, the Union controlled the Mississippi River (Siege of Vicksburg.)

Gettysburg

Jun 1, 1863

One of the most important battles of the Civil War. It was the end to Robert E. Lees plan. It had a high number of casualties, so it was bloody. The South won (History.com Editors.)

Reconstruction of the South

Period: Dec 8, 1863 to Mar 31, 1877

It occurred in the United States. The outcome was that the South now had state-funded public schools, laws against discrimination of races in public places and transportations, etc. This affected things because this was solving problems in the US. Like racism, schooling, economics, etc. (Reconstruction.)

Lincoln Re-elected

Jun 7, 1864

The 11 Southern states votes didn’t count to his re-election. Lincoln saw his re-election as an opportunity to end slavery. He was re-elected at the convention of Republican Party in Baltimore (History.com Editors).

Robert E. Lee Surrenders

Apr 9, 1865

What happened was that this ended the Civil War (Robert E. Lee Surrenders.) Lee surrendered at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia (Robert E. Lee Surrenders.) The outcome of Robert surrendering was that this ended the War. This affected things because this ended the American Civil War (Robert E. Lee Surrenders.)

Lincolns Assassination

Apr 15, 1865

Lincoln was at Ford’s theater in Washington. John Wilkes Booth shot him in the back of the head with a gun. John wanted Confederacy to be restored, which was his motive.