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Civil War Timespan
Events that led to the civil war -
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis supports the succession of southern states for the first time. -
The Fire Eaters
Fire-Eaters were a group of extremist pro-slavery Southern politicians who urged the separation of southern states into a new nation, which became known as the Confederate States of America. The dean of the group was Robert Barnwell Rhett of South Carolina. They sought to reopen the international slave trade, which had been illegal since 1808. -
Senator Jefferson Davis speaks for Slavery
Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis presents resolutions as to why slavery should be allowed in the territories. He also gave reasons as to why the nation should protect slaveholders. His intention was to unite the Democratic party. -
Alabama's Joint Resolutions on Secession
The General Assembly of Alabama passes Joint Resolutions, to take effect the election of a Republican to the presidency, including a call for a convention "to consider, determine and do whatever in the opinion of said Convention, the rights, interests, and honor of the State of Alabama require to be done for their protection." -
Lincolns Speech at Cooper Insitute
Abraham Lincoln addresses gathering at the Cooper Institute in New York, attacking slavery and insisting that the Federal government has "the power of restraining the extension of the institution." -
Lincolns Speech at New Haven
Abraham Lincoln gives speech in New Haven, Connecticut: "Whether we will or not, the question of Slavery is the question, the all absorbing topic of the day. It is true that all of us—and by that I mean, not the Republican party alone, but the whole American people, here and elsewhere—all of us wish this question settled, wish it out of the way". -
The Pony Express
The Pony Express begins going from Saint Louis, Missouri to Sacramento, California. It had 119 stations that were each 12 miles apart. They made it possible for more letters to be delivered in a more timely manner. -
Union Party
The Union party selects its President and Vice President. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
Abraham Lincoln is elected the first Republican president with 40% of the popular vote and an electoral majority. His party's platform is the abolishment of slavery. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina is the first state to secede following Lincoln's election. -
The Confederate States of America is Formed
The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer, as president. -
Abraham Lincoln is sworn in as President
Lincoln was sworn in as the United States 16th President. He was the first Republican to take office. -
Fort Sumter
The Confederate forces launch an attack against Fort Sumter. This marks the start of the Civil War. -
President Lincoln issues Proclamation
Lincoln issued a proclamation for 75,000 troops to suppress the rebellion. -
Virginia Secedes from the United States
Virginia secedes from the Union, followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. -
Blockade of Southern ports
President Lincoln issued a proclamation to block all Southern ports to prevent the south from receiving supplies for the war. -
Lincoln calls for reinforcements
Lincoln calls 500 thousand men to support the Union army. -
Bull Run
The Union army with General Irvin McDowell gets defeated at Bull Run. Confederate Thomas J. Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall," -
George B. McClellan
Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as commander of the department of Potomac -
McClellan promoted
Lincoln promotes McClellan to General-in-Chief of the entire Union army. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant captures Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. -
Shiloh
The Confederate surprise attacked Ulysses S. Grant and his troops at Shiloh on the Tennessee River. 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates. -
Seven Days Battle
Lee attacks McClellan near Richmond, resulting in losses for both armies. -
Battle of Seven Pines
Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops in front of Richmond and almost defeats them. -
Bull Run 2nd Battle
The Union army is defeated by 55,000 Confederates under Stonewall Jackson and James Longstreet at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia. -
Robert E.Lee
Robert E. Lee invades the North with 50,000 Confederates and heads for Harpers Ferry, northwest of Washington. -
Antietam
The bloodiest day in U.S. military history as Robert E. Lee is stopped at Antietam in Maryland by McClellan and his troops. 26,000 men are dead, wounded, or missing. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves. -
McClellan replaced
Lincoln grows impatient with McClellan and his slowness, He replaces him with Ambrose E. Burnside. -
Loss at Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg was an early battle of the civil war and stands as one of the greatest Confederate victories. -
Slaves to Soldiers
President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates and emphasizes the enlisting of black soldiers in the Union Army. -
