Civil War Timeline

Compromise of 1850

1850

Drafted by Henry Clay
California admitted as a free state
More fugitive slave laws in the South
Popular sovereignty introduced in Utah and New Mexico

Uncle Tom's Cabin

1852

Novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Stressed that slavery was not just a political contest, but also a great moral struggle.

Kansas-Nebraska Act

1854

By Stephen Douglas
Would repeal the Missouri Compromise and establish popular sovereignty in both territories.

Bleeding Kansas

1855

Government was set up after an unfair vote and there were a lot of pro-slavery acts passed. Violence surfaced over what happened and the territory of Kansas was named Bleeding Kansas

Election of 1856

1856

Republicans choose John C. Fremont
Democrats choose James Buchanan
Buchanan wins

Dred Scott

Mar 6, 1857

Ruled against by the Supreme Court, saying that Scott lacked legal standing to sue because he was not a citizen

Harpers Ferry

Oct 16, 1859

John Brown leads a group of 21 black and white men into Harpers Ferry, Virginia to seize the federal arsenal there and start a general slave uprising.

Election of 1860

1860

Lincoln is elected and emerged as the winner without any votes from the South

South Carolina Secesion

Dec 20, 1860

South Carolina seceds from the Union

Confederacy

1861

Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas follow South Carolina, and form the Confederate States of America

Fort Sumpter

Apr 12, 1861

Lincoln sends food to Fort Sumpter,but Southern troops fire at the Fort, starting the war.

Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

First bloodshed of the war. Confederates win, many leave the army and go home.

Anteitam

Aug 17, 1862

Bloodiest single day in American history.

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

Lincoln says that all slaves that are held withing certain states will be freed

Gettysburg

Jul 1, 1863

Battle lasted over three days, North wins. enthusiastic about breaking Lee's "invincibility"

Vicksburg

Jul 4, 1863

Grant wins against confederates

Election of 1864

1864

Lincoln wins with help from the north

Reconstruction Begins

1865

Reconstruction of the Americas begins

Appomattox

Apr 3, 1865

Confederates surrender to Grant, ending the war

Lincoln Assassinated

Apr 15, 1865

Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

Johnson Impeached

1868

President Johnson gets impeached and Grant takes his place in office

15th Ammendment

1870

Former slaves can vote

Reconstruction Ends

1877

Reconstruction ends due to the support fading