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Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing the slaves in all Confederate territories. This deliberately does not apply to the border states, in fear of causing them to turn to the Confederacy. Despite the Emancipation being virtually ineffective, all hope for the British and French helping the Confederacy vanishes. -
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Civil War 1863-1864
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Repeal of General Order #11
General Grant is ordered to repeal his General Order #11, which banished all Jew from his area of operations. -
Hooker replaces Burnside
General Hooker replaces General Burnside as head of the Army of the Potomac. -
First Draft of the War
Lincoln writes the first draft of the war, requiring all men from the age of 20 to 45 to serve in the war. This could be avoided by hiring a substitute or paying the government $300. -
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Battle of Chancellorsville
Lee's army crushes Hooker's army, although General Stonewall Jackson is wounded and dies several days later. This is Lee's greatest victory. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Described as Lee's finest battle, Lee overwhelmed Hooker after dividing his army into three pieces and crushing the Union army, forcing them to retreat across the Rappahannock River, although the Confederacy lost Stonewall Jackson. -
Siege of Vicksburg
After a head-on assault on Vicksburg fails, Grant begins a siege of the city, trapping several thousand Confederates within the city walls in the hope of starving them out. -
Fishermen's boats Seized
Charles Read and his ship, the Tacony, captured 5 federal fishing ships off the New England coast. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
Often described as the turning point of the war, the battle was a Union victory, led by General Meade. -
Vicksburg Falls
After 2 months of siege, the city of Vicksburg, key to the control of the Mississippi River, is captured. -
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Anti-Draft Riots in New York
In opposition to the draft law for the war, riots broke out in New York City, lasting for 4 days and killing 119 people. It was the bloodiest riot in American history. Soldiers from the army of the Potomac had to come in to stop the rioting. -
Battle of Fort Wagner
July 18th was the Battle of Fort Wagner, where a failed union attack happened. The importance of this battle is to show the effectiveness and the view of blacks in battle. -
Thanksgiving
Lincoln declares the last Thursday of November Thanksgiving Day. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg address. -
"Angel of Peace"
A political cartoon called "Angel of Peace" was featured in Harper's Weekly. It showed Fernando Wood as an angel, a symbol for the Peace Democrats. But the cartoon at the same time showed traits of a devil as a symbol for Fernando. -
Arkansas Creates Antislavery Constitution
Arkansas, which was a slaveholding state that stayed in the Union, created a new antislavery constitution -
Battle of Fort Pillow
The battle finished when captured African-American troops were massacred under the command of General Nathan Bedford Forrest. -
Grant Advances on Richmond
Grant, with a force of 120,000 troops, heads towards Richmond, preparing for battle with Lee, with a force of 60,000. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
This battle was a one of the Civil War's most unbalanced wars. The Union forces continually charged at the Confederate lines, and were shot down continuously.General Lee admired their courage, while General Grant's critics called him a "butcher". -
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Battle of Cold Harbor
On June 1st to 3rd, the Union forces and Confederate fought the battle of Cold Harbor. It was known as America's bloodiest battle and fought by General Lee and Grant. Both sides suffered great losses as reinforcements arrived later on. The South made more barricades that stopped the North from being successful in assualting. This ended with no changes but heavy losses on both sides -
National Union Convention Held
A gathering of the War Democrats. Lincoln garnered almost unanimous support, although the vice president did not share in Lincoln's feelings, and wanted out of the ticket. -
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Battle of Petersburg
This was the last time General Grant and General Lee would cross swords during the Civil War. In June 18th, Lee sent his force of 20,000 into entrenchments while Grant's force of 100,000 began a long siege of Petersburg. -
Salmon Chase resigns
Salmon Chase resigns as Secretary of the Treasury.