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Fort Sumter
Virginia secedes from the Union, followed within five weeks by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, thus forming an eleven state Confederacy with a population of 9 million, including nearly 4 million slaves. -
Period: to
Civil War
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Bull Run
75,000 Federals under General John Pope are defeated by 55,000 Confederates under General Stonewall Jackson at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. -
The Election
Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president, defeating Democrat George B. McClellan. Lincoln carries 212 of 233 electoral votes. "I earnestly believe that the consequences of this day's work will be to the lasting advantage," as Lincoln states . -
Lincolns Death
Lincoln and his wife Mary see the play "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater. John shoots the president in the head. Doctors attend to the president in the theater, then move him to a house across the street. He never regains consciousness. -
The End
Remaining Confederate forces surrender. The Nation is reunited as the Civil War ends. Over 620,000 Americans died in the war, with disease killing twice as many as those lost in battle. 50,000 survivors return home. -
Slavery
Slavery is abloished!