Kyle Spangler Civil War timeline

  • Period: to

    Civil War

    Civil War
  • Senator Jefferson Davis speaks for Slavery

    Senator Jefferson Davis speaks for Slavery
    Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis presents resolutions as to why slavery should be allowed in the territories. He also gave reasons as to why the nation should protect slaveholders. His intention was to unite the Democratic party.
  • Cooper Union Adddress

    Cooper Union Adddress
    Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Address, in which he validated the Federal Government banning slavery in new territories. This was Lincoln's most influential speech and many people believe it won him the presidency.
  • The Pony Express

    The Pony Express
    The Pony Express begins going from Saint Louis, Missouri to Sacremento, California. It had 119 stations that were each 12 miles apart. They made it possible for more letters to be delivered in a more timely manner.
  • Constitutional Union Party Forms

    Constitutional Union Party Forms
    The former members of the American and Whig parties meet in Baltimore and form the Constitutional Union Party, They elect John Bell to be their candidate for president and Edward Everett as candidate for vice president.
  • Lincoln Elected President

    Lincoln Elected President
    Lincoln is elected the 16th president. This is a major win for the North because he is going to abolish slavery.
  • Souther Secession is Urged

    Souther Secession is Urged
    Seven senators and twenty-three representatives issue a manifesto urging southern secession. It also recommends forming a Souther Confederacy.
  • South Carolina secession

    South Carolina secession
    South Carolina becomes first state to secesside
  • South Carolina Congressmen

    South Carolina Congressmen
    The South Carolina Congressmen resign due to secession. However, their names remain on the roll because the Union still does not agknowledge secession.
  • South Carolina's Declaration

    South Carolina's Declaration
    South Carolina issues their "Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Seccession of South Carolina from the Federal Union". This was South Carolina's version of the "Declaration of Independence".
  • Mississippi secession

    Mississippi  secession
    Mississippi becomes part of the Confederation states
  • The secession of Florida

    The secession of Florida
    Florida leaves the United States to become a Confederate state
  • The secession of Alabama

    The secession of Alabama
    Alabama becomes the 4th state to leave the United States
  • The secession of Georgia

    The secession of Georgia
    Georgia leaves the United States and becomes 5th state of the Confederate staes
  • Secession of Louisiana

    Secession of Louisiana
    Louisiana becomes 6th state of the Confederate staes
  • Jefferson Davis

    Jefferson Davis
    Jefferson Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. He is elected at the Weed convention in Montgomery, Alabama.
  • Abraham Lincoln becomes president

    Abraham Lincoln  becomes president
    Abraham Lincoln officially becomes 16th president of United States
  • Battle of Fort Sumter

    Battle of Fort Sumter
    The battle only took 1 day. The Confederate army ambushed the fort in Charleston, South Carolina. The Confederate army won
  • Lincoln's Suspension

    Lincoln's Suspension
    Lincoln suspends the writ of habeas corpus. This meant that people could now be imprisoned without being seen by a judge and told what their crimes were. Technically this is against the constitution but during a time of war it was necessary.
  • Battle of Bull run

    Battle of Bull run
    The first battle of the American Civil War
  • McClellan ignores Lincoln

    McClellan ignores Lincoln
    Lincoln issues the first General War Order, telling all land and sea army forces to advance. McClellan igornes this, but because of his backing Lincoln could not punish him.
  • Greenbacks

    Greenbacks
    This was a form of paper money introduced by Lincoln. It was the unified money for the United States and was used by the Union army. This money was distributed longer then any other money.
  • Conscription

    Conscription
    Davis and the Confederate Congress approve the conscription act. This calls forward any white male ages 18 to 35 to fight for the confederate army.
  • Internal Revenue Law

    Internal Revenue Law
    This law would give the government funds to use towards the civil war. It put a tax on inheritance, tobacco, and incomes over $600.
  • African Americans and the Army

    African Americans and the Army
    The Union army is officially allowed to hire African Americans as laborers. This is a step in the right direction because they are on their way to becoming equal. The slaves are now allowed to help in the army that is being fought to free them.
  • Antietam

    Antietam
    The battle of Antietam is the bloodiest single day battle in American history. Neither side won the war but the Confederate retreat during the battle made it a victory in Lincoln's eyes. The battle ended in a loss of 110 men.
  • Emancipation

    Emancipation
    Lincoln's plan for Emancipation is published in the Union newspapers. This gives the slaves hope for their freedom and even more of a reason behind the war.
  • Grant Against the Jewish

    Grant Against the Jewish
    Grant issues an order to bar Jewish people from serving under his command. This is horribly ironic because he is fighting to free a group of people because of the harsh treatment they are receiving. He then discriminates against another group of people simply because they have different beliefs.
  • Lincoln hangs Indians

    Lincoln hangs Indians
    Lincoln orders 39 Sioux Indian men to be hanged
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Emancipation Proclamation
    Lincoln signs the Emancipation and officially frees 3.1 million of the nation's slaves. This document only freed slaves that were not under Union control but allowed them to serve in the Union army.
  • National Banking Act

    National Banking Act
    Lincoln signs the National Banking Act, making it a law. It put someone in charge of controlling currency and it led to the creation of local banks.
  • Conscription Act

    Conscription Act
    The National Conscription Act is signed forcing able bodied males aged 18-35 into joining the Union Army, The signing of this act led to the week long New York Draft Riots.
  • Battle of Chancellorsville

    Battle of Chancellorsville
    This battle took place from May 1st to May 4th, ending in a Confederate victory. Both sides lost many of their soldiers, the Union casualties were 17,500 men and the Confederate casualties were 13,000. The most devestating Confederate loss was General Stonewall Jackson.
  • Gettysburg

