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Civil War Timeline
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Cooper Union Speech
Lincoln delivered a speech explaining his opinions on slavery at Cooper Union in New York City. He was not yet the Republican nominee, so this was considered a very important speech in terms of his future as a presidential candidate. -
Pony Express Begins
The first Pony Express mail traveled by horse and rider relay teams. The 1,800 mile journey was completed in ten days. -
1860 Democratic National Convention in Charleston
Charleston was one of the most pro-slavery cities in the U.S at the time and convention was packed with many pro-slavery spectators. Stephen A. Douglas was the front-runner for the presidential nomination. -
Paiute War Begins
This was an armed conflict between Northern Paiutes, Shoshane, and the Bannock Indians against intruding U.S settlers. It took place in Utah. -
John Bell Wins Presidential Candidate Nomination
John Bell was a part of the Constitutional Union Party. He received 138 votes was declared a candidate. -
Lincoln Wins Presidential Nomination
Lincoln is nominated for the U.S presidency by the Republican National Convention. He eventually won the party's nomination. He ran with Hannibal Hamlin as his vice president. -
Paiute War Ends
After a number of smaller raids there was a cease-fire. There was no treaty made and this was looked at as a victory for the U.S Army. -
Lincoln is elected president
After campaigning and focusing on an anti-slavery platform, Lincoln won the electoral college by a large majority. He becomes the first Republican president. -
Crittenden Compromise
John J. Crittenden, a senator from Kentucky, introduced legislation aimed at resolving the secession crisis in the South. To appease the South he proposed the guaranteed permanent existence of slavery in the slave states by bringing back the free-slave demarcation line drawn by the Missouri Compromise. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
As a response to Lincoln's election, South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. South Carolina was one of many southern states who felt that Lincoln's election would negatively effect their way of life because of his views against slavery. -
The Confederate States of America is created
A convention is held in Montgomery, Alabama to discuss the formation of the C.S.A. Jefferson Davis is chosen as the president. -
Fort Sumter
Confederate troops bombard Fort Sumter, which is under Union control in the first unofficial conflict of the Civil War. Union Major Robert Anderson asked Lincoln for food and weapons, but Lincoln only sent food, because he did not want to be the aggressor. -
Virginia Secedes from the Union
Virginia secedes from the Union. Within five weeks the Confederacy is made up of eleven states. It has a population of 9 million, including 4 million slaves. -
Lincoln Issues a Proclamation of Blockade
Lincoln called for a Proclamation of Blockade against all Southern ports. This continues throughout the Civil War and it limits the ability of the South to stay well supplied. They eventually begin to run out of resources. -
Robert E. Lee Resigns from the U.S Army
Robert E. Lee resigns from the U.S Army and joins his home states of Virginia to help the Confederacy. He said, "I cannot raise my hand against my birthplace, my home, my children." He begins to command the naval and military forces in Virginia. -
Battle of Bull Run
The Battle of Bull Run is first official battle of the Civil War. The Union forces expected this to be an easy win, but after being defeated by the Confederacy they realized that the Civil War would not be as easily ended as they thought. -
Battle of Cheat Mountain, Virginia
This is noted as the first battle commanded by General Lee. It resulted in a Confederate defeat. -
McClellan is Appointed General-In-Chief
Lincoln appoints McClellan general-in-chief after the retirement of Winfield Scott. McClellan is very young, but very intelligent. He was a graduate of West Point. -
Battle of Port Royal, South Carolina
The Union gained an important naval victory. Because of this battle they gained control of the coastal islands of South Carolina. -
Two Confederate Ships are Seized
The U.S seizes two Confederate ships on their way to England. Lincoln agrees to their release in December after England threatens war. As Lincoln said, "One war at a time." -
Fort Henry
The Battle of Fort Henry was the first major victory for the Union. General Grant tried to gain control of rivers and supply lines west of the Appalachians by launching an attack on Fort Henry. -
Fort Donelson
A week after the battle of Fort Henry, General Grant began an assault on Fort Donelson which was on the Cumberland River. This victory ensured that Kentucky would remain in the Union. -
Battle of Pea Ridge
This battle was fought in Arkansas and the Union forces were led by General Samuel R. Curtis. The Confederates hoped to recapture northern Arkansas and Missouri, but were unable to. -
Battle of Hampton Roads
This battle is often noted as the most important naval battle of the Civil War in terms of the future development of navies. The Confederates tried to break the Union blockade, which cut off Virginia from international trade. This battle resulted in a Union victory and the preservation of the blockade. -
Battle of Shiloh
This was a major battle fought in southwestern Tennessee. It began when the Confederates launched a surprise attack on the Union who was under the command of General Grant. It resulted in a Union victory, but both sides suffered major losses. -