Capturing of Vicksburg
Grant is placed in command of the Army of the west and given orders to capture Vicksburg. -
Draft
The U.S. Congress enacts a draft, affecting male citizens aged 20 to 45, but exempts those who pay $300 or provide a substitute. -
Chancellorsville
The Union Army lead by Hooker is defeated by Robert E. Lee's smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia. -
Stonewall Jackson dies
Stonewall Jackson dies from his wounds suffered at Chancellorsville -
Lee's second attempt
Lee with 75,000 Confederates leads his second invasion of the North, heading into Pennsylvania. -
Gettysburg
The war turns as the Confederates are defeated in Gettysburg Pennsylvania. -
Vicksburg surrenders
Vicksburg surrenders to Grant. It was the Confederate's last stronghold. -
Grant appointed
The president appoints Grant to command all operations in the west. -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln delivers a two-minute Gettysburg Address at a ceremony dedicating the Battlefield as a National Cemetery. -
Grant commands all
President Lincoln appoints Grant to command all of the armies of the United States. -
Cold Harbor
A mistake by Grant results in 7,000 Union casualties in twenty minutes during a battle against fortified Rebels at Cold Harbor in Virginia. -
Petersburg
Union forces miss an opportunity to capture Petersburg and cut off the Confederate rail lines. A nine-month siege of Petersburg begins with Grant's forces -
Sherman in Atlanta
At Atlanta, Sherman's forces battle the Rebels. -
McClellan versus Lincoln
Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for President to run against Abraham Lincoln. -
Atlanta captured
Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army. -
Lincoln re-elected
Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president, defeating Democrat George B. McClellan. -
March to Sea
After destroying Atlanta Sherman, with 62,000 men begins a March to the Sea. -
Hood loses Nashville
Hood's Rebel Army is defeated at Nashville. -
Sherman reaches Savannah
Sherman reaches Savannah in Georgia leaving behind a destroyed Atlanta -
Thirteenth Amendment approved
The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment. -
War Continues
A peace conference occurs as President Lincoln meets with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens in Virginia, but the meeting ends in failure, and the war continues -
Lee tries for Northern Virginia
The last offensive for Lee's Army of Northern Virginia begins with an attack of Grant's forces at Petersburg. -
Lee leaves Petersburg
Lee leaves Petersburg -
Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army
Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House in Virginia. -
The Civil War ends
The remaining Confederate armies surrendered. This leads to the end of the war. -
Lincoln is shot
Lincoln and his wife see a play at Ford's Theater. In the play, John Wilkes Booth shoots the president in the head. -
President Abraham Lincoln Dies
President Abraham Lincoln dies in the morning due to his injuries. Vice President Andrew Johnson takes over. -
John Wilkes Booth is caught
John Wilkes Booth is shot and killed in a tobacco barn in Virginia. -
Lincoln is buried
Abraham Lincoln is buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Illinois. -
Freedman's Bureau
New Freedman's Bureau bill was passed by Congress. -
Secessionist Convention
Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention. -
Civil Rights Act vetoed
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 because it was unconstitutional. -
The United States is at Peace
The United States at peace with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia -
Ford's Theater
Congress appropriates $100,000 to buy Ford's Theater. -
Congress overrides Johnson
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act. -
Winfield Scott dies.
Winfield Scott died in West Point, New York -
Freedman's Bureau Bill passed
Congress overrides Andrew Johnson's veto of the Freedman's Bureau bill. -
General of Armies
Congress establishes "general of the armies". -
Ku Klux Klan
The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan. -
African Americans given the right to vote
African Americans in Washington D. C. gain the right to vote in a bill passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Nebraska
Nebraska becomes a state -
Tenure of Office Act
Tenure of Office Act -
Virginia ignores the Reconstruction Act
Virginia rejects votes cast by Negroes, who were granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act. -
Reconstruction Act
Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act. -
Buying Alaska
William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia buying Alaska for 2 cents an acre. -
Edwin Stanton
President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War. -
Secretary of War
Ulysses S. Grant becomes ad interim Secretary of War. -
Johnson suspends Stanton
Edwin Stanton was suspended by President Andrew Johnson after he clashed with Johnson over his lenient treatment of the former Confederate states. -
Alaska is officially the United States
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States