    Gettysburg
    This is the largest battle of the Civil War, taking place in a field in Gettysburg, Pennyslvania. General Meade's Union forces turn back Lee's Confederates during this battle. There were 28,000 Confederate casualties and 23,000 Union casualties. This is a Union Victory.
  • Lee Resigns

    Lee Resigns
    Following his shameful defeat at Gettysburg, General Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Davis refuses the request.
  • Battle of Lawrence

    Battle of Lawrence
    This battle took place in Lawrence, Kansas, the site of much previous violence over the issue of slavery. William Qauntrill's raiders kill over 200 men and boys. The north views this as one of the most vicious atrocities of the war,
  • Thanksgiving

    Thanksgiving
    Lincoln declares Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated the last Thursday in November, This holiday is to celebrate the colonists and Native Americans coming together and sharing their resources
  • Gettysburg Address

    Gettysburg Address
    Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address
  • The Great Escape

    The Great Escape
    John Hunt Morgan, a confederate calvary leader, and some of his men escape the Ohio state prison. They escape by cutting a hole in a cell and crawling through the ventilation system. They return safetly to the South and Morgan picks up his calvary activities. Later in the war he is killed by the Union army.
  • Andersonville

    Andersonville
    The first 500 prisoners of war arrive at the Confederate prison camp, Andersonville. This was the harshest prison camp of the Civil War. Many of the men held there did not survive because of the brutal conditions faced there.
  • The Coinage Act

    The Coinage Act
    Congress passes the Coinage Act of 1864. This act states the the inscription "In God we Trust" must be on all coins that are to be used as US currency.
  • Conscription Hoax

    The New York World and the New York Journal of Commerce publish an article stating that Lincoln has drafted 400,000 more soldiers into the Union army, The public decided it was not true when they found that only two papers had published the news.
  • Arlington National Cemetery

    Arlington National Cemetery
    The Arlington National Cemetary is established by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. It is created using 200 acres land from Robert E Lee's home, Arlington House.
  • Lincoln's Conscription Law

    Lincoln's Conscription Law
    Lincoln signs away the fee that someone could pay to avoid being drafted into the Union Army.
  • Confederate Spy

    Confederate Spy
    Confederate spy Belle Boyd is arrested by Union forces. He is held at the Old Capital Prison in Washington D.C.
  • Gold

    Gold
    Helena, Montana is founded by four prospectors. They create it after finding gold at Last Chance Gulch, it is their last attempt at finding gold after weeks of looking in the Rockies.
  • Lincoln's Re-election

    Lincoln's Re-election
    Lincoln is re-elected in 1864. His victory is overwhelming because of how many votes he received over George B. McClellan.
  • New York on fire

    New York on fire
    A group of Confederate operatives that call themselves the Confederate Army of Manhattan set fires in more then 20 places. This is their unsuccessful attempt at burning New York down.
  • Sherman's March to the Sea

    Sherman's March to the Sea
    At Waynesboro, Georgia forces the Union prevent Confederate troops from interfering with General Sherman's plan to destroy part of the South by matching to Savannah, Georgia. Union suffers three times as many casualties as the Confederacy.
  • Fort Stedman

    Fort Stedman
    The Confederate forces capture Fort Stedman from the Union forces. About 2,900 of Lee's men are killed and 1,000 are captured during the counter attack.
  • Petersburg

    Petersburg
    The last offensive for Lee's Army of Northern Virginia begins with an attack on the center of Grant's forces at Petersburg. Four hours later the attack is broken.
  • Richmond

    Richmond
    Confederate Presiden Davis and his cabinet flee the confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia as Union forces near it. The very next day it is captured by the Union.
  • Appomattox

    Appomattox
    General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appottamax courthouse. This marks the end of the Civil War,
  • Lincoln's assassination

    Lincoln's assassination
    John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Fords Theater during a performance of My American Cousin. Lincoln is pronounced dead early the next morning. In addition, William Seward and his family are attacked by Booth's co-conspirator, Lewis Powell.
  • President Johnson Takes Office

    President Johnson Takes Office
    With the death of Lincoln, Vice President Andrew Johnson takes office.
  • Booth is captured

    Booth is captured
    John Wilkes Booth is captured in a barn in Virginia at the Garret's farm. He is shot and killed by Boston Corbett.
  • Juneteenth

    Juneteenth
    General Granger arrives in Texas and tells them about the Emancipation Proclamation. It is now celebrated as holiday called Juneteenth.
  • Conspirators hanged

    Conspirators hanged
    The four conspirators in Lincoln's assassination are hanged. These men are Davide Harold, George Atzerodt, Lewis Payne, and Mary Surratt. John Surratt escapes to Canada and later makes his way to Egypt so he does not pay for his involvement in Lincoln's death.
  • Henry Wirz

    Henry Wirz
    Major Henry Wirz is hanged. He was the leader of the atrocious war camp, Andersonville. He becomes the only soldier hanged for war crimes.
  • KKK

    KKK
    Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan to resist reconstruction as well as to repress the freed African Americans.
  • Jesse James

    Jesse James
    The first day light bank robbery takes place in Liberty, Missouri. This was carried out by Jesse James and his gang, although no one is quite sure where Jesse James fits into this event.
  • Civil RIghts Act of 1866

    Civil RIghts Act of 1866
    The United States Congress overwhelmingly passes the Civil Rights Act of 1866, the first federal legislation to protect the rights of African-Americans.
  • Ford's Theatre Purchased

    Congress appropriates $100,000 to buy Ford's Theater. It will house the Army Medical Museum, the Office of the Surgeon General and War Department records until 1893.
  • Nickel

    Nickel
    Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, know as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime.
  • 14th Amendment

    14th Amendment
    The 14th amendment is ratified. This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans.
  • Tennessee Readