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Civil War Timeline
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Lincoln gives Cooper Union speech
Delivered at Cooper Union, in New York City. At this point, Lincoln was not a presidential candidate yet. It is probably one of his most prominent speeches that he has made, and may have been responsible for his candidacy. He talked about his dislike for slavery, and how the Founding Fathers would agree with him. -
Pre-emption Bill
Starting then, colonists could get land for free in the west. One could just enter in a race of sorts to get the land, which they would have to stake claims on as soon as possible. -
Pony Express begins
It was founded as a fast mail service spanning the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. It was the fastest and easiest method of communication between east and west before the telegraph. It was responsible for keep California close to the Union just before the Civil War broke out. -
Constitutional Party formed
Former members of the American and Whig party got together in Baltimore, Maryland to form this new party. They select John Bell as their Presidential candidate and Edward Everett as their VP candidate. -
Abraham Lincoln selected as Republican candidate
He gained the favor of fellow republicans with his abolitionist nature, and the absoluteness of his choice. Unlike his competetor, Stephen Douglas, Lincoln would not settle for popular sovereignty. -
11 year old tells Lincoln to grow a beard
Not exactly a front page headline, but Abraham Lincoln's trademark beard was a suggestion in a letter from 11 year old Grace Bedell to help Lincoln improve his appearance. Jokingly, Lincoln responded with "no promises." Within a month, he had grown his beard and kept it until he died. -
Presidential Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln wins for the Republican party with 180 electoral votes in his favor. Other candidates include Southern Democrat J.C. Breckinridge, Constitutional Union's John Bell, and Democratic Stephen A. Douglas. -
Crittenden Compromise rejected
John J. Crittenden proposed a desperate act to prevent the imminent Secessions of the southern states. It proposed 6 new constitutional amendments, the main theme being the reintroduction of slavery in the southern states to keep them happy, and the inability to ever remove proslavery laws again. In the end, it was widely rejected. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
The first state secedes from the Union, feeling threatened by Lincoln's election. -
SC issues their Declaration of Independance
The "Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union" was the document South Carolina used to explain the motive of its' secession. Having a lengthy name to it, it was not nearly as catchy as it's analogous predecessor, the "Declaration of Independance." -
Kansas becomes 34th United State
As defined in the Kansas/Nebraska Act, the Nebraska Territory was divided into two states, one of which became the state of Kansas, a slave state. -
Confederate States of America adopt a Constitution
The Provisional Constitution of the Confederate States of America was an improvisational constitution used by the Confederates from February 8, 1861 to March 11, 1861. After that, it was replaced with a permanent Constitution of the CSA. -
Jefferson Davis elected President of CSA
Merely a day after the Confederate States of America adopted their constitution, Jefferson Davis, former senator to Mississippi, became the new nation's first and last president. He was inaugurated nine days later. -
Abraham Lincoln Inaugurated
The fact that Lincoln had won the election even though every single southern Electoral vote was against him worried the south greatly, enough to complete the secession process and thoroughly separate the north from south. -
Permanent CSA Constitution
The provisional Constitution installed on Feb. 8th is superseded by the new, finished, more permanent document. They officially consider themselves a country after this. -
Civil War begins at battle of Fort Sumter
Union troops being left over in a fort in the south, Fort Sumter, Lincoln remains passive and sends food and supplies to them without taking military action. Jefferson, being forced to make the first move, orders to attack the fort and start the war. -
Robert E. Lee joins the Confederates
He resigns his commission in the US Army so he can become the leader of Virginian forces. He didn't agree with the south's views, but he was loyal to their people. He was also a very power general. -
11 final states have seceded from the Union
- Mississippi (January 9, 1861)
- Florida (January 10)
- Alabama (January 11)
- Georgia (January 19)
- Louisiana (January 26)
- Texas (February 1)
- Virginia (April 17)
- Arkansas (May 6)
- Tennessee (May 7)
- North Carolina (May 20)
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Battle of Bull Run
