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United States Civil War
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Jefferson Davis Presents Resolutions to the Senate
Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis presents resolutions to the Senate to affirm that the Federal government cannot only prohibit slavery in the territories, but must actually protect slaveholders there. -
Anti-Slavery Convention
The Democratic Party holds its convention in Charleston, SC. -
Constitutional Union Party
Former members of the American and Whig parties meet in Baltimore, MD, to form the Constitutional Union party. -
Abraham Lincoln Nominated
The Republican convention in Chicago nominates Abraham Lincoln as its presidential candidate on the third ballot. -
Stephen Douglas for President
The Democrat convention in Baltimore, MD, nominates Stephen A. Douglas of Illinois as its presidential candidate -
Abraham Licnoln Wins the Presidential Election
Abraham Lincoln defeated Hamlin in the 1860 election to become the sixteenth president of the United States. This meant that the south no longer had any political power. -
James Buchanan Meets with Cabinet
President James Buchanan, meets with his cabinet to prepare for the annual State of the Union address to Congress. -
Buchanan Delivers State of the Union Message
Pres. Buchanan delivers his State of the Union message to Congress that has convened on the previous day. -
South Carolina is the First State to Secede from the Union
South Carolina becomes the first of many state to secede from the Union. Without any political power there was no chance for slavery to stay in the Union. -
President Buchanan Refuses to Withdraw
Pres. Buchanan replies to the South Carolina commisioners saying he cannot and will not withdraw the Federal troops from Charleston. -
Mississippi Secedes
Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union. -
Florida Secedes from the Union
Florida is the third state to secede from the Union. Florida's secession happened a day after Mississippi's. -
Alabama becomes the Fourth State to Secede from the Union
Alabama becomes the fourth state to secede from the union and becomes the third state to do it in consecutive days. -
Jefferson Davis becomes the President of the Confederate States of America
Jefferson Davis becomes the first and only president of the Confederate States of America. -
Abe Lincoln Sworn into Office
Abraham Lincoln was officially sworn into office on this day. -
Confederates Fire on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor
Confederates take their first attack towards Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor. -
Fort Sumter Surrenders
Fort Sumter is unable to hold off the confederate attack and they are forced to surrender the day after the first shots were fired. -
President Lincoln Orders 75,000 Volunteers
President Lincoln orders reinforcements after the incident at Charleston Harbor. -
Richmond becomes the Capital of the Confederacy
Confederate legislature agrees to move the capital to Richmond, Virginia. -
Virginia Secedes due to a Vote
Virginia finally agrees to secession after popular vote. -
Grant Captures Fort Henry
Ulysses S. Grant captures Fort Henry in Tennessee. -
Fort Donelson Captured
Ten days after the Fort Henry was captured, Grant obtains Fort Donelson and earns the nickname "Unconditional Surrender". -
President Lincoln's Son Dies
Abraham Lincoln's eleven year old son dies from fever. Polluted drinking water may have been the cause. -
Suprise Attack at Shiloh
The Confederates suprised Grant's unsuspecting troop at Shiloh and many union soldiers died from gunfire. -
David Farragut Takes New Orleans
Seventeen Union ships under the command of Flag Officer David Farragut move up the Mississippi River and take New Orleans. -
Lee in Command
General Robert E. Lee assumes command, replacing the wounded Johnston. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
75,000 Federals under General John Pope are defeated by 55,000 Confederates under General Stonewall Jackson and General James Longstreet at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia. -
Antietam
The bloodiest day in United States military history as General Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Armies are stopped at Antietam in Maryland by McClellan and numerically superior Union forces. By nightfall 26,000 men are dead, wounded, or missing. -
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves issued by President Lincoln. -
Fredericksburg Defeat
Army of the Potomac under General Burnside suffers a costly defeat at Fredericksburg in Virginia with a loss of 12,653 men after 14 frontal assaults. -
President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued out on this date, immediately freeing 50,000. This proclamation did not outlaw slavery, or help slaves become equal. -
Civil War Draft
The United States Congress enacts a draft, affecting male citizens aged twenty to forty-five, but also exempts those who pay $300 or provide a substitute. -
Chancellorsville
The Union Army under General Hooker is decisively defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia as a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. -
Stonewall Jackson Dies
After suffering wounds at Chancellorsville, Stonewall Jackson passes away. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The tide of war turns against the South as the Confederates are defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, in a very bloody three-day battle. -
Control of the Mississippi
