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Lincoln- Douglas debates
Lincoln-Douglas debates were printed as a book and used as an important campaign document in the presidential contest that year, -
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U.S Civil War
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Leading Candidate
Abraham Lincoln gave a speech at Cooper Union in New York City. Lincoln delivered a forceful and well-reasoned argument against the spread of slavery, and became an overnight star and a leading candidate for the upcoming presidential election. -
The Walk Out of the Democratic Convention
The Democratic Party met in Charleston SC to nominate its candidate, with Senator Stephen Douglas as the front runner. After the convention refused to adopt a pro-slavery extension platform, southern states, lead by “fire eaters” like William Yancey of Alabama walked out and convened their own convention. -
Republican Meeting in Chicago
Republicans were convening in Chicago to select their presidential candidate. Nation's attention was focused on them -
Republican Party Select their Presidential Candidate
Republican Party nominates Abraham Lincoln for the presidency of 1860. Believed he was the most articulate moderate based of his speeches and debates. -
Southerners Wait it Out
Southern delegates hold a National Democratic convention in Richmond. Party leaders urge a "wait and see" approach. -
The Convention in Baltimore
On the fifth day, after a credentials dispute concerning new southern delegations, southern delegates walked out again. The convention nominated Douglas, with 2/3 of the votes cast. Southern delegations convened at another location in Baltimore and nominated as president Vice President John Breckenridge -
Election of 1860
Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln won the 1860 election. He won with 1,865,593 popular votes and 180 electoral votes. Lincoln opposed slavery and did not support popular sovereignty. -
Beginning of Southern Succession
South Carolina was the first state to leave the union. South Carolina seceded, because the southerners felt that since Lincoln won the presidential election of 1860, that they had lost their political power in the United States. -
The Seceding South Carolina Delegation
Two days later after South Carolina had seceded from the Union, the action was published on Harper's Weekly newspaper. On the front cover it featured South Carolina's congressman. -
Mississippi Secedes from Union
People of Mississippi ordained and declared that they are no longer part of the Union. Ordinance was written by Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar (II), who resigned from the U.S. Congress in January 1861 -
Florida Secedes Union
Florida secedes from the Union. They replace the term "United States" with "Confederate States" in their constitution. -
Alabama Secedes from Union
The Alabama Secession Convention passes an Ordinance of Secession, declaring Alabama a "Sovereign and Independent State." By a vote of 61-39, Alabama becomes the fourth state to secede from the Union. -
Georgia Secedes from Union
Georgia secedes the union. Felt that Abraham Lincoln was a huge threat to the institution of slavery. -
Louisiana Secedes from the Union
By a vote of 112 to 17, the Louisiana Secessionist Convention votes to secede from the Union. -
Secession of Texas
Texas became the seventh state to secede from the Union. A state convention in Austin voted 166-8 in favor of secession. -
Confederacy Formed
representatives of those states that have already seceded such as South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana announced the formation of the Confederate States of America -
Secession of Virginia
Virginia secedes from union. Western Virginians wanted to remain in the union, but the state of Virginia had left the union. -
Fort Sumter begins the Civil War
Near Charleston, South Carolina, Fort Sumter was seized by the Confederate army. Union surrendered. This marked the beginning of the Civil War. -
Secession of Arkansas
Arkansas secedes from union. Arkansas is now the 9th state to leave the Union and join the Confederacy. -
Secession of North Carolina
North Carolina leaves the union. Is the second to last state to enter the Confederacy. -
Tennessee Secession
Tennessee is the last of the states to leave the Union and last state to enter the Confederacy. -
Battle of Bull Run
First official battle of Civil War. Confederacy victory led by Confederate General Thomas Jackson. At Bull Run General Jackson earned the nickname "stonewall" because how he stood firm as rock when battling. -
Battle of Fort Henry
First important victory for the Union under the leadership of General Ulysses S. Grant. Fought in the western Middle Tennessee. -
Battle of Fort Donelson
Union victory led by General Ulysses S. Grant. Battle occurred in Tennessee. Grant known for demanding an unconditional surrender here. -
Shiloh
Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Albert Johnston collide at Shiloh. Shiloh is near Pittsburgh Landing in Tennessee. The Battle of Shiloh became one of the bloodiest engagements of the war -
Attack on New Orleans
Naval General Farragut demands the surrender of New Orleans (the largest city) which was the most important port. This was a very important victory for the Union. -
Battle of Seven Pines
Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston nearly defeats Union General McClellan and his troops in front of Richmond. Fails to defeat them because Johnston was badly wounded. -
Replacement of Confederate General
Army of Northern Virginia Commander Joseph E Johnston is wounded badly. So President of the Confederacy Jefferson Davis replaces Commander Joseph E Johnston with Robert E Lee. -
Last Chance to Split Army of Potomac
