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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Uncle Tom’s Cabin was a novel written by Harriet Beecher Stowe. It was published in 1852. The novel was anti-slavery and wrote all about the rough conditions slaves endured. In the book, “Uncle Tom” was a black slave who beaten to death after not revealing the location of befriended slaves. This book was the second best selling novel of the 19th century coming in after the Bible. Southerners with slaves reacted negatively to the book, banning it in areas and declaring it was all lies. -
Union Blockades
All through the Civil War, 1861-1865, Union soldiers organized strategic blockades against Confederate Ports. The blockades prevented exportation and smuggling of cotton. Cotton was used as arms for the military and the Confederate states used it as well for economics. The blockades stopped confederates from obtaining weapons the North produced.They believed the blockades would cause the South's economy to collapse and the confederate port shipments to reduce. -
Mississippi Valley Campaign
The Mississippi River Campaign, or Mississippi Valley Campaign, were campaigns and battles fighting for control of the Mississippi River. The area was crucial to have, for both sides; It would split the Confederacy in 2 (Union side), and it was vital for army routes + supply transportation (Confederate).After many battles, the Confederacy only had one major port left,Vicksburg, which got raided by the Union army. After the Union had control of the Mississippi, the Confederacy got split in two. -
Forming of Confederacy
Representatives of the seven seceded states met in Montgomery, Alabama in February of 1861. They met to form the Confederate States of America hoping to leave the current Union and form a new government where slavery was protected. Lincoln opposed this idea and rationalized that they did not have this right. This disagreement was what eventually caused the battle of Fort Sumter. -
Lincoln Sworn in as President
On March 4th, 1861, Abraham Lincoln was sworn in to become the 16th president of the United States. Lincoln was the first president in the republican party. During the inaugural speech, Lincoln held an olive branch to the south, a symbol of peace and friendship. He also made it clear he strongly disagreed with secession and would enforce more laws in the seceded states. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter occurred from April 12-13 of 1861 in Charleston, South Virginia. It was the first Civil War battle to occur. The union were surrounded by the confederates and began to run out of food and supplies. P. G.T Beauregard sent a message to Major Anderson telling him to surrender. After the union did not, fire broke out. Because of lack of supplies, the Confederates won. This began the start of the Civil War. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first battle of the Civil War. This event happened on July 21st of 1861 in Manassas, Virginia. After losing many men, the Union retreated. This Confederate victory led many southerners to believe they would have an easy victory. There were over 22,000 casualties in this battle. General Irvin Mcdowell led (both) Union troops and General P.G.T Beauregard and General Joseph E. Johnson led the Confederate troops. -
Battle of Ironclads
On March 9th of 1862, the Battle of Ironclads took place in Virginia waters and lasted about 4 hours. The Confederate and Union armies were both in ships. The Confederate's boat was named Virginia, and Unions was called Monitor. Shots were fired in canon form. Both sides surrendered, concluding with no winner. -
Battle of Shiloh
Taking place from April 6th to April 7th of 1862, the Battle of Shiloh was an important win for the Union Army. General Robert E. Lee’s confederate army ambushed the Union Army in southern Tennessee. The Confederates started to advance more successfully, but unable to hold position on the second day, the Union succeeded. The South lost the important General Albert Sidney Johnston, killed on April 6th by the North. This battle gave the Union more control over the Mississippi River Valley. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862. The battle of Antietam was known as the “bloodiest single day” of the Civil War, because over 22,000 deaths occurred. Antietam was significant to the Civil War as a whole because it let the Union push back the Confederate army’s initial attempt to invade the north. Antietam was the first battle fought on northern land. To conclude, the confederates surrendered ending this battle. -
Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg took place from December 11th to 15th of 1862. It was fought in Fredericksburg, Virginia. General Burnside led the Union Army using pontoon bridges to move across the river and sneak up on Lee. Under major fire by the Confederates, General Burnside arrived in Fredericksburg. Burnside attacked the Confederate Army but were shot down by Southern fire. Lee’s army defeated the Union, and this was considered a low point of the war for the North. -
Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville occurred from April 30th to May 6th of 1863. The two armies collided on May 1st. General Robert E. Lee split his army into two and sent Stonewall Jackson to attack Hooker’s (Union’s new general) vulnerable flank. Jackson died in battle. Lee had outsmarted Hooker and claimed victory for the Chancellorsville Battle. -
Vicksburg
The Siege of Vicksburg lasted an astonishing 47 days. It began on May 18, 1863, and lasted until July 4th, 1863. The Union surrounded the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi, which laid on the Mississippi River. Vicksburg was the last major port on the Mississippi that the South had control of. This win gave the Union army full control of the Mississippi which was crucial; After this the Confederacy was split in two. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The battle of Gettysburg occurred from July 1st to July 3rd in 1863. The Confederate soldiers ran into General George G. Meade, who led the Union soldiers, in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. This battle is known as the turning point of the war because the union began to get stronger. More than a third of Lee’s army was lost during Gettysburg. The Union took victory. -
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga was the largest confederate victory of the entire Civil War, fought from September 18-20th of 1863. The Union was surprised to see Confederate troops as they didn't expect them. In the beginning, the Confederates had trouble fighting the Union’s line, but later on, more numbers appeared and helped the Confederates greatly. Chickamauga was thickly wooded and a difficult terrain. The Union surrendered giving the Confederates Victory. -
Gettysburg Adress
On November 19th, 1863, current president Abraham Lincoln gave a speech known as the Gettysburg Address. Lincoln described how the Union must continue to fight for victory. Lincoln made a point of encouraging the nation to come together, because of how great the divide was between the North and South was at the time. Lincoln began the h “Four score and seven years ago,” which was how long ago the constitution was written at that time, referencing the signing of the Declaration of Independence. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was made in January of 1865. It allowed slaves of the Confederate Army to join the Union fighting in the war. The slaves were treated better fighting for the North, and got paid, although their income was very little and the slaves got the worst jobs. This was a win-win situation as the slaves added much needed numbers to the Union’s size, and the slaves were granted a little more freedom on the North. -
Appomattox
General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate Army and General Grant of the Union met on April 9th, 1865 at the Mclean House in Appomattox, Virginia. Grant had prior discussed with President Lincoln about the terms of surrender. At the Courthouse, The two men discussed terms and came to a conclusion. The Confederate Army surrendered to the North. -
Lincoln Assassination
On April 15th, 1865, John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln at Ford Theatre. John Wilkes booth was a Confederate Sympathizer and he shot Lincoln shortly after General Robert E. Lee Surrendered to the North. Samuel J. Seymour heart the shot; The President was taken to Campbell Military Hospital and died later. His death was significant to the Civil War due to the fact that it was part of a Confederate Conspiracy to kill the 3 major government officials. -
The 13th Amendment
In December of 1965, The 13th Amendment of the Constitution became law. This law abolished and illigalized slavery, aside from crime punishment. President Abraham Lincoln also passed the Emancipation Proclamation earlier in the year, which allowed slaves from the confederate army to join the Union Army. Just 8 months after this was passed, the president died.