Vicksburg, the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River, surrenders to General Grant and the Army of the West after a six week siege. With the Union now in control of the Mississippi, the Confederacy is effectively split in two. -
Violent Anti-Draft Riots
Anti-draft riots in New York City include arson and the murder of blacks by poor immigrant whites. At least 120 persons, including children, are killed and $2 million in damage caused, until Union soldiers returning from Gettysburg restore order. -
Frederick Douglass
The president meets with abolitionist Frederick Douglass who pushes for full equality for Union 'Negro troops.' -
General Grant Gains Command
The president appoints General Grant to command all operations in the western theater. -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln delivers a two minute Gettysburg Address at a ceremony dedicating the Battlefield as a National Cemetery. -
Grant Commands United States Armies
President Lincoln appoints General Grant to command all of the armies of the United States. -
Lincoln Shot by Booth
John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln in the back of the head while watching the play "Our American Cousin". -
Union Mistake
A costly mistake by Grant results in 7,000 Union casualties in twenty minutes during an offensive against fortified Rebels at Cold Harbor in Virginia. -
Petersburg
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. -
Battle at Atlanta
At Atlanta, Sherman's forces battle the Rebels now under the command of General John B. Hood, who replaced Johnston. -
George B. McClellan Against Lincoln
Democrats nominate George B. McClellan for president to run against Republican incumbent Abraham Lincoln. -
Atlanta Captured by Sherman
Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army. -
Abraham Lincoln Re-Elected
Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president, defeating Democrat George B. McClellan. Lincoln carries all but three states with 55 percent of the popular vote and 212 of 233 electoral votes. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
After destroying Atlanta's warehouses and railroad facilities, Sherman, with 62,000 men begins a March to the Sea. -
Hood's Army Falls
Hood's Rebel Army of 23,000 is crushed at Nashville by 55,000 Federals. -
Sherman Reaches the Savannah
Sherman reaches Savannah in Georgia leaving behind a 300 mile long path of destruction 60 miles wide all the way from Atlanta. -
Thirteenth Amendment Approved
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. -
Lincoln's Inauguration
Inauguration ceremonies for President Lincoln in Washington. -
Ambrose Killed at Petersburg
Grant's forces begin a general advance and break through Lee's lines at Petersburg. Confederate General Ambrose P. Hill is killed -
President Lincoln tours Richmond
President Lincoln tours Richmond. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders at Appomattox
Robert E. Lee surrenders to Grant at Appomattox. -
Abraham Lincoln is Dead
President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 15, 1865. His murderer was the famous actor John Wilkes Booth, who shot him (April 14th) in the back of the head at Ford's Theater. -
Johnston Surrenders to Sherman
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston surrenders to Sherman near Durham in North Carolina. -
John Wilkes Booth Shot and Killed
Shortly after John Wilkes Booth shot Abraham Lincoln, he was caught hiding and was shot and killed by Thomas Corbett. -
Ambraham Lincoln Laid to Rest
Abraham Lincoln is laid to rest in Oak Ridge Cemetery, outside Springfield, Illinois. -
Thirteenth Amendment Ratified
The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified. Slavery is abolished. -
New Freedman's Bureau Bill
New Freedman's Bureau bill passed by Congress. -
Texas Repeals the Actions
Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention. -
Civil Rights Act Vetoed
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. -
Johnson Overruled
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act. -
The 14th Amendment Approved
Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. -
Farragut Promoted
Congress creates the rank of Admiral. David Farragut is appointed to that rank. -
Ku Klux Klan Investigated
The U. S. Secret Service begins an investigation into the Ku Klux Klan. -
Andrew Johnson Formally Ends the War
President Andrew Johnson formally declares that the war is over. -
Peace with Texas
A proclaimation of peace with Texas is issued by United States President Andrew Johnson. -
Rejection of the 14th Amendment
On the 6th anniversary of secession, South Carolina rejects the 14th Amendment. -
Blakcs Gain the Right to Vote
Blacks in Washington D. C. gain the right to vote in a bill passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Welcome Nebraska
Nebraska becomes a state. -
Tenure of Office Act
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act, denying the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress. -
Negroes Votes Denied
Alexandria, Virginia rejects thousand of votes cast by Negroes, who were granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act. -
Second Reconstruction Act
Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act over Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Alaska's Treaty Ratified
Senate ratifies treaty purchasing Alaska. -
Reconstruction Committee
House Select Committee on Reconstruction is appointed. -
Edwin Stanton Must Resign
President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War. -
Grant's Title
Ulysses S. Grant becomes ad interim Secretary of War. -
Alaska Belongs to the United States
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States.