Robert E. Lee's last chance to cut the Army of the Potomac in two. Union General George McClellan withdraws to Malvern Hill. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
Also referred as the Second battle at Manassas. Confederacy victory under the leadership of General Robert E Lee. -
Antietam
Bloodiest single day battle in U.S military history. Union victory lead under the leadership of General McClellan, federates retreated. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation which freed slaves in the southern states. -
Conscription Act
U.S Congress passes a conscription act that called for registration of all males between the ages of 20 and 45, including aliens with the intention of becoming citizens, by April 1. Exemptions from the draft could be bought for $300 or by finding a substitute draftee. -
Chancellorsville
Under the leadership of Gen. Hooker the Union is defeated at Chancellorsville by Confederates who were under the leadership of Robert E Lee. Union had more troops yet still lost to the smaller force. Union losses are 17,000 killed, wounded and missing out of 130,000. Confederate General Stonewall Jackson was wounded by his own men here. -
Stonewall Jackson Dies
Stonewall Jackson dies from battle wounds. His last words are "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." The South suffers from this loss. -
West Virginia becomes a State
West Virginia becomes the 35th state to enter the United States, but the first to enter where the terms slave and free no longer mattered. -
George G. Meade
George G. Meade was appointed by Abraham Lincoln as the commander of the Army of Potomac, thus replacing Hooker. Meade is now fifth man to command the army in less than a year. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Confederate General Robert E Lee advances into Pennsylvania where he runs into Union General George Meade. First battle north of the city. -
Vicksburg
Vicksburg was the last Confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River but are forced to surrender to General Grant and his troops after a six week siege. Now the Union is in control of the Mississippi River, so the Confederacy is effectively split into two. -
New York City Anti-Draft Riots
In New York, there was anti-draft riots including arson and the murder of blacks by white poor immigrants. The riot caused two million dollars worth of damage and at least 120 deaths. -
President Meets with Douglas
President Abraham Lincoln meets and discusses with abolitionist Fredrick Douglas on the issue of equality for Union 'Negro troops'. -
Lawrence Massacre
At Lawrence, Kansas Confederate William Quantrill and pro slavery followers raid the town They butcher 182 boys and men. -
Battle of Fort Pillow
The Battle of Fort Pillow resulted in a Confederate victory. It is also known as the Fort Pillow massacre, it was fought at Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River in Henning, Tennessee. -
To Richmond Capital
With Gen. Grant in charge of all the Union army, they began advancing to the Confederate capital Richmond to engage with Lee's army of Northern Virginia. -
Battle of the Wilderness
Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's first battle of 1864 Virginia Overland Campaign against Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War. The results of the battle were inconclusive but the Union offensive continued. -
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Grant's army disengaged from Confederate General Robert E. Lee's army and moved to the southeast, attempting to lure Lee into battle under more favorable conditions. Grant tried various schemes to break the Confederate line. In the end, the battle was tactically inconclusive, but with almost 32,000 casualties on both sides. -
Cold Harbor
Union suffered great loss, losing 7,000 men in twenty minutes. Grant made a costly mistake. Many Union troops predicted they would die here. -
Beginning of a 9 month siege
Battle of Petersburg begins. 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. -
Atlanta Captured
Atlanta is captured by Sherman's Army (Union). "Atlanta is ours, and fairly won," Sherman telegraphs Lincoln. The victory greatly helps President Lincoln's bid for re-election. -
Election of 1864
President Abraham Lincoln is reelected for presidency and defeats democrat candidate McClellan. Lincoln carries all but three states with 55 percent of the popular vote and 212 of 233 electoral votes. -
Sherman reaches Savannah
Sherman reached Savannah, Georgia leaving behind a 300 mile long path of destruction 60 miles wide all the way from Atlanta .He offers Savannah to Abraham Lincoln as a Christmas present over telegraph. -
Battle of Nashville
Battle at Nashville, Tennessee between the Confederate Army of Tennessee under Lieutenant General John Bell Hood and Federal forces under Major General George H. Thomas. One of the largest victories achieved by the Union during the war and was the last major battle in the Western Theater. -
Slavery is Abolished
United States Congress passes the 13th amendment which abolishes all slavery and declares that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the U.S. -
The War Continues
A peace conference occurs as President Lincoln meets with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens at Hampton Roads in Virginia, but the meeting ends in failure. So the war will continue. -
Charleston under Union Control
The Mayor of Charleston, South Carolina surrendered the city to the Union. Union came in and took control of key sites. Confederate forces evacuated. -
Joe Johnston is now Commander
The only effective fighting force that remains of the Confederate States of American is in North Carolina. General Robert E. Lee appoints Joe Johnston as commander of it. -
Battle of Fort Stedman
