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The Republican Party was formed to oppose the spread of slavery into western territories. It attracted anti-slavery activists, former Whigs, and Free Soilers. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act allowed territories to decide on slavery by popular sovereignty, leading to violent conflicts known as "Bleeding Kansas." This act repealed the Missouri Compromise. -
Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th president of the United States, representing the Republican Party. His election prompted southern states to secede from the Union. -
South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union, leading to the formation of the Confederate States of America. -
The Confederate attack on Fort Sumter in South Carolina marked the start of the Civil War. This battle forced Union forces to surrender the fort. -
Richmond, Virginia, was designated the capital of the Confederacy, becoming a strategic target for Union forces. -
The First Battle of Bull Run was the first major battle of the Civil War, resulting in a Confederate victory and proving that the war would be long and costly. -
Jefferson Davis was elected as the President of the Confederate States of America, leading the South during the Civil War. -
The battle between the ironclad ships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia marked a new era in naval warfare, ending in a draw but demonstrating the effectiveness of ironclads. -
The Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee was one of the bloodiest battles in the Civil War, with heavy casualties on both sides. It ended in a Union victory. -
General Robert E. Lee was appointed commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, leading Confederate forces to many victories but ultimately surrendering in 1865. -
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with over 22,000 casualties. It ended in a strategic Union victory and led to the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg resulted in a significant Confederate victory, with Union forces suffering heavy losses. This battle demonstrated the challenges of attacking fortified positions. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg was a significant Confederate victory marked by high Union casualties. The Union's frontal assaults against fortified Confederate positions resulted in a bloody defeat.
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President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves in Confederate-held territory to be free. This shifted the war's focus to ending slavery. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville was a major Confederate victory, despite the loss of General Stonewall Jackson. It is considered General Robert E. Lee's greatest military achievement.
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The Battle of Chancellorsville was General Robert E. Lee's greatest victory, despite losing General Stonewall Jackson. It demonstrated Lee's tactical brilliance but came at a high cost. -
The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War, ending in a significant Union victory. It was the war's deadliest battle and marked the last Confederate invasion of the North. -
The Confederate surrender at Vicksburg gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two and marking a major turning point in the war. -
President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, a brief but powerful speech that emphasized the principles of human equality and the importance of preserving the Union.