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American Civil War
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Abraham Licoln elected president
Abraham Licoln was elected as the 16th president in American history on November 6, 1860. -
Southern States Secede
7 southern states form the confederacy seceded from the union. -
Lincoln's Inauguration
President Abraham Lincoln announced that he had no plans to end slavery in those states where it was still going on, but he did not plan on letting the South secede. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The first major battle of the Civil War. The Commander of the fort, Robert Anderson, refused to surrender until he and his men had wasted all of their supplies. Eventually, Fort Sumter was surrendered to the state of South Carolina. -
Four States Stay in the Union
Four slave states, Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, and Missouri did not join the Confederacy, choosing to stay with the Union instead. -
Battle of Bull Run
General Irvin McDowell of the North, was ordered to advance on Confederate troops at Manassas Junction, Virginia. Although McDowell and his allies were initially successful, the South ultimately won the victory, forcing the Northernists to retreat to Washington. -
Four More States Join the Confederacy
By October 31, 1861, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi, and Virginia had all joined the confederacy. -
Harper's Ferry
Union General McClellan defeated Confederate General Lee at South Mountain and Crampton's Gap in September, but was not able to move quickly enough to save Harper's Ferry, which was taken by Confederate General Jackson on September 15, along with a large number of men and a large body of supplies. -
The First Conscription Act
Because of recruiting difficulties, an act was passed that made all men between 20 and 45 liable to be called into action, unless they were able to pay a fee or finding someone to substitute in for them. -
The Gettysburg Campaign
The Union and the Confederates fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where the Uniion ultimately won. However, General Lee of the Confederate army was able to retreat to Virginia without the Union troops follwoing him, as they initially planned to do. -
West Virginia is Born
On June 20, 1863, residents of the western counties of Virginia decided that they did not wish to secede with the rest of the state, so the state of West Virginia was admitted into the union. -
The Siege of Petersburg
General Grant and his forces were able to take Petersburg, ,which was dierctly south of Richmond, from the Confederate army. -
Battle of Cold Harbour
General Grant continuaously attacked General Lee at the Spotsylvania Court House in Virginia. This was viewed as Lee's final clear victory of the war. -
Abraham Lincoln is Re-Elected
Abraham Lincoln is re-elected as preident. -
The Fall of the Confederacy
Due to severe food shortages, members of the Confederate army were forced to abandon their posts. -
Lost Chance at Peace
Confederate President Jefferson Davis agreed to send delegates to a peace conference with President Lincoln. Davis demanded that the South be viewed as an independant state as a prerequisite, but Lincoln refused. The meetign never occurred because of it. -
Richmond Is Lost
On April 2, after fights outside of the Confederate capital, General Lee and his forces evacuated Richmond. -
Lee Surrenders
General Lee and his forces were surrounded, and forced to surrender. -
Lincoln's Assassination
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by in Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. by John Wilkes Booth, an actor from Maryland that was obsessed with avenging the Confederate defeat. -
President Davis is Captured
Confederate President Jefferson Davis was finally captured in Georgia.
