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Confederate States Form
The secession of South Carolina was followed by Georgia and other Southern states. Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas all followed. The threat for North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, and Arkansas followed. These states all became the states to be the Confederacy, eventually fighting the Union in the Civil War. -
Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln ran against Stephan Douglas. Douglas (Democrat) won more than 60% of the popular vote, but Lincoln (Republican) won the electoral college vote easily. John Breckenridge (Southern Democrat) and John Bell (Constitutional Union) also lost to Lincoln in the Electoral College. Lincoln got his 40% by carrying the Mason-Dixon line and the north of the Ohio River, plus the states of California and Oregon to the far west. -
Jefferson Davis inaugurated as President of Confederate States of America
Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the first and only president of the Confederacy on February 18, 1861. This was after South Carolina and Georgia, and right after the other states joined them. The ceremony was in Montgomery, South Carolina, the first Confederate capitol. -
Fort Sumter
The confederacy open fired on the US garrison on April 12, 1861. This was that start of the Civil War, changing freedom forever. Fort Sumter was initially built to protect the Charleston Harbor, until more than 100 troops stormed it, being commanded by Major Anderson. Only one Union soldier died during this first battle, but one of the ironclads sank the next day during sea force affiliation. Five Confederate soldiers died, making the start of the death toll unfair. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The first big battle of the Civil War was the First Battle of Bull Run. With Confederate victory, the death toll being around 22,000. The Union lost 13,824 mean, with the Confederates losing 8,353 men. This was the battle people realized would make the war longer, and bloodier, then anyone had thought. Longstreet had his men charge, which accounted the massive death toll. -
Battle of Shiloh
Also know as the battle of the Pittsburg Landing, lasted two days, and ended with the most casualties yet. With an impressive 110,053 troops, and 23,746 deaths. Union leader Ulysses S. Grant won the victory against Albert Sydney Johnson. This battle ended the Confederates hope to stop the Union from gaining Mississippi River way, and with the loss of their commander, the Confederate army plummeted. -
Battle of Antietam
Known as one of the deadliest one-day battles, the Union proved themselves to the Confederacy on September 17, 1862, in Washington County, MD. General Robert E. Lee had all his troops on the field, while George B. McClellan sent out only 1/3 of his. While the Union had more casualties, 12,401, they still ended with their first Civil War win. 132,000 men were engaged in battle, -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. The nation had finally approached the third year of the Civil War. The proclamation made all slaves free in the rebelling states, which means only slaves in the South were free. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 15, 1865. Booth did this in revenge against him, in revenge for the confederate states. Others were injured besides Lincoln, such as Burroughs, Rathbone, and Steward. Lincoln died in the Peterson House, in Washington, DC. -
Battle of Vicksburg
Another pivotal engagement in the Civil War, with Vicksburg's location being a critical win to both sides of the war. 110,000 troops and 80% of the casualties being Confederate, the Union had a major win. With the Mississippi being a supply chain for the South, losing the land was out of the question. Even with this motivation, they still lost to the Union. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a big turning point of the Civil War. 165,620 fighting forces, George G. Meade lead the Union to yet another win. 51,112 casualties, and 28,063 being Confederate, Lees goal of negotiated peace wouldn't be accomplished. The defensive, cold, bloody war still continues. -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address stands as one of the most iconic speeches in American history, delivered by President Abraham Lincoln on November 19, 1863, at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Principles of equality, liberty, and democracy upon which the nation was founded were the main subjects, evoking the country to speak back. Called upon the American people to ensure that government of the people, by the people. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Shermans march to sea was a political campaign of the Civil War, with troops of the North marching through Georgia. The Union troops would destroy everything in their paths while on the way the their next battle. They would burn homes and buildings and crops and so much more, in order to leave the South in more of a crisis then they already were. Lincoln and Grant both approved of these actions, even though if forced breaking of Confederate spirit. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment provides that slavery has been abolished, for all men are created equal. "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." -
Appomattox Court House
Trapped by the Federals near Appomattox Court House, Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered his army to Union general Ulysses S. Grant, precipitating the capitulation of other Confederate forces and leading to the end of the bloodiest conflict in American history.