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Abraham Lincoln Elected President
On November 6th, 1860, Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States. Lincoln was from the Republican Party and was against the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories. Despite not winning a single southern state, Lincoln won the election and this outraged the south and would lead to their secession from the union. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
On December 20th, 1860, South Carolina became the first state to officially secede from the Union. Their representatives had met together at the Secession Convention three days earlier and officially seceded on December 20th. -
Six additional states succeed from the Union
In January of 1861 six more states succeeded from the Union: Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas. This soon led to the formation of the COnfederacy. -
The Southern States meet in Alabama and create the Confederate States of America.
On February 4th, 1861, seven states' delegates meet together in Alabama and organize the Confederate States of America. They create a government and work on a constitution. -
Abraham Lincoln calls for a militia
On April 15th, after the attack on Fort Sumter, Abraham Lincoln calls for a militia of 75,000 to help stop the rebellion. Outraged by this, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee secede from the Union. -
The Battle of Seven Pines
The General of the confederate army was killed in this battle and replaced by General Robert E. Lee. -
The Battle of Bull Run
Initially, during the Battle of Bull Run, the Union appears to be winning, but the aria Val of more Confederate troops swings the momentum of the battle, and the Union experiences an embarrassing defeat. -
President Lincoln appoints General McClellan as General-in-Chief of all United States armies.
On November 1st, 1861, after many unsuccessful battles for the union, President Lincoln changes the leadership of the army and appoints General McClellan as General-in-Chief of all United States armies. -
Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederacy
On February 18th, 1862, Jefferson Davis was elected to become the first president of the Confederacy. Davis presided over the South's military and armed forces. -
The Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was a major battle in Tennessee. The Union win this battle and it solidifies the career of US General Ulysses S. Grant. -
The Battle of Second Bull Run
The Battle of Second Bull Run was fought on August 30th, 1862, in the same location as the first one. Once again, the union army was defeated and sent into an embarrassing defeat. -
Lincoln releases the Emancipation Proclomation
On January 1st, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect and President Lincoln frees all slaves in the rebelling states. The Proclamation, however, does not free slaves within the Union. Also, this shifts the focus of the war from maintaining the union, to also getting rid of slavery. -
Lincoln announces draft for the Union Army
Conscription into the army begins in the Union. This led to widespread protests as can be seen by the riots in New York. -
The Union creates the United States Colored Troops
On May 22nd, 1863, the Union created the United States Colored Troops. Many former slaves who were freed by the Emancipation Proclamation enlisted in the Union Army. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
On July 2nd, 1863, the confederate army, led by General Robert E. Lee, experienced a defeat in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle effectively killed all hope that Lee had of successfully invading the north. Additionally, it was the bloodiest battle in all of the civil war. -
President Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Adress
On November 19th, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the Gettysburg National Cemetery. The results of this speech were drastic. The speech showed the shift in the purpose of the war from being just to keep the union together to being a war to abolish slavery and establish freedom for all. -
Ulysses S. Grant is appointed lieutenant general
On March 2nd, 1864, Ulysses S. Grant was appointed lieutenant general by President Lincoln. He took over command of all the United States armies. -
Abraham Lincoln is elected to second term as president
On June 8, 1864, Abraham Lincoln was elected to a second term in office. This made sure that Lincoln would see to the conclusion of the civil war. -
The Battle of Nashville, Tennessee
On December 15th, 1864, the Union defeats the Confederate army and deals a serious blow to confederate's hope of winning the civil war. -
The Confederacy surrenders
On April 9th, 1865, Robert E. Lee met with Ulysses S. Grant at a courthouse in Virginia and Lee surrendered, ending the civil war. -
President Lincoln is assassinated at Ford's Theater
On April 4th, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by actor John Wilkes Booth at Ford's Theater in Washington, DC. This, despite the civil was being almost over, plunged the country into despair and uncertainty.
