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The Democratic Party has a convention in Charleston, South Carolina. When the pro-slavery platform is rejected, delegates from 8 southern states leave.
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Previoius members from the American and Whig parties meet in Baltimore, MD. they met to form the Constitutional Union party.
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Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th president of the United States. Also, he was he first Republican.
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Consists of six constitutional amendments. Four resolutions make major concessions to southern concerns.
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South Carolina secedes from the Union. In a couple of months, six fore states followed.
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Jefferson Davis was a former US Arrmy Officer president. He formed The Confederate States of America.
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Confederates fired 50 cannons in Fort Sumter, North Carolina. This attack led to the start of the Civil War.
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The Bull Run was the first battle of the Civil War won by the Confederates. This was the first major land battle between the armies. It took place in Virginia.
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George B. McClellan as the Commander of the Department of Potomac. He replaced McDowell.
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Two confederate officials were sailing towards England. They are taken by the US Navy. England demanded for them to be released. In December Lincoln allows them to be released.
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Victory for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Tennessee, capturing Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. Grant earns the nickname "Unconditional Surrender"
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Confederate attacked Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared troops at Shiloh on the Tennessee River. This results in a struggle with more men killed and wouned then all the previous American wars, combined.
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The bloodiest day in U.S. military history. Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Armies are stopped at Antietam in Maryland by McClellan and Union forces.
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Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves issued by President Lincoln.
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The president replaces McClellan with Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside as the new Commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln had grown impatient with McClellan.
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President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation. This allowed all slaves to be free in territories held by Confederates.
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Gen. Grant is placed in command of the Army of the West, with orders to capture Vicksburg.
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Gen. George G. Meade is chosen by Lincoln as commander of the Army of the Potomac. He is the 5th man to command the Army in less than a year.
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The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.
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President Lincoln delivers a two minute Gettysburg Address at a ceremony dedicating the Battlefield as a National Cemetery.
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President Lincoln appoints Gen. Grant to command all of the armies of the United States. Gen. William T. Sherman succeeds Grant as commander in the west.
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The North, lead by Grant, fought the Southern army at Cold Harbor. After many casualties the Union army called off the attack.
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Union forces miss an opportunity to capture Petersburg and cut off the Confederate rail lines. As a result, a nine month siege of Petersburg begins with Grant's forces surrounding Lee.
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Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for president to run against Republican incumbent Abraham Lincoln.
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Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president. He carries all but three states with 55 percent of the popular vote and 212 of 233 electoral votes.
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The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification.
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John Wilkes Booth shoots the president in the head during a play. He never regains consciousness
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President Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes the presidency.
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After John Wilkes Booth assasinated President Lincoln, he is shot and killed in a tobacco barn in Virginia.
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The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution that was passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified. Slavery is abolished.
