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Election of 1860
Republican candidate from Illonois Abrahm Lincoln is voted president. 40% of the popular vote went to Lincoln. He received 59% of th electoral votes. John C. Breckinridge was the candidate for Southern Democracts, and won 18% of the popular vote. Southern radicals threaten to secede if he is elected, and this event causes the official formation. The division was so clear that some places in the deep south, Linconln was not even on the ballot. -
South Carolina arrests Federal Officer
Charleston officers arrest a federal officer who tried to seize supplies from Fort Moultrie from Charleston Arsenal. Two days later, the Palmetto Flag of South Carolina is raised over the Charleston harbor batteries. -
Resignation of the Senators
South Caorlina announces a convention about the possibilty of seccesion. U.S. South Carolina senators James Chesnut, Jr. and James Henry Hammond resign from their position in the U.S. Senate. -
Opposition to Secession
During a meeting of Georiga's state legislature, Congressman Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia speaks in opposition of secession. He later became the Vice President of the Confederate States of America. -
Tunis Craven opposes seizure
Tunis Craven who was a United States Navy Lieutenant tells the authorities in Washington, D.C. that he will proceed to protect Fort Taylor, located in Key West, and Fort Jefferson which was located on the Dry Tortugas, Florida. Tunis Craven's proceedings were reasoned with his accurate suspicions of the Southern States attempts to seize federal property and military supplies. -
Robert Anderson leads
Major Robert Anderson was a 55 year old career army officer of Kentucky of the First United States Artillery when he was ordered to command Fort Moultrie and the defenses of the Charleston Harbor, which included the isolated Fort Sumter -
Lincoln's concilatory treatment
Lincoln formally states that his future administration will allow states to conduct their own internal affairs. This statement encouraged the Border States to continue to be part of the Union. -
Requests Reinforcements
First United States Artillery Major Robert Anderson requests reinforments from the federal government for the small force located in Charleston. -
President Buchanan's stance
Current President Buchanan condemns the Northern interference of slave policies of Southern states. However in contrast, Buchanan also declares that the South does not have a right to secede from the Union. -
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Buchanan cabinet members from the South resign
Starting on December 8, the first cabinent member from the South resigns, Secretary of the Treasury Howell Cobb of Georgia resigns.This starts a wave of resignations on behalf of the Southerners in the administration. On December 23, President Buchanan requests the resignation of Secretary of War John B. Floyd, with resignation on December 29. Secretary of the Interior Jacob Thompson of Mississippi resigns on January 8, 1861. The loss of these valuable cabinet members contributes to --> -
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Crittenden Compromise
Senator John J. Crittenden of Kentucky creates the Crittenden Compromise, which was designed to appease the South, by creating a constitutional amendment allowing the Missouri Compromise line between free and slave territory and the continued use of the fugitive slave law and slavery where it existed, including Washington, D.C. District of Columbia. -
Ordinance of Seccession
South Carolina convention passes the ordinance of secession
against the Union, called the "Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union." -
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Breckinridge's failed compromise
Vice President John C. Breckenridge of Kentucky, who was the failed candidate of the Southern Democrats for Presidency appoints a Committee of Thirteen U.S. Senators with different opinons regarding seccesion, including Jefferson Davis, Robert Toombs, William Seward and Stephen A. Douglas, in order to propose solutions to the crisis. On December 31, the Committee ends session as they are unable to agree on a compromise proposal -
Declaration of Seccession
Former South Carolina Governor Francis Wilkinson Pickens declares that the act of seccession is in effect. -
Movement of Troops
Mayor General Robert Anderson moves his troops in Fort Moultrie, located in Charleston Ft. Sumter, South Carolina. -
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Movement of troops to Fort Sumter
Major Anderson strategically decides to move his troops from the Federal garrison in Charleston to the uncompleted Fort Sumter, during the night. Secessionists are angered by this aggressive action, as they believed Buchanan would not disrupt their actions. South Carolina troops occupy the abandoned fort and seize the Charleston Arsenal -
End of Transfer of Weapons
The United States War Department ends the transfer of weapons from Pittsburgh, due to the threat of Southerner's seizing weapons. -
(continued) Buchanan cabinet members from the South resign
the breakdown of Buchanan's administration. Without the leadership of these cabinet members, Buchanan's presidency falls apart in the final days of office. -
Mississippi
After the resignation of Missippi's U.S. Senators, Mississippi formally secedes from the Union. -
Star of the West
The Star of the West, an unarmed merchant ship, attempts to give supplies and 250 reinforcements to the troops stationed at Fort Sumter. However the South Carolina troops located in Charleston fire, and after two attempts, the ship retreats to New York. -
Alabama's seccession
Alabama formally secedes from the Union -
Ocuuption of Fort Taylor
Federal troops successfully occupy Fort Taylor in Key West, Florida. This gain becomes extremely important Union base for supplies, like coal which is used on the Naval vessels -
Failure of Crittenden Compromise
Unfortunately, the Crittenden Compromise failed to pass in the United States Senate. This event displays that the time period for appeasement had ended, and the attitude that war was becoming inevitable took place. -
Georgia's seccession
Georgia secedes from the Union -
Choctaw Tribe alligns with Confederacy
The Native American tribe, the Choctaw nations align with the Southern states. They are the first native nation, but others support the Confederacy cause later in the Civil War. -
Secessionist meeting in Montgomery
Secessionists meet in Montgomery, Alabama, where they convene as the Provisional Congress of the Confederate States of America. At the convention, they draft the Provisional Constitution of the Confederate States of America. -
Texas Troops Surrender
U.S. military posts in Texas are surrendered to the state under the command of U.S. Brigadier General and Brevet Major General David E. Twiggs. This action surrenders a quarter of the United States Army stationed in Texas. -
President Jefferson Davis of the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis is inaugurated at the President of the Confederacy -
Confederacy controls military
The Confederate States take over the military at Charleston, South Carolina. This step further preciptates conflict with Northerners, and Lincoln recognizes how this action could cause ignition of a greater conflict. -
Texas joins the Confederacy
Texas is admitted to the Confederacy. Due to the large population of troops, this serves as a tremendous asset to the Confederate army. -
Lincoln warns the seccessionists
President Lincoln informs South Carolina that an attempt to resupply Fort Sumter will be made. However the federal government will supply with provisions, and not armory. Nonetheless, South Carolina’s secessionists considers this an action of aggression, and retaliates. -
Confederates fire on Fort Sumter
On the fateful morning at 4:30, the Confederates fire on Fort Sumter. -
Anderson notifies Confederate represenatives
Major Anderson notifies Confederate representatives that if Fort Sumter is not resupplied by April 15, he will be forced to surrender. Shortages of supplies, food and general provisions create a dire situation at Fort Sumter, especially since the fort was isolated geographically, and not fully complete.
