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Civil War Timeline
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Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of five bills between the north and the south concerning the economic systems of newly aquired territory from the Mexican American War in 1845. Senatory Henry Clay drafted the compromise while Stephen Douglas brokered it. Was agreed apon and didn't result in secession or war. -
The Kansas Nebraska Act
The Kansas Nebraska Act allowed the territories of Kansas and Nebraska to decide for themselves whether slavery should be allowed. The north was especially upset because it violated the Missouri Compromise that stated slaves couldn't be farther than 36'30' latitude. Many poeple of both sides rushed in to try and influence the voting. -
Bleeding Kansas
After the Kansas Nebraska Act was agreed apon, Northerners and Southerners came to Kansas to try and influence their votes. Most people who lived in Kansas wanted no part of the North vs South conflict but found themselves stuck in it. As the Northerners and Southerners came into Kansas violence rose, and many were tarred and feathered. Records show that 55 people died in what was called "Bleeding Kansas." -
The Dred Scott Decision
A supreme court decision ruled that all African Americans could not become citizens and that the Missouri Compromise was "unconstitutional." Dred Scott was a man who lived in the free states of Illinois and Wisconsin but once he moved to Missouri, he was a part of a slave state. Dred Scott fought for his rights to be a citizen but ultimately lost because blacks supposedly had no rights, therefore they couldn't sue. -
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The Lincoln-Douglas debates were a series of debates between the two candidates, that being Abraham Licnoln and Stephen Douglas, for the US senate position of Illinois. The campaign focused on 7 cities in Illinois, Ottawa, Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy, and Alton. Douglas believed in popular sovereignty while Lincoln believed the nation could not survive with half slave states and half non-slave states. Douglas would win the senate race, but not the presidential race. -
Harpers Ferry
Abolitionist John Brown and supporters, made an effort to free the slaves of Harpers Ferry. Brown and his supporters seized the federal armory and arsenal and were trying to distribute the weapons to the slaves but met strong opposition. The opposition, which being led by Robert E. Lee, made quick work of Brown and his supporters and sent them to trial. Brown was convicted and sentenced to death by hanging. -
Lincoln's Election
Lincoln took over in a time of turmoil in which the South and the North were fairly evenly split over the issue of slavery. Lincoln himself didn't declare war on the south because of slavery, but because of the states seceeding and the duty of keeping the Union together. Many southerners thought Lincoln was an abolitionist and led to more and more states seceeding from the Union. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Moultrie was a harbor near Charleston, South Carolina in which General Robert Anderson and 85 soldiers were stationed in response to South Carolina seceeding from the Union. When food supplies got low they moved into to Fort Sumter. Brig. Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard of the Confederates demanded that they leave and ordered a surrender. Shots were fired on the 11th and eventually led Anderson and his men to surrender, even though nobody was killed. -
Bull Run
Many consider this to be the first "real battle" of the Civil War. The Union wanted to attack the Confederates because the Confederates held a highly advantegeous spot of Bull Run. Both sides fought hard but the Confederates flanked them and won the battle. In the end, 4,878 casualties were estimated by this battle. The Union realized that they were in for a long and brutal war. -
Antietam
General McClellan led the Union on the offensive to Lee's left flank and strarted what is now known as the single bloodiest day in American Military History. Although the Union outnumbered the Confederates 2 to 1, the winner of the battle was inconclusive. However, the Union declared they won the battle and President Lincoln used this as a launching point of his emancipation proclamation. -
Emancipation Procalmation
Lincoln issued a compromise to the states who seceeded that if they didn't join the union by the end of the year, all slaves in those states would be declared free. If they did join the Union, Lincoln believed in gradual abolition. None of the states rejoined, allowing Lincoln to adress his Emancipation Proclamation. The Proclamation allowed the African Americans to fight for the Union and provide precious soldiers for the Union. -
Gettysburg and Gettysburg Adress
Robert E. Lee led his troop on the offensive to try and defeat the Union on northern soil, due to Pennsylvania being full of supplies. Lee and his men were met by General Meade's forces and experienced one of the greatest battles in history. The Union cavalry was strong enough to defend their position on Culp's hill. On November 19, 1863 Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address, he talked about all men are created equal and the Civil War was a test for this great nation. -
Andersonville Prison
Andersonville Prison was a Confederate Prison for Union soldiers. The Prison was located in Andersonville, Georgia far away from the former holding pens in Richmond. The prisoners were treated poorly and more than 13,000 of them died due to poor conditions. The prison was closed after the war had ended. -
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
Ulysses S. Grant and his forces stopped Robert E. Lee's retreat before he met his army and forced Robert E. Lee to surrender. Lee complied and signed signifieing the disbandment of the Northern Virginia Army. The surrender was huge because the Confederates lost their most skillful strategist. This symbolizes the end of the Civil War. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
While visiting Ford's Theater, John Wilkes Booth and conspirators assassinated President Lincoln. John Wilke's Booth was a stage actor and assassinated Lincoln for the Confederate Cause, even though the Civil War was drawing to a close. Lincoln's wife was killed as well, Secretary of state Seward was wounded, and Vice President Andrew Johnson survived.
