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Election of 1860
The election of 1860 had four different political parties running at the time, and who did end up winning the election was Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln won due to the fact that the Democratic party was split, over slavery. This caused the first main issue in relation to the Civil War, giving the south the feel they had no voice in politics any longer. -
Confederate States Form
The Confederate States form in 1861 due to the continuous arguing going on between the North and the South, over slavery. It was established generally by the Montgomery Convention, which happened on February 8th, 1861 by seven states at the time. These states consisted of South Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and added Texas in March. It did end up expanding even more though from May to July. -
Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President of the Confederate States of America.
Jefferson Davis was elected as the first, and only President of the Confederate States of America. This election took place from February 1861, to November 8th, of 1861. The reason that he was elected, and chosen for this position is because of his extreme dedication to the Confederate cause. Davis was definitely surprised at his election, though he was surely happy about it. -
Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter is located in the middle of Charleston Harbor. At The Battle of Fort Sumter, is when the American Civil war is finally kicked off, and started. Forces that were from The Confederate States of America ended up attacking the United States military garrison. The fort did end up surrendering not even a few days into the battle, though this obviously did not give up all cause of war though, as the American Civil War was started now. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run, or as some know it, the Battle of First Manassas, given the name by the Confederate Forces, was definitely the first major battle of the American Civil War. At the time, this was definitely the bloodiest battle, but little did they know the record would keep being broken through the rest of the Civil War. This gives both the North and the South that the Civil War was definitely going to be a long, and bloody war. The end of this battle showed a Confederate victory. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, Though was known mainly for being a crucial victory for the Union. It lasted from April 6th 1862, to just April 7th 1862. In only these two days of war though, there were around 23,000 deaths, or casualties. This battle though did give the Union Army better control over the Mississippi River valley. Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston was killed during the Battle of Shiloh. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam is popularly known as the deadliest one-day battle in all of American military history. Around 23,000 soldiers were killed during this fight, but showed that the Union could stand against the Confederate Army. The battle was named by the north after the nearby creek, Antietam, while the South called it the Battle of Sharpsburg. This battle did end up prompting Abraham Lincoln to release the Emancipation Proclamation though. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1st of 1863. The Emancipation Proclamation claimed that all of the people held as slaves in the rebellious states are now considered free. Some effected areas were Alabama, Arkansas, Florida and a few more aswell. Nearly 4 million slaves were set free from this Proclamation. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The battle of Vicksburg took place on the Mississippi River, from May 11th, to July 4th 1863. It was known as a decisive Union victory. There were almost 40,000 casualties in this fight and the Union army did use siege tactics. It is also a known fact that over 31 states have monuments, or other memorials honoring the ones that did die in the Siege of Vicksburg. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought from July 1st, to July 3rd of 1863. This battle is known as the turning point for the American Civil war and this is because from now on, the Confederacy will be on defense rather than trying to rush into the North. This battle also had a Union victory and had more than the estimated number of 50,000 casualties in this three day battle. Abraham Lincoln issued the Gettysburg Address after this fight. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address is a speech given by Abraham Lincoln. It happened on November 19th of 1863. the speech was given to commemorate a new cemetery dedicated to the Battle of Gettysburg. The dead union was remembered and highlighted with this memorial, given for all of their sacrifices. The general main message of this speech though was the fact that these people should not have died in vain, and they are thankful for what they have done for th United States as a whole. -
Sherman's March to Sea
Sherman's Match to Sea was an American Civil War campaign. This lasted from November 15th, to December21st, of 1864. The North destroyed anything in their path that was important to the South, and anything else important to their war effort. As the North did end up winning the American Civil War, Sherman's March to Sea was justified, but it was definitely very violent as they gave no mercy whatsoever. -
Appomattox Court House
The battle of Appomattox Courthouse happened on April 6th, 1865. It was fought from morning to afternoon of this day. This is the same time and day though that the American Civil War finally ended. General Robert E. Lee of the Confederate Army gave in and surrendered to the North. This also had meant that the Union finally won the Civil War, and the fighting was over for that time period. The official document to end the war was signed by Lee, and that was it. The Civil War was was finally over. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 15th, of 1865. He was killed by John Wilkes Booth who was then killed just three hours after, due to recieving a death sentence. Abraham Lincoln died at 56 years old though, and was killed because Booth was apparently part of a conspiracy to kidnap him. Some people were glad though, due to the amount of people who still hated him in the South, even after the American Civil War was over and done with. -
13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was passed on January 31st, and was finally ratified on December 6th, of 1865. The 13th Amendment finally abolished slavery in the United States making it illegal to own slaves. Four million americans were freed from being slaves with this amendment being ratified. People who owned slaves, and lost all of them definitely did not like this amendment, but there were a lot more people happy with the fact slavery was finally ended, due to how it started the war in the first place.