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The Republican Party was formed
a political party opposed to the expansion of slavery, and it would go on to nominate Abraham Lincoln as its first successful presidential candidate in 1860. -
kanas nebraska act
repealed the Missouri compromise and allowed settlers in the Kansas and Nebraska territories to determine whether they would allow slavery within the borders, leading slavery within their borders, leading to violent clashes between proslavery and anti-slavery factions. -
Battle of the Merrimac (CSS Virginia) and the Monitor
Also known as the Battle of Hampton Roads, was a naval battle that took place on March 8-9, 1862 during the American Civil War. It was the first battle between two ironclad warships, the Confederate ship CSS Virginia (formerly the USS Merrimack) and the Union ship USS Monitor, which ended in a tactical draw. The battle is considered a significant milestone in the history of naval warfare, as it marked the transition from wooden sailing ships to steam-powered ironclad vessels -
Abraham Lincoln elected president
was elected as 16th president of the USA, on a platform that opposed expansion of slavery. -
South Carolina votes to secede from the United States
South Carolina became the first state to secede from the United States, setting the stage for the outbreak of the American civil war. -
Lincoln suspends habeas corpus
various times, first in 1861)- President Lincoln suspended the writ of habeas corpus, allowing the government to imprison individuals without the due process of a trial. -
Richmond became the capital of the Confederacy
confederate capital was established in Richmond, virgina, which became a key strategic target for the Union forces throughout the war. -
Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederacy
Jeferson was elected as president of the confederate states of america, which had been formed by the seceding southern states. -
Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter
confederate forces open fire on fort summer in Charleston, SC, marking the beginning of the American Civil War -
Battle of Chancellorsville
another confederate victory under Robert E Lee, despite being outnumbered by Union forces. -
First Battle of Bull Run is fought
the first major battle of the civil war and resulted in a confederate victory, dashing Union hopes for a quick end to the conflict. -
Emancipation Proclamation is announced
president lincoln issued the emancipation proclamation, which declared all enslaved people in Confederate- held territories to be free, and it went into effect on Jan 1st -
Battle of Shiloh
bloody two days in Tennessee that resulted in a union victory , but at a heavy cost in lives. -
Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
a position he would hold for remainder of the war -
Battle of Antietam
the bloodiest single day battle of the civil war, with over 23,000 casualties, and it marked a turning point in conflict. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
was a decisive victory for the confederate forces under Robert E Lee, who repelled the Union Armyś frontal assault on the city. -
Battle of Gettysburg
a major turning point in the Civil war, with the Union forces under General George Meade defeating Leeś army of northern virginia. -
Vicksburg surrenders to Union forces
Confederate forces surrendered to Union general Ulysses S. Grant, giving the Union control of the Mississippi river. -
New York City draft riots
a violent response to the Unions conscription efforts, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of people, mainly African Americans. -
Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address
president Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg address, honoring the fallen soldiers and reaffirming the union's commitment to the principles of democracy and equality. -
Atlanta is captured
union forces under the command of general sherman. In the summer of 1864, Union General William T. Sherman led his armies in a campaign to capture the important Confederate city of Atlanta, Georgia. After several months of maneuvering and battles, Sherman's forces were able to outflank the Confederate defenders and enter the city on September 2, 1864. -
Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election
Abraham Lincoln defeated his Democratic opponent, General George B. McClellan, in the 1864 presidential election, winning 55% of the popular vote and 212 out of 233 electoral votes, securing his re-election during the American Civil War. Lincoln's victory was seen as an endorsement of his leadership and policies during the war, including the Emancipation Proclamation and his determination to preserve the Union. . -
Sherman begins his March to the Sea
a devastating campaign that cut a swath of destruction through the heart of the confederacy. -
Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address
In his second inaugural speech, delivered just over a month before his assassination, President Abraham Lincoln called for national reconciliation and healing after the devastation of the Civil War, famously stating "with malice toward none, with charity for all." -
The Fall of Richmond
The Union Army's capture of the Confederate capital of Richmond, Virginia marked a major turning point in the Civil War, signaling the imminent collapse of the Confederacy. -
Lee's Surrender at Appomattox
Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia to Union General Ulysses S. Grant effectively ended the Civil War, with Grant offering generous terms that allowed Confederate soldiers to return home. -
The Assassination of President Lincoln
The shocking assassination of President Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth just days after the end of the Civil War was a profound tragedy that marked the beginning of a difficult period of Reconstruction for the nation.