The first major battle of the civil war takes place at Bull Run creek in Manassas, less than 50 miles outside of Washington DC, the Union's capital. -
George McClellan appointed head Union general
Lincoln brought in this new general rather early on in the war to replace the old one, Winfield Scott. Lincoln would later on regret this decision due to McClellan's infamous indecisiveness in his military actions. -
First Union victory at Fort Henry
General Ulysses S. Grant captured the fort with a naval attack, which opened up the Tennessee river for use and lead a path for the Union deep into the South. -
Battle of Pea Ridge
Brigadier General Samuel L. Curtis led forces and drove the confederates down into arkansas, essentially capturing the Missouri and northern Arkansas area. -
Union undoes Fugitive Slave Law
The USA Army forbids officers from returning fugitive slaves. This was a new progressive addition to abolitionism, and one of the stepping stones toward Emancipation. -
Grant wins Battle of Shiloh
Grant and his army were attacked at the church of Shiloh while unguarded. Eventually, because of arriving reinforcements, the army is able to hold out and succeed. Grant's reputation had been severely lowered by his inability to defend properly. -
Battle of Hampton Roads
The first battle to ever take place between two Ironclad war ships, the USS Monitor and the CSS Virginia. This battle was a confederate effort to break the Union blockade that had been pressed upon them. It was at the intersection of the Elizabeth, Nansemond and James rivers. -
Admiral Farragut captures New Orleans
This was a major victory for the Union, and fulfilled one of the steps of the Anaconda Plan--to strike from the west and divide the south. -
Battle of Cross Keys
Stonewall Jackson uses confederate forces to stop an attack on Lee's Northern Virginian Army by Union forces lead by George McClellan. This prevented the destruction of a rather large portion of the Confederate army. -
Robert E. Lee puts confederate troops on offensive
For the first time, a confederate army crosses the border into Union territory and attacks it, successfully. Lee led 55,000 men across the Potomac River into Maryland near Leesburg, Virginia. -
Battle of Antietam
Took place at Sharpsburg, Maryland. Notorious for being the bloodiest single day battle in American history, there was a total of over 22,000 casualties. The union won this one, but barely. -
George McClellan removed as commander of Union Army
Lincoln was frustrated with McClellan for not being offensive enough with his army, and "having the slows." He was known for not taking advantage of his resources. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln introduces an executive order that, in all of the unrecognized confederate states, all slaves are from that point forth free. Slavery is technically ended. -
Conscription added in the form of the Enrollment Act
Lincoln passes a bill that institutes a draft, in which people are forced to join the military to help the war effort. This angered many and eventually led to the New York draft riots. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Major General Joseph Hooker's forces met in battle with Robert E. Lee's forces near Chancellorsville, virginia. The confederates won, but lost 13,000 men and general Stonewall Jackson in the process. -
Battle of Vicksburg begins
Ulysses S. Grant's forces laid seige to this riverside town for over a month, eventually to the Confederate forces' surrender in July. This led to the total control of the Mississippi river by Union forces. -
Battle of Gettysburg begins
Easily the most famous, high impact, and influentual battle of the entire civil war. Finally, Union forces stop the Confederates' offensive movement into Pennsylvania, and the Union is given an enormous morale boost. Afterwards, Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address, also enormously influential and morale-boosting. -
New York draft riots begin
After the passing of the Enrollment Act, New Yorkers are mad that they are forced to fight in the war, and protest/riot against it. The rioting lasted three days, and was incredibly violent/loud. -
Robert E. Lee attempted resignation
Famous general Lee of the Confederates sends his letter of resignation to Jefferson Davis after his failiure at Gettysburg. Davis refuses the proposal, and demands that Lee continue to lead. Word gets out about this, and many of the Confederate soldiers and citizens are discouraged and worried. -
Union forces begin bombardment of Fort Sumter
Back where the war began, Union forces assault and battery on the former union fort in Charleston, South Carolina. The assault takes very long, and doesn't end until december of that year. -
Confederates create first submarine
Horace Lawson Hunley created the world's first submarine, the CSS Hunley. The vehicle was successful at first, but killed it's inventor and a crew of seven in one of it's tests. -
Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address
This is one of the most famous speeches in American history. In it, Lincoln talks about the state of the country, and how it must be fixed. He talks about how the battleground of Gettysburg will turn into a soldier cemetary, for both union and confederate soldiers (in order to reunite the country). -
First prisoners arive at Andersonville
The Confederacy's infamous prison of Andersonville, Georgia recieved it's first shipment of Union prisoners. There were around 500 of them, originally detained at the Confederate capital of Richmond. The prison was known for harsh treatment and inhumane conditions. -
U.S. Grant becomes commander of all Union forces
President Lincoln eventually appointed the general to this position. Though Grant was a military specialist and a decent strategist, he was widely regarded as a bad person. He still managed to drive the Union army to further victories. -
Montana becomes a territory of the Union
All across the west side of North America, territories have been added successively to the Union. All of them are free, thanks to the secession of the Confederacy. -
Battle of Piedmont
A confederate army is defeated by Union forces led by General David Hunter at Piedmont, West Virginia. The victorious union forces take over 1000 prisoners. -
Union forces take over Atlanta under Gen. Sherman
General Sherman, who is known for his extremely destructive tactics, led his men into Atlanta, Georgia a few days after the confederate forces had fled the area after a very long seige by Sherman's men. -
Nevada becomes US state 36
Even while the Union is at war with the south, it manages to continue Manifest Destiny and expand it's statehood westward. It is impressive that they were able to do both at the same time. -
Battle of Johnsonville
At this engagement at Johnsonville, Tennessee, confederates bombarded a Union base under the command of Nathan Forrest. Millions of dollars worth of damage is done. -
Lincoln wins Re-election
In this election, Lincoln's major competitor was George McClellan, Lincoln's ex general whom he had fired. Obviously, McClellan contained some resentment against the president. Nonetheless, Lincoln won in a landslide. -
March to the Sea begins
Union General William T. Sherman begins his "March to the Sea," in which his men leave/burn Atlanta and leave a blazing trail as they march and attack towards the Atlantic. They caused extensive damage to crops, cities, and transportation along the way. -
March to the Sea ends
Sherman's destructive military campaign ends as his army captures the port of Savannah, Georgia. The aftermath of his march would impede reconstruction by quite a bit. -
Robert E. Lee becomes General in Chief
Although he had already attempted to resign, Lee had been promoted to the Confederacy's General in Chief. Most likely this was to enforce the fact that he was here to stay, and try to calm the confederates who were worried about his attempted resignation. -
Freedman's Bureau passed
Lincoln and Congress passed this act that allowed for Freed slaves to obtain cheap/free food, healthcare, shelter, etc. This was to help aid reconstruction before it officially started. -
Lincoln Inaugurated... again
Lincoln is inaugurated as president for his second term, after beating his competetor, George McClellan, by an overwhelming difference. -
Confederacy allows African Americans to enlist
After losing quite a bit of their aged population, the Confederates finally allow them to join up. Of course, many are against the CSA, and support the Union. This forces many children to fight for the south as well. -
CSA Capital, Richmond is evacutaed
Confederates are now on the hopeless defensive, fleeing their most important city as Union troops take it over the next day. It's only a matter of time until the Union wins now. -
Robert E. Lee surrenders to U.S. Grant
From this point forth, the American Civil War is officially over. It will take many, many years to mend the wounds created by this conflict. -
Abraham Lincoln is assassinated
At Fords Theatre in Washington DC, actor John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head in his booth while he was watching a performance. Lincoln dies the next day from his wounds, merely 5-6 days after the Confederate surrender. -
Jefferson Davis is captured
Union troops finally found the former Confederate president and took him prisoner near Irwinville, Georgia. All hope of the CSA surviving is officially lost. -
Conspirators of assassination are hanged
Accomplices of John Wilkes Booth, including David Herold, George Atzerodt, Lewis Payne, and Mary Surratt. The hunt for Booth himself ended ended 12 days earlier, when Booth was shot down in a farmhouse in Virginia. -
KKK is founded
In response to the Union victory of the civil war and the attempted "reconstruction", these southern men were outraged and intended to impede equal rights as well as intimidate those who supported it. Their methods generally included protests and violence. -