Fought during the final says of the Civil War, it was the last offensive for Lee's army of Northern Virginia. Four hours after attacking Grants force at Petersburg in the attack is broken. -
Robert E Lee Surrenders
Confederate Robert E. Lee surrenders his 28,000 troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Virginia. Which effectively ended the Civil War because he was forced to abandon the Confederate capital. -
Assasinnation of Abraham Lincoln
President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Fords theater. He was watching a play with his wife and was shot during the third act. He never regains consciousness. -
Andrew Johnson becomes President
From being shot Abraham Lincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes presidency. -
The Surrender of Joe Johnston
Forced by the General William Tecumseh Sherman, Confederate General Joe Johnston was forced to follow suit and surrendered his command in Greensboro, North Carolina. -
The Surrender of the Confederacy
The remaining Confederate forces surrender. The Nation is reunited as the Civil War ends. The war caused over 620,000 Americans to die, with disease killing twice as many as those lost in battle. 50,000 survivors return home as amputees. -
Veto of the Freedmen's Bureau Bill
President Johnston veto's the Freedmen Bureau Bill, because he claimed it would not be consistent with the public welfare. The purpose of the Freedmen Bureau Bill was to provide legislative authorization to the Bureau of Refugees. -
Civil Rights Act Passed
The Congress of the United States overwhelmingly passes the Civil Rights Act of 1866. It would help protect the rights of African Americans, thus making it be the first federal legislation for that purpose. -
President Johnston Says No
United States president Johnston veto's the Civil Rights bill, thus returning it back to Congress. The reason of vetoing it was because of his concerns that were revolved around federal decisions being made. -
Congress Overrides The Veto
Congress overrides President Johnston's veto and passs the Civil Rights Act of 1866. The Act declares that all people that were born in the United States were now citizens, without regard to color, race or previous condition. -
New York Cholera Epidermic
In New York a cholera outbreak began once an infected passenger arrived. Cholera is usually spread in water. It is a bacterial disease causing severe diarrhea and dehydration. -
General of the Army
United States Congress established the status of "General of the Army of the United States", for general Ulysses S. Grant. The 1866 rank of General of the Army was a four-star rank. -
Investigation of the Ku Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan was formed by former confederate soldiers in Pulaski, Tennessee. It became an anti-black and anti-Republican force in the south. The U.S secret services started an investigation on the group this day. -
New Orleans Massacre
Numerous racial conflicts occurred during the Reconstruction. A delegation of black New Orleans residents marched towards the Mechanics Institute of Louisiana to convene about black suffrage, they were shot and beaten by ex confederates and white supremacists. -
Rejection of the 14th Amendment
South Carolina rejects the 14th amendment on the day that happened to be the 6th anniversary of secession. -
Ship-Yard Fire
In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania there was a fire in a ship yard. The ship yard contained ships that were used during the Civil War. The fire destroyed numerous of those ships. -
African Americans Given Suffrage in Washington, D.C
Despite President Johnston's veto, Congress granted all voting rights to all adult male citizens in the district of Columbia. It extended the ballot to African American men. -
Nebraska Admitted to the Union
Nebraska is admitted as the 37th state of the United States. The territory had a sufficient enough population to become a state. -
Reconstruction Acts of 1867
Many Reconstruction Acts were passed by the Congress. It passed an act that gave African American men in the south the right to vote, it overrode a veto from the president that divided the south into military districts and it lastly passed the Tenure of Office Act. The Reconstruction Acts of 1867 laid out the process for readmitting southern states into the Union. -
The Tenure of Office Act
The Tenure of Office Act was enacted. It is a law that restricts the president (Johnston) from removing certain office holders without the approval of the Senate. -
Votes are Rejected in Virginia
In Alexandria, Virginia thousands of votes cast by blacks were rejected event though they were granted suffrage under the Reconstruction Act. -
2nd Reconstruction Acts
Congress overrides the veto of President Johnston for the 2nd Reconstruction Act. The 2nd Reconstruction Act supplements the 1st Act, because the 1st Act left southern states in confusion to whose role it was to reinforce the legalization. -
The Approval of the Lincoln Memorial
Congress approves the Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial honors the death of former President Abraham Lincoln. -
Welcome Alaska
The United States bought Alaska from Russia. The United States bought Alaska for $7,200,000. At first many people thought of this as a huge waste of money. -
Refusal of Admission for 3 States
Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina were admitted into the Union by a bill passed by Congress. Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, having refused to ratify the fourteenth amendment, so were refused admission into the Union. -
3rd Reconstruction Act
United States Congress overrides the veto from President Johnston and passes the third Reconstruction Act. The act gives supreme power to 5 Union generals who are watching over the Reconstruction in the five districts of the South.
