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Uncle Tom's Cabin
Written by author Harriet Beecher Stowe who wrote the novel to show the profound effect on attitudes toward African Americans and slavery in the US. Many say that his novel help lay the groundwork for the civil war. The novel was championed by many abolitionist but denounced in the South, as it contributed to the popular feeling of ending slavery. Stowe became a leading voice in the anti slavery movement and shared her ideas about the injustices of slavery. -
Harpers Ferry Raid
Abolitionist John Brown led a small group of people on a raid against a federal armory in Harpers Ferry Virginia. This was an attempt to start an armed revolt of enslaved people and destroy slavery. This is considered one of the major events that ultimately led to the American Civil War. Browns movement led to him getting hanged for murder and treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia. -
Abraham Lincoln is Elected President
In 1861, Abraham Lincoln became the 16th President of the United States, and in 1863, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which proclaimed all slavery in the Confederacy free for all time. As a result, Lincoln's election was a significant cause for the American Civil War. During the 1850s, the United States became increasingly split along ethnic lines, especially on the question of expanding slavery to the western territories. -
The Confederation is Formed
Seven southern states had seceded by February 1861. Representatives from South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana gathered in Montgomery, Alabama on February 4, 1861, to form the Confederate States of America, with representatives from Texas returning afterwards. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter began as the Confederate guns opened fire at Fort Sumter in the morning of April 12,1860. After being bombed for 33 hours by Confederate cannons, Major Robert Anderson, the commanding officer, was forced to surrender as they evacuated the Fort the next day. The Battle of Fort Sumter is what started the Civil War. -
Union Blockade
The Union blockade was led by President Abraham Lincoln. The Union forces established a blockade of Confederate ports during the Civil War, there goal was to build a blockade that would prevent the Confederate’s from transferring goods and war material. The Union Navy had formed blockades of all the major southern ports by July 1861. By doing this, the Union assumed they would cause the economies of the Confederate States to collapse. -
First Battle of the Bull Run
The First Battle of the Bull Run, also known as the Battle of Manassas, decided as the first major land battle in the Civil War. The First Battle of the Bull Run started when the Union and Confederate armies clashed near Manassas Junction, Virginia. Although the Union had more soldiers, the Confederates soldiers experience proved the difference as the Confederates went on to win the first major battle. -
Battle of Ironclads
The battle of Ironclads involved two ironclads that fought for hours, firing cannonball after cannonball at each other. However, after endless hours neither ship would sink and eventually caused both ships to retreat. This battle revolutionized the naval warfare by proving that wooden vessels were obsolete against the Ironclads. -
Shiloh
The battle of Shiloh also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was one of the major early engagements of the American Civil War. This victory was not a only a crucial success for the Union Army led by Gen. Ulysses S Grant but it allowed a massive operation in the Mississippi Valley later that year. Also, this battle became one of the bloodiest battles of the war as the death toll rose well over 23,000. -
Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was known as Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the northern states. This battle was one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War because the Confederate and Union troops clashed Maryland’s Antietam Creek known as the bloodiest single day in American military history. -
Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg involved nearly 200, 000 combatants and was the largest concentration of troops in any Civil War battle. Confederate General Robert E Lee’s army repulsed a series of attacks by General Ambrose Burnside at Fredericksburg Virginia. The battle’s outcome ended in a crushing defeat for the Union and immeasurably strengthened the Confederates cause. The Union lost around 13,000 soldiers and this battle signaled the low point of the war for the Union. -
Vicksburg
The Vicksburg campaign was a decisive Union Victory that cemented the reputation of Union General Ulysses S Grant. This campaign allowed the Union to cut off the Trans-Mississippi Department from the rest of the Confederate States. This effectively split the Confederacy into two for the rest of the war and it seperated the states Arkansas, Texas, and Louisiana. The Union then were able to have full control over the entire Mississippi River. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued this proclamation as the nation approached its third year of the civil war. This proclamation declared that “all persons held as slaves” within the rebellious states “are” and shall be “free”. The proclamation led to the proposal and ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution. This movement was not only a big step to end slavery but it was inspired many to fight back and end slavery. -
Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a huge victory for the Confederacy and General Robert E Lee. This battle ended up being General Lee’s greatest tactical victory as the much larger Union Army was driven from the battlefield and suffered more than 18,000 casualties. However, the battle was also famously known for the costly death for Confederate Thomas Stonewall Jackson. The death of Jackson affected many in the South as it decreased their spirit of the army and the citizens. -
Battle of Bettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War. The battle fought from July 1 - July 3, 1863. Robert E. Lee planned to invade the north and try to end the war, but failed. Lee and his army was forced to leave the north, never to invade it ever again. -
Sherman Captures Atlanta
The fall of Atlanta had proven to be a blow from which the Confederacy never recovered. As General Sherman captured Atlanta the North was able to control the South’s major manufacturing center and railroad hub. Taking over Atlanta resulted in the US forces to sweep down west and south around the city. This act also greatly boosted the North’s morale and improved President Abraham Lincoln's re-election chances. -
General Robert E. Lee Surrenders
General Robert E Lee surrenders to Union General Ulysses S Grant, at Appomattox, Virginia. This was the most significant surrender to take place during the Civil War as it marked the end of the American Civil War. Lee decided to surrender his army to prevent any unnecessary destruction to the South. Lee quotes “there is nothing left me to do but go see Gen.” which shows it became clear to Lee that the Confederates army could no longer fight. -
Lincoln's Assasination
John Wilkes Booth became the first person to assassinate an American President as he shot and killed Abraham Lincoln in his box at the Ford's Theater. Booth who was a supporter of slavery believed that Lincoln was determined to overthrow the constitution and destroy his beloved South. Eventually his planned failed resulting in him carrying out the assassination of the President alone. -
Appomattox
Battle of Appomattox was one of the final battles in the Civil War. The battle started on the same day Lee surrendered his army to Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant. The surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia in the McLean House signaled the end of nation’s largest war. Lee surrendered because he didn’t want anymore destruction done in the south. -
Reconstruction of the South
The rebuilding of the South was called the Reconstruction. The purpose of the Reconstruction was to help the South become part of the Union again. Federal troop occupied much of the South and insured that laws were followed and another uprising did not occur. Many saw the Reconstruction as a failure, but it also had lots of positives such as building public transports, created school systems, taxation legislation, and law against discrimination.