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The Confederate States of America is Formed
After Abraham Lincoln was elected president in 1860, southern states feared he would try to abolish slavery and Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, and South Carolina suceeded. On Feb 9, these states met and formed a government, electing Jefferson Davis president. After the attack on Fort Sumter, Arkansas, North Carolina. Virginia, and Tennessee suceeded. The Confederacy would wage war on the Union and ultumately lose, rejoining the U.S. -
Election of Abraham Licnoln (first term)
During the 1860 election, Lincoln had won by a landslide in the electoral college but he only won about 40% of the popular vote. Lincoln did win the election but he had no sounthern support. Lincoln wanted to try and keep the nations together but soon after his election, the southern states started to succede. -
Attack on Fort Sumter
Early in the morning of April 12, 1861, the Confederates opened fire on Fort Sumter. The attack is the official beginning of the civil war. Confederates wanted to seize the fortress because it controlled the enterance to the Charleston harbor. The shooting went on for 34 hours before Fort Sumter surrendered. Lincoln wrote, "The lasy ray of hope for preserving the Union has expired at the assault upon Fort Sumter . . ." -
Period: to
The Civil War
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First Battle of Bull Run
This battle was the first major battle of the Civil War. The Confederates won the battle and it quickly shattered the Union's hopes of winning the war. The loss alos persuaded President Lincoln of the need to have a better trained army. -
USS Monitor v. CSS Virginia
On March 9, the CSS Virginia prepared for battle. They expected an easy victory like the day before, but were unaware that the Union had it's own ironclad the Monitor. Ironclads were sturdy warships made of sides of iron, hence the name ironclad. The two ships clashed with cannon fire, but the winner was not manifest. The clash ended in a stalemate between the two ships, but symbolized the start of industrilized warfare. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was fought in southwestern Tennessee, one of the most western battles in the Civil War. The Confederates were lead by Albert Sydney Johnston (who was killed in action), and P.G.T. Beauregaurd. The Union was lead by Ulysses S. Grant, and Don Carlos Buell. The Confederate forces launched a suprise attack on the sixth and were succesful for most of that day, but then ultumately defeated on the second day. -
Seven Days' Battle
The Seven Days' Battle was a series of six battles fought over a period of seven days. George B. McClellan's Union forces clashed with Robert E. Lee's forces near Richmond, Virginia. The Confederate forces were able to slowly push a Union retreat, with heavy caualties on both sides. Even though the Confederate had more casualties, they are concidered the winner for forcing the Union retreat. -
Second Batle of Bull Run
John Pope's Union army clashed with Robert E. Lee and Thomas J. Jackson's Confederate forces near the town of Manassas on August 28, 1862. Over the course of two days the Union army was defeated, eventually resulting in their retreat. The loss was not as embarrasing as the First Battle of Bull Run, because the retreat was more organized and the Union had better defenses the second time around. -
Battle of Antietam
The Confederate and Union armies met along Antietam Creek during a battle that lasted for hours. In the end, both sides faced many casualties. The Union had more than 12,000 and the Confederates had more than 13,000. The Battle of Antietam was the bloodies single-day battle of both the Civil War and US history with more American casualties that day than the deaths of all Americans during the American Rev. the Mexican-American War, and the War of 1812 combined. It was a big victory for the Union. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was one of the largest of the civil war, and was the first one fought in an urban enviornment. Ambrose E. Burnside lead the Union forces, and Robert E. Lee the confederate forces. The confederates took the victory, with the Union's casualties totaling twice the confederate's. -
Emancipation Proclamation
In September 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued a puliminary decree stating that unless the rebellious states return to the Union by January 1, 1863, their slaves would be freed. None of the Confederate states decided to take the offer, and on January 1, Lincoln presented the Emancipation Proclamation. As a result, slaves living in states that were part of the Confederate states of America were freed. -
Siege of Vicksburg
This seige started on May 18 and lasted until July 4. The Union was lead by General Grant and the Confederates were lead by General Pemberton. The Union troops cut off the city of Vicksburg frrom all supplies. People were forced to eat horses, dogs, and rats. The soldiers were also getting sick. Pemberton eventually surrendered on July 4th. -
West Virgina becomes a state
West Vrigina was not only seperated physically by the Allegheny Mountains but were seperated in other ways also. For instance, The people east of the Allegheny Mountains were please with the state's succession from the Union but those west of the Alloegheny Mountains were upset about the secession. Wheeling Conventions were held and there, those who lived in the west decided to break away and become their own state. On June 20, 1863 West Virgina became its own state. -
Battle of Gettysburg
General George G. Meade's army was up against General The battle began on July 1st, and lasted through July 3rd. Robert E. Lee's army in a three day battle. General Lee was looking to take over Little Round Top, Cemetary Hill and Culp's Hill. With about 51,000 total casualties between both sides, it was the Union army who was victorious. The battle of Gettysburgh was "a key battle that finally turned the tide against the Confederates." -
Gettysburg Address
On November 19, there was a dedicating ceremony at the Gettysburg battlefield cemetary. There, President Lincoln gave a speach known as the Gettysburg Address. In it, he praised the Union army's bravery and he also renewed his commitment to winning the Civil War. This short speach is now one of the most famous in Ameraican History. -
Battle of Chattanooga
This battle lasted from November 23 through the 25. The battle ended with 12,485 total casualties and a Union victory. The Union soldiers assaulted and carried the Confederate position on Missionary Ridge. In the end, Federals held Chattanooga, the “Gateway to the Lower South,” which became the supply and logistics base for Sherman’s 1864 Atlanta Campaign. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
The battle of Cold Harbor occured about ten miles north east of the Confederate Capital of Richmond, Virginia, Union forces were lead by Ulysses S. Grant, Confederate forces by Robert E. Lee. The Union lost this battle suffering heavy losses, and General Grant regeted the last assult at Cold Harbor. It is concidered the most lopsided battle because of the Union's failed assult. -
Lincoln Re-Elected President (Second Term)
The Civil War was now in it's fourth year, and Lincoln's four years in office were up. The Union now had to choose whether to re-elect Lincoln, or to elect a new president. The Democrats chose George B. McClellan as their presidential nominee, and the Republicans stayed faithful to Lincoln. It was not a close election, and Lincoln grasped an overwhelming victory. This was the first time in history that a country held an election during a military emergency. -
Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse
After abandoning the Confederate capital of Richmond, General Robert E. Lee went west in hopes of meeting North Carolina' s re-enforcements. The Union cut of the retreat and Lee, realizing he was outsmarted by Grant's forces,was forced to surrender. The signing of the documents occured April 9, 1865 and an official ceremony was held April 12. Lee's surrender marked the end of a four year, bloody civil war. -
Assassination of President Abraham Lincoln
On the night of April 14, 1865, President Lincoln attended the play Our American Cousin at Ford's Theater. John Wilks Booth, who new that Lincoln was going to the theater, snuck into Ford's theater. At about 10:15 P.M, Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head and stabbed Major Henry Rathbone, who went to the play with Lincoln, in the arm. Booth quickly escaped leaving Lincoln who soon died the next morning.