The Great Locomotive Chase
This was a military raid in northern Georgia. Union volunteers stole a locomotive and were pursued by the Confederates, first on foot and then by train. The Union raiders were eventually caught. -
Capture of New Orleans
New Orleans was a major Confederate city and the Union captured it led by Admiral Farragut. Farragut led 24 gunboats, 19 mortar boats, and 15,000 soldiers. -
Lincoln Meets with Group of Prominent African Americans
Lincoln met with a group of prominent African Americans to discuss the idea of settling emancipated slaves in Panama. This was the first time African Americans had been invited to the White House on a policy matter. The idea was rejected. -
Battle of Chickasaw Bayou
This resulted in a victory for Confederates who outnumbered the Union. There were six times as many Union casualties. The Confederates won many assaults coordinated by Commander Sherman. -
Virginia is Divided in Two
Lincoln signs an act to admit West Virginia into the Union. This divides Virginia in two, although there were still many secessionist counties in West Virginia. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation, passed by Lincoln, freed all Confederate slaves. This allowed the Union to recruit black soldiers. -
Congress Passes First Conscription Act
This act stated that all men aged between 20 and 45 were required to register for service. For $300 a man could hire a substitute to take his place, so this law favored the rich. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
General Robert E. Lee defeats the Union troops with about 13,000 Confederate casualties. This includes Stonewall Jackson who was lost to friendly fire. -
The Siege of Port Hudson
Union commander, Nathaniel Banks, surrounds the Confederate hold of Port Hudson. After several attempts, Banks failed and could not capture Port Hudson. -
The Union Uses African American Troops
The U.S War Department issued an order that established a "Bureau of Colored Troops." This resulted in about 178,000 free black and free slaves to serve in the army. -
Morgan's Raid
Morgan's Raid was an invasion by Confederate calvary led by General John Hunt Morgan. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Gettysburg
General Robert E. Lee marched his troops into Pennsylvania and attacked the Union from both sides. On the third day of fighting he ordered an attack by 15,000 troops. They managed to get near the Union lines, but failed. This resulted in a victory for the Union and many Confederate casualties. -
Battle of Vicksburg
The Union army held the town of Vicksburg under a siege for 47 days. Finally the Confederate town surrendered. -
Draft Week
Violence broke out in lower Manhattan due to the new conscription act. These disturbances were led by the working class. -
Robert E. Lee Attempts to Resign
After being defeated at the Battle of Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee sent his letter of resignation to Jefferson Davis. Jefferson Davis refused the request. -
Libby Prison Escape
Over 100 Union prisoners-of-war escaped from the Libby Prison. Prisoners, led by Colonel Thomas E. Rose, tunneled in a rat-infested zone, which the Confederate guards did not want to enter. -
The H.L Hunley sinks the USS Housatonic
The Hunley, a small Confederate submarine, torpedoed the Union's USS Housatonic. This became the first submarine to sink an enemy ship. -
Army of the Potomac
General Grant led the Army of the Potomac. After the Battle of the Wilderness he brought them southward. -
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
This was the second major battle in General Grant's Overland Campaign. About 4,000 died in this inconclusive battle -
Civil War Gold Hoax
The New York World and the New York Journal of Commerce published a fake story claiming that Lincoln had issued a proclamation of conscription for 400,00 0 more men. They did this to take advantage of the current economic status of the country. The price of shares on the New York Stock Exchange fell. -
Battle of Ware Bottom Church
The Union troops were led by Benjamin Butler and the Confederate troops were led by P.G.T. Beauregard. This resulted in a Confederate victory and after the battle they began digging a critical set of defensive earthworks that became known as the Howlett Line. -
Battle of the Crater
Union forces attempted to crack the Confederate lines by exploding a bomb under their trenches. This resulted in a Confederate win despite the bomb immediately killing 278 Confederate soldiers. -
Battle of Cedar Creek
The Confederates launched a surprise attack on the encamped Union army. This ends in a Union victory, even though the Union lost twice the amount of soldiers. -
Battle of Mine Creek
This was the second largest cavalry engagement of the Civil War. Two divisions of Major General Sterling Price's Army of Missouri were routed by two Federal brigades. -
U.S Presidential Election 1864
Lincoln is reelected and wins 212 electoral votes. McClellan lost and got 21 electoral votes. -
Tennessee Approves Constitution that Abolishes Slavery
Tennessee's legislature approved an amendment to the state's constitution prohibiting slavery. Voters in state approved the amendment in March. -
Battle of Five Forks
Robert E. Lee begins his final offensive at the Battle of Five Forks. Robert E. Lee was already very concerned about his weakening army at this point in the Civil War. -
Evacuation Sunday
Confederate President Jefferson Davis and the majority of his cabinet flee Richmond, Virginia. The next day the Confederate capital was taken by the Union. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
Robert E. Lee knew that the Confederates did not have any more resources and very few men, so he declared, " “there is nothing left me to do but to go and see Gen. Grant, and I would rather die a thousand deaths.” He surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House ending the Civil War. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
While attending an evening performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C, Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth. On the same night Lewis Powell, who was a conspirtator with John Wilkes Booth, attempted to assisinate U.S Secretary of State, William H. Seward -
Inauguration of Andrew Johnson
Lincoln died on the morning of April 15, 1865. Andrew Johnson, the vice president, was sworn in that day as the 17th President of the United States. -
The U.S Secret Service is Founded
The Secret Service was originally created to investigate crimes having to do with counterfeit currency. They did not provide presidential protection until 1901 after the assassination of President William McKinley. -
Major Henry Wirz is Executed
Major Henry Wirz, the superintendent of the prison camp in Andersonville, Georgia. He was the only American Civil War soldier executed for war crimes -
The 13th Amendment is Ratified
The Thirteenth Amendment abolishes slavery forever in the United States. It is ratified by three-quarters of the states. -
The Ku Klux Klan is Created
The Ku Klux Klan was created by six Confederate army veterans in Pulaski, Tennessee. Their goal is to resist Reconstruction and to repress freed slaves. -
Fisk University is Established
Fisk University is a historically black university established in Nashville, Tennessee. It had the support of the American Missionary Association and the AMA used its sources across the country to aid education for freedmen. -
First Daylight Bank Robbery
The first daylight bank robbery in the history of United States history. It is considered the first robbery committed by Jesse James and his gang. He was a Confederate soldier. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
The United States Congress passes the Civil Rights Act of 1866. This is the first federal legislation to protect the rights of African Americans. -
Andrew Johnson Vetoes Civil Rights Act of 1866
President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Congress overrides his veto on April 9. Andrew Johnson tried to veto the act again, but a two-thirds majority in each chamber overcame the veto and the bill became law. -
Congress Approves Minting of the Nickel
Congress approves the minting of the nickel. This in turn eliminates the half dime. -
Red Cloud's War
This was an armed conflict between the Lakota, Northern Cheyenne, and Northern Arapaho in Wyoming and Montana. The war was fought over control of the western Powder River Country in present day north-central Wyoming. -
The Judicial Circuits Act
This act reduces the number of United States circuit courts to nine. It also decreases the number of Supreme Court justices to seven. -
Tennessee is Readmitted
Tennessee becomes the first state to be readmitted to the Union after the Civil War. North Carolina was the second state readmitted. -
The National Union Convention
The National Union Convention was held in Philadelphia. The goal of it was to reconcile the Radical Republicans in Congress with the Reconstructionist policies of Andrew Johnson. -
Andrew Johnson's Swing Around the Circle Speaking Tour Begins
President Andrew Johnson goes on his Swing Around the Circle speaking tour. He did this to gain support for his Reconstructionist policies. -
The John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge Opens
The John A. Roebling suspension bridge opens. It stretches from Cincinnati, Ohio to Covington, Kentucky making it the longest suspension bridge in the world -
African American Men are Given the Right to Vote
African American men are granted the right to vote in the District of Columbia. -
African American Men Gain the Right to Vote in D.C.
Legislation gives suffrage to African Americans in the District of Columbia. This happens despite a veto from President Andrew Johnson. -
Nebraska is Admitted into the Union
Nebraska is admitted as the 37th U.S state. It is the only state to be admitted into the Union by means of a veto. -
Peonage Act of 1867
This was an act passed by Congress that abolished peonage in the New Mexico territory. It defined peonage as the "voluntary or involuntary service or labor of any persons . . . in liquidation of any debt or obligation." -
Alaska is Purchased
Alaska is purchased for $7.2 million from Alexander II of Russia. It was bought by United States Secretary of State William H. Seward for about 2 cents per acre. -
Kidder Massacre
This was a conflict involving a detachment of ten enlisted men and an Indian scout who were under the command of Second Lieutenant Lyman Kidder. A Sioux and Cheyenne war party killed Kidder, and Indian scout, and ten enlisted men from Kansas. -
First Elevated Railroad
The first elevated railroad in the United States began service in New York. Elevated railroads are faster and were mostly used in urban areas. -
The Harvard School of Dental Medicine is Established
The Harvard School of Dental Medicine is established in Boston, Massachusetts. It is the first dental school in the United States. -
Medicine Lodge Treaty
This was a landmark treaty signed by southern Great Plains Indian leaders. It required Native American Plains tribes to relocate to a reservation in western Oklahoma.