Lincoln's birthday formally celebrated for the first time
Since Lincoln's death, it has been the objective of the country and government to turn the assassinated president into a martyr and/or icon, which would be further accomplished by the construction of his memorial. He is still one of the most well known presidents to date. -
Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act
For whatever reason, President Johnson viewed the act as "unconstitutional", and would not let it become law. -
Congress officially declares peace with former confederate states
Almost a year after Lee's official surrender, the USA government is finally safe anouncing that the north is at peace with the 10 seceeded states. This is another large step towards reconstruction. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866 passed
Although President Johnson (Lincoln's former vice president) vetoed this bill, congress overrided it anyway. It included more equal rights for African Americans, specifically freed slaves. Mainly, citizenship was given to all persons born inside of the country. -
Congress passes 14th amendment to the Constitution
This amendment completely ratified what had been stated in the Civil Rights act, that all former slaves now have full citizenship and that these rights are unquestioned. -
Tennessee is readmitted to the Union
This is the first confederate separatist state to become part of the USA once more, and reconstruction is in full swing now. Eventually, all states that seceeded will have sworn allegience. -
Congress creates new rank: "5-star general"
Naturally, the now famed Uslysses S. Grant is the first person to obtain this rank. Though fiting militaristically, It would bring his position even closer to his future job as President. -
National Union Convention
This meeting took place to help settle an agreement between the Radical Republicans of congress and the new president, Andrew Johnson. Their views differed on many things, namely reconstruction. -
Swing Around the Circle campaign
In this speaking tour by President Andrew Johnson, he hopes to further gain more acceptance of both the Radical Republicans and southern Democrats on each other's views of Recronstruction. -
House of Representatives elections of 1866
Despite of Johnson's tour, the Republican Party fills up the majority of Representative slots by a landslide. This would lead to the introduction of the Congressional reconsctruction methods, which included more harsh means of repairs. -
African Americans right to vote in DC
Starting on this day, all African Americans residing in the District of Columbia were given the right to vote. Though it would be a long time before they would achieve equal rights, this is a large step. -
Nebraska becomes 37th state
Thirteen years after the Kansas/Nebraska act, the northern half of the former Nebraska territory finally begins statehood. Meanwhile, in the East, reconstruction is in full swing. -
Congress passes Tenure of Office act
This introduced the idea that a President cannot remove officials who had been placed in their position with Congress's consent. This helped to prevent the infamous Spoils System, which was popular in the early 1800's. -
African Americans begin voter registration in the south
Reconstruction is having the desired effect, and freed slaves in the south are finally obtaining the ability to vote. -
Blacks protest against segregation in New Orleans
Almost 100 years before the civil rights movement, some african americans are already at full blast with their attempted equality. However, their efforts would eventually be in vain and it would be a long time before they were realized. -
8 previous Confederate states re-admitted to the Union
Upon their ratification of the new 14th amendment, Congress oficially allows Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina into the Union. Mississippi, Virginia, and Texas remain separate because they denied the new amendment. -
Johnson demands Secretary of War to resign
Edwin Stanton, the Secretary of War under Lincoln and Johnson since 1862, was forced to resign by President Johnson. Ulysses S. Grant would eventually take his place. These events would also lead up to Johnson's impeachment. -
Ulysses S. Grant becomes Secretary of War
Once again, Grant manages to be promoted higher into the ranks of the government. From general, to five star general, to secretary of war, and to eventually President. -
The first Americal all-black University is founded
For the first time, all of these aspiring former slaves and not can go to university. Of course, it isn't helping racism and segregation by keeping the University ONLY african, but it's a start. -
USA claims Midway island for its own
This is the first US territory that wasn't on the actual North American continent. I guess you could say that Manifest Destiny had exceeded its original boundaries.
