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South Carolina votes to secede from the United States
After Lincoln is elected South Carolina decides to secede from the union and is soon followed by other deep south states. -
Lincoln’s First Inaugural Address
Lincoln gives his address to a broken union and vows to preserve the union and mend it. -
Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter
Confederates said any attempt to resupply fort would be cause for war. However, the troops needed supplies so Lincoln sent "food for hungry men." Didn't matter much as this was seen as a resupply attempt and shots were fired anyways. -
Lincoln suspends habeas corpus
The suspension of Habeas Corpus was done to give military leaders the proper power to punish dissenters and rebels. This means that anyone deemed a threat to military operations could be arrested. -
Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy
Originally the confederate capital was Montgomery, Alabama. This was changed ti Richmond Virginia as Virginia was strategically important. -
First Battle of Bull Run is fought
The confederates knew all they had to do was hold their territory and this battle was no different. The union was on the offensive while the confederates were on the defensive, ultimately the confederates won. -
Jefferson Davis elected President of the Confederacy
served as temporary president for a year previously. Ran uncontested and was elected for a 6 year term. -
The Merrimac and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast
Also called the Battle of Hampton Roads and was a battle between navies. This battle is notable because it's the first time armored warships fought each other ushering in a new era of naval warfare. -
Battle of Shiloh
Served as an important battle during the early years of the civil war. Started when the confederates surprise attacked the union army led by Ulysses S Grant, union victory -
Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
changed the name of the troops to the army of Northern Virginia after assuming command. He took command to protect Richmond from an attack by Union soldiers. -
Battle of Antietam
The bloodiest day in American history with both the confederates and Union bringing amazing generals, E Lee and Mclellan. On the first day, 22,717 men were dead missing or wounded. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
one of the earliest battles and served as one of the confederate's greatest victories. Robert E Lee led the confederates while the North was led by Ambrose Burnside. -
Emancipation Proclamation is announced
Lincolns greatest move towards freeing the slaves. Lincoln declared all slaves held in states that left the union are to be freed. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The battle of Chancellorsville is an important one lasting from the 30th to the 6th of May. The confederates won however general Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded and killed during the fighting. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Bloodiest battle of the civil war ending with the North on top. Around 51k men died 23k north 28k south -
Confederates surrender at Vicksburg
Grant led his army and at first, the opposing general Pemberton agreed to a brief ceasefire. However, that night grant offered Pemberton parole and by morning the union had control of Vicksburg. -
New York City draft riots
Often referred to as Manhatten riots as Manhatten is where this event occurred. The riots lasted three days with 120 people being killed. -
Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address
The battle of Gettysburg was extremely bloody and pivotal to the course of the war. As such Lincoln gave a speech dedicating the area to those who have fallen. -
Atlanta is captured
This battle was part of the Union's summer plan to progress through the South. The confederates were once again on the offensive and as such lost. -
Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election
Lincoln easily won the election against the democratic nominee McClellan. The votes are 212-21, not even close. -
Sherman begins his March to the Sea
Also called the scorched Earth campaign, Sherman would march through Georgia with the union army. They would burn down houses, steal supplies and kill livestock, the purpose of the campaign was to scare Georgians away from Georgia. -
Freedmen's Bureau is created
The Bureau was established to aid those who had been displaced due to the war. Provided food, medical aid, clothing, and shelter for both newly freed slaves and southerners. -
Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
Lincoln addressed the wide divide between North and South ushering all to give forgiveness. Lincoln had led through the most violent conflict in US history where one brother would kill another. -
Richmond falls to the Union Army
Ulysses had attempted to infiltrate's and capture Richmond for ten months prior. His successful capture of Richmond marked the final days for the confederacy. -
Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox
Lee surrendered to prevent unessecary destruction to the South as the war had already been lost. When it became clear the south couldn't win Lee met with Grant surrendered his army thus ending the civil war. -
President Lincoln assassinated
John Wilkes booth shoots and kills president Lincoln at a theater while watching a play. -
John Wilkes Booth is killed
Booth is found in a barn which is soon burnt down causing Wilkes to attempt an escape leading to him being shot. This ended a nationwide manhunt for Booth with Southern sympathizers keeping him safe until now. -
Congress passes the 13th Amendment
Although Lincoln thought poorly of slavery he wasn't an ablionist. This was due to the fact he knew it'd hurt the nation that is why he was so hesitant to pass this amendment.