-
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln won the election of 1860 because of the electoral college, even though he didn't win the popular vote and wasn't on the ballot in 9 southern states. He won against John Breckinbridge and two other opponents. -
First State Secedes from Union
South Carolina seceded from the United States first, followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas within the following 43 days. -
Inauguration of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated on March 4, 1861 by his Chief of Staff on the left side of the US Capitol. Fun fact, this was the first time he appeared in public with a beard. -
Constitution of the Confederacy is Signed
The Constitution, which led the Confederate states through the Civil War, was signed by 43 of 50 deputies of the Confederacy. -
Beginning of Civil War
The Confederate forces led by General Beauregard bombarded the Union forces at Fort Sumter in South Carolina, who were led by Major Robert Anderson. The Confederate's took this act of aggression in search of supplies, something they were in short of. The Unions lost, and were forced to surrender, after two days. -
More Secessions
Starting on April 17, 1861 and ending on May 20, 1861, 4 more states seceded from the Union. These included Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina. This second set of secessions was probably influenced in part by the Union loss at Fort Sumter. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was between General Irvin Mcdowell's Union army and the new Confederate Army. It resulted in the Union withdrawing from the area due to the loss, which was seen by a large number of spectators. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was extremely brutal, causing 13,000 Union deaths and 10,000 Confederate deaths. This was more deaths than in all previous American wars combined. It happened when Ulysses Grant's army being surprised by the Southerners. -
Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in American history at this point. 26,000 were killed, injured or missing on both sides. It was a tie, but it did stop the Confederate invasion into Maryland. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in all territories owned and captured by the United States. It also allowed Black people to enlist in the military. This proclamation made the Civil War less about states' rights and more about slavery. -
First Military Draft
The US Congress issued the first military draft in the history of the United States, requiring every man to serve unless they can pay the government $300 or get a substitute. These provisions that allowed people to escape the draft were unpopular and lead to draft riots in Northern cities. -
Gettysburg
After 3 days at battle in Gettysburg, the Union Army under General Meade defeats the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania marked the furthest point the Confederate Army reached into the USA. It may have been a very bloody battle, but it marked a turning point in the war in favor of the Union. -
Gettysburg Address
At the commemoration of the Soldiers' National Cemetery, Abraham Lincoln delivered one of the most meaningful and powerful speeches in history, the Gettysburg Address. -
Virginia Campaign
Ulysses Grant, the leader of the Northern forces, started the Virginia Campaign, which was a group of 120,000 Union soldiers marching towards the Confederate Capitol in Richmond. After 6 weeks of the campaign, more than 50,000 Union soldiers had died. -
Siege of Petersburg
South of Richmond, the siege of Petersburg began after the Virginia Campaign ended, and lasted 9 months. -
Fall of Richmond
The Siege of Petersburg ended, resulting in the Union Army taking Richmond, which was nearly leveled by destruction and shelling. -
Lee Surrenders
General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Grant, the leader of the Union Army, in a farmhouse in Virginia. With Lee and his massive army surrendering to the United States, the war was essentially over in favor of the Union. -
Death of Abraham Lincoln
Abe Lincoln was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth while watching a performance at Ford's Theater in DC. Booth was a famous actor known for his support of the Confederate Army. -
March to the Sea
General Sherman of the Union Army marched to the Sea, a famous military maneuver where him and his army cut a path of destruction to the Altantic, 300 miles long and 60 miles wide through Georgia. This occurred after Sherman burned the city of Atlanta to the ground. It ended when he took Savannah, and offered the city to Lincoln for Christmas. -
Ratification of the 13th Amendment
The US Congress signed and ratified the 13th Amendment, abolishing slavery in all states, officially.
