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Civil War Timeline
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Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis favors secession publicly. He later becomes the first and only ever Confederate President. -
Pony Express Begins
The Pony Express was a new way of delivering letters. It went from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California. -
Joseph E. Johnston appointed Quartermaster General
Joseph E. Johnston was famous for serving as a US Army officer in the Mexican-American War. -
Lieutenant Colonel William Hardee
Major John F. Reynolds becomes commander of cadets at West Point replacing Lieutenant Colonel William Hardee. -
Abraham Lincoln wins the Presidential election
Abe Lincoln wins 39.7% of the vote for the Presidential election. He won for the Republican party. -
SC calls for a convention
South Carolina calls for a convention to determine if the state should secede from the Union or not. They planned the convention for December 17th. -
President James Buchanan sends a distressed State of the Union message to Congress
President James Buchanan delivers a State of the Union message to Congress. In the message, he states that secession is unconstitutional. -
Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise was a proposal introduced by US Senator John J. Crittenden that was unsuccessful. -
The Ordinance of Secession
The Ordinance of Secession are documents that have been ratified by each of the thirteen southern states. It stated that they were formally seceding from the Union. -
South Carolina secedes from the Union
South Carolina seceded from the Union. They became the first slave state in the south to do so. -
Mississippi Secedes from the Union
Mississipi declares secession on January 9th, 1861. They become the 2nd state to secede from the Union. -
Florida Secedes from the Union
Florida declares secession on January 10th, 1861. They become the 3rd state to secede from the Union. -
Alabama Secedes from the Union
Alabama declares secession on January 11th, 1861. They become the 4th state to secede from the Union. -
Georgia Secedes from the Union
Georgia declares secession on January 19th, 1861. They become the 5th state to secede from the Union. -
Louisiana Secedes from the Union
Louisiana declares secession on January 26th, 1861. They become the 6th state to secede from the Union. -
Texas Secedes from the Union
Texas declares secession on February 1st, 1861. They become the 7th state to secede from the Union. -
Convention of Seceding States
The southern states that are planning to secede hold a convention. They adopt a private constitution. -
Abe Lincoln Becomes President
Abe becomes 26th president of the US. He wins with 180 electoral votes. -
Battle of Philippi
This battle was fought in Philippi, Virginia. First land engagement between the Union and the Confederacy. -
First Battle of Bull Run
This battle was the first major battle of the Civil War. It was fought in Prince William County, Virginia. -
Battle of Ft. Donelson
This battle took place in Dover, Tennessee. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Pea Ridge
This battle took place in Leetown, Arkansas. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Hampton Roads
This battle took place in Swell's Point, Virginia. It was an inconclusive battle. -
Battle of Shiloh
This battle took place in Hardin County, Tennessee. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Seven Pines
This battle took place in Henrico County, Virginia. It was an inconclusive battle. -
Battle of the Gaines's Mill
This battle took place in Hanover County, Virginia. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Battle of Malvern Hill
This battle took place in Henrico County, Virginia. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
This battle took place in Prince William County, Virginia. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Battle of Harpers Ferry
This battle took place in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Battle of Antietam
This battle took place in Sharpsburg, Maryland. It resulted in a Union victory. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was created by Abraham Lincoln. He declared that slaves were to all be freed. -
Battle of Stones River
This battle took place in Murfreesboro, Tenessee. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle took place in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
President Lincoln relieves General Ambrose Burnside
General Ambrose Burnside is relieved from command of the Potomac Army. General Joseph Hooker replaces him. -
Siege of Vicksburg
This battle took place in Warren County, Mississippi. It resulted in a Union victory. -
West Virginia becomes the 35th state of the US
West Virginia enters the United States and becomes the 35th state. They became the first state to enter the US when the terms of "slave state" and "free state" didn't matter anymore. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg took place in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and was fought for 3 days. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Chickamauga
This battle took place in Walker County, Georgia. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
The Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was a speech delivered by President Lincoln. It later has become one of the most famous speeches in US history. -
Battle of Missionary Ridge
This battle took place in Chattanooga, Tennessee. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Red River Campaign
This series of battles took place in Louisiana. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Atlanta Campaign
This series of battles took place in Atlanta, Georgia. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
This series of battles took place in Spotsylvania County, Virginia. The result of this battle was inconclusive. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
This battle took place in Mechanicsville, Virginia. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Battle of Sabine Crossroads
This battle took place in DeSoto Parish, Louisiana. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Siege of Petersburg
This battle took place in Petersburg, Virginia. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle Of The Crater
This battle took place in Petersburg, Virginia. It resulted in a Confederate victory. -
Battle of Chaffin's Farm
This battle took place in Henrico County, Virginia. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Cedar Creek
This battle took place in Virginia. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Franklin
This battle took place in Franklin, Tennesee. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Carolinas' campaign
This series of battles took place in the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Battle of Rich Mountain
This battle took place in Randolph County, West Virginia. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Fort Fisher Falls
In Fort Fisher, North Carolina the Confederate fort was taken over by the Union forces. The Union army captures the fort and closes the trading port. -
13th amendment passed by Congress
Congress passes the 13th amendment. This amendment abolishes slavery. -
Sherman's March through South Carolina
General Sherman's army begins to march through South Carolina. -
Lee is named general-in-chief of Confederate forces
Robert E. Lee is named general-in-chief of Confederate forces. He is well known as the Confederate commander. -
Lincoln inaugurated for his 2nd term as US president
President Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated for his 2nd presidential term. He has previously served from 1861-1865. -
Battle of Five Forks
This battle took place in Five Forks, Dinwiddie County, Virginia. It resulted in a Union victory. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
General Robert E. Lee surrenders to the Union army at Appomattox, Virginia to General Ulysses S. Grant. This marks the ending of the Civil War. -
President Lincoln Shot
President Abraham Lincoln is in Ford's Theater in Washington D.C and is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. Booth was an actor and Confederate supporter. -
President Lincoln's birthday
A memorial address is given in honor of President Lincoln in Washington D.C. It is attended by President Andrew Johnson -
New Freedmen's Bureau
Congress passes the New Freedmen's Bureau bill. President Andrew Johnson attempts to veto it but Congress overrides the veto. -
Texas repeal secession
The Secessionist Convention took place in early 1861 for southern states to discuss seceding from the Union. Texas formally seceded from the Union but has decided to repeal that action -
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866
The Civil Rights Act of 1866 is vetoed by President Andrew Johnson. He believed that it was unconstitutional -
US declares peace with the South
The Union declares peace with the Southern states. These states include Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. -
Connecticut approves the 14th Amendment
Connecticut approves the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
New Hampshire ratifies the 14th Amendment
New Hampshire ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
New Jersey ratifies the 14th Amendment
New Jersey ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Oregon ratifies the 14th Amendment
Oregon ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Texas rejects the 14th Amendment
Texas rejects the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Ohio ratifies the 14th Amendment
Ohio ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Kentucky rejects the 14th Amendment
Kentucky rejects the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Virginia rejects the 14th Amendment
Virginia rejects the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
New York ratifies the 14th Amendment
New York ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Kansas ratifies the 14th Amendment
Kansas ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Pennsylvania ratifies the 14th Amendment
Pennsylvania ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Illinois ratifies the 14th Amendment
Illinois ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
West Virginia, Michigan, and Minnesota ratify the 14th Amendment.
West Virginia, Michigan, and Minnesota ratify the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Maine ratifies the 14th Amendment
Maine ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves. -
Nevada ratifies the 14th Amendment
Nevada ratifies the 14th Amendment. This amendment grants rights to all people living in the US including slaves.