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Period: to
Civil War
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Lincoln Gives Address at Cooper Union
Abraham Lincoln gives a powerful speech at Cooper Union, which was a big part as to why he was elected as presiedent. -
Pony Express
First Pony Express reaches Sacramento, California. -
Harpers Ferry
Thoms Jackson is chosen to lead Harpers Ferry. -
Kansas Railroad
The first time a railroad reaches Kansas. -
Telegraph
The first telegraph line between Los Angeles and San Francisco opens. -
Lincolns Beard
11 year old Grace Bedell writes to Lincoln and tells him to grow a beard. -
Lincoln Elected
Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th President of the United States. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina secedes from the Uion due to the election of Lincoln and his wish to free slaves. -
Forces Gather at Sumter
Major Robert Anderson gathers his troops secretly at Fort Sumter. -
Tubman's Last Mission
Harriet Tubman arrives in Auburn, New York on her last mission to free slaves, and avoided capture on the Underground Railroad for eight years. -
More States Secede
Mississippi secedes from the union. -
Kansas Becomes a State
Kansas is admitted as a state in to the Union, with a constitution prohibiting slavery. -
Lincoln Inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th POTUS. -
Fort Sumter Attacked
Fort Sumter was fired upon by Confederate troops however there were no causualties. This was the start of the war. -
Virginia secedes
Virginia secedes from the union. -
Baltimore riot
Secessionist mob in Baltimore attacks Massachusetts troops bound for Washington, D.C. Four soldiers and 12 rioters were killed. -
Lee Resigns
General Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the US Army. -
Start of Capitol Change
Confederate Congress votes to move its capital from Montgomery to Richmond -
Writ of Habeas Corpus
Lincoln suspends the rights of Habeus Corpus to increase his power. -
Confederates win Manassas
Confederate Congress votes to move its capital from Montgomery to Richmond -
General Felix Zollicoffer Dies
General Felix Zollicoffer is shot and killed when he accidently crosses the Union line and speaks to Col. S. S. Fry [US] at the battle of Mill Springs Kentucky -
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis inaugurated as the first and only presidents. -
Grant orders to advance on Nashville
Ulysses S. Grant orders William Nelson to advance on Nashville -
Conscription
Davis and the Confederate Congress approve the conscription act. This calls forward any white male ages 18 to 35 to fight for the confederate army. -
Lincoln Signs Railway Act
President Lincoln signs the Pacific Railway Act, incorporating the Union Pacific Railroad -
Grant Assumes Command
Ulysses S. Grant [US] ordered to assume command of the Army of the Tennessee, Army of the Mississippi and other western troops. -
Robert E Lee enters Maryland
Robert E. Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia enters Maryland -
Antietam
The battle of Antietam is the bloodiest single day battle in American history. Neither side won the war but the Confederate retreat during the battle made it a victory in Lincoln's eyes. The battle ended in a loss of 110 men. -
Benjamin Butler Relieved
Benjamin Butler [US] is relieved of duty in New Orleans because of his total disregard of the civilian population. Nathaniel Banks is chosen to replace him. Butler closes all breweries and distilleries to retaliate against civilians -
Grant Dismiss Jewish
One of the most controversial orders of the Civil War is issued by Ulysses S. Grant. Special order 11, expelled all Jews from his department. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln signs the Emancipation and officially frees 3.1 million of the nation's slaves. This document only freed slaves that were not under Union control but allowed them to serve in the Union army. -
National Banking Act
Lincoln signs the National Banking Act, which established a banking system. Wanted to establish single currency -
Lincoln Offers Amnesty
President Lincoln issues an order of amnesty for men absent without leave from the Union Army. -
Battle of Chanselorsville
This battle took place from May 1st to May 4th, ending in a Confederate victory. Both sides lost many of their soldiers, the Union casualties were 17,500 men and the Confederate casualties were 13,000. The most devestating Confederate loss was General Stonewall Jackson. -
Gettysburg
This is the largest battle of the Civil War, taking place in a field in Gettysburg, Pennyslvania. General Meade's Union forces turn back Lee's Confederates during this battle. There were 28,000 Confederate casualties and 23,000 Union casualties. This is a Union Victory. -
Lee Resigns
Following his shameful defeat at Gettysburg, General Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Davis refuses the request. -
Battle of Lawrence
This battle took place in Lawrence, Kansas, the site of much previous violence over the issue of slavery. William Qauntrill's raiders kill over 200 men and boys. The north views this as one of the most vicious atrocities of the war, -
Thanksgiving
Lincoln declares Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated the last Thursday in November, This holiday is to celebrate the colonists and Native Americans coming together and sharing their resources. This is ironic because during Lincoln's time the Natives were still being treated with disrespect. -
The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's speech dedicating the military cemetary at Gettysburg. The address is not very long but considered the most influential speech. It boosted Northern morale and made them feel like there was a purpose behind the war. -
The Great Escape
John Hunt Morgan, a confederate calvary leader, and some of his men escape the Ohio state prison. They escape by cutting a hole in a cell and crawling through the ventilation system. They return safetly to the South and Morgan picks up his calvary activities. Later in the war he is killed by the Union army. -
Andersonville
The first 500 prisoners of war arrive at the Confederate prison camp, Andersonville. This was the harshest prison camp of the Civil War. Many of the men held there did not survive because of the brutal conditions faced there. -
Grant and Campaign Orders
Ulysses S. Grant issues campaign orders. He tells George Meade [US], "Wherever Lee goes, you will go there." Similar orders are issued to William Tecumseh Sherman -
The Coinage Act
Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864. This act states the the inscription "In God we Trust" must be on all coins that are to be used as US currency. -
Arlington National Cemetary
The Arlington National Cemetary is established by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. It is created using 200 acres land from Robert E Lee's home, Arlington House. -
Lincolns attempt at Peace
Horace Greeley is sent to Canada to negotiate an end to the Civil War. Lincoln gives him broad powers to come to a settlement, only requiring that it include the restoration of the Union and a renunciation of slavery. -
Fugitive Slave Law
Fugitive Slave law was abolished. -
Gordon Ranger Invests
Gordon Granger lands on Dauphin Island and invests Fort Gaines, one of two forts defending Mobile -
Nevada
Nevada becomes the 36th state in the United States -
Lincoln's Re-election
Lincoln is re-elected in 1864. His victory is overwhelming because of how many votes he received over George B. McClellan. -
Shermans March to the Sea
This date was the start of the March to the Sea. By this time Sherman had marched almost 100 miles, destroyed all or part of Rome, Cartersville and Marietta, Georgia -
Fort Stedman
The Confederate forces capture Fort Stedman from the Union forces. About 2,900 of Lee's men are killed and 1,000 are captured during the counter attack. -
Richmond
Confederate Presiden Davis and his cabinet flee the confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia as Union forces near it. The very next day it is captured by the Union. -
Appottamax
General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appottamax courthouse. This marks the end of the Civil War, -
Lincoln Assassinated
John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Fords Theater during a performance of My American Cousin. Lincoln is pronounced dead early the next morning. In addition, William Seward and his family are attacked by Booth's co-conspirator, Lewis Powell. -
Booth is Captured
John Wilkes Booth is captured in a barn in Virginia at the Garret's farm. He is shot and killed by Boston Corbett. -
Juneteenth
General Granger arrives in Texas and tells them about the Emancipation Proclamation. It is now celebrated as holiday called Juneteenth. -
Conspirators Hanged
The four conspirators in Lincoln's assassination are hanged. These men are Davide Harold, George Atzerodt, Lewis Payne, and Mary Surratt. John Surratt escapes to Canada and later makes his way to Egypt so he does not pay for his involvement in Lincoln's death. -
North Carolina
North Carolina declares the secession ordinance of 1861 null and void -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment is ratified by three-quarters of the states. This amendment permenantly abolishes slavery in the United States. -
KKK
Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan to resist reconstruction as well as to repress the freed African Americans. -
The Liberator
The last issue of The Liberator is published. It is now unnecessary due to the freeing of slaves. -
Jesse James
The first day light bank robbery takes place in Liberty, Missouri. This was carried out by Jesse James and his gang, although no one is quite sure where Jesse James fits into this event. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is founded in New York by Henry Bergh. -
Nickel
Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, know as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime. -
14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment is ratified. This frees all slaves. -
Tennessee
Tennessee becomes the first state to be re-admitted into the Union. -
General of the Army
Congress makes General of the Army a rank. Ulysses S. Grant is the first to hold the position. -
Atlantic Cable
The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time. -
Train Robbery
The first train robbery takes place. The Reno brothers get away with $13,000. -
Jesse and Gang
Five members of the James-Younger Gang robbed The Alexander Mitchell and Co. Bank in Lexington, Missouri making of with $2,000 -
African American Males are Given the Right to Vote
African American males are given the right to vote in Washington D.C. Congress over came President Johnson's veto to give the African Americans this right. -
Nebraska
Nebraska becomes a state. -
Jesse James in Savannah
Jesse James robs a bank in Savannah,Missouri. The attempt failed with one casualty -
Ride-Ins
African Americans stage a ride on streetcars in New Orleans to protest segregation. -
Alaska
President Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. This would be the second to last state added to the United States of America. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Johnson vetoes the third reconstruction act which spells out election procedures in the South and reasserts congressional control over the Reconstruction. Congress overrides Johnsons' veto, -
Johnson Suspends Stanton
Johnson suspends Stanton as Secretary of War after the two clash over reconstruction plans. Johnson places Ulysses S. Grant in the position. -
Ulysses S Grant
Johnson places Ulysses S. Grant in the position of secretary of War -
Alaska
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States -
Grange
Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley founds the Order of the Patrons of Husbandry. Today this order is known as the farmers organization Grange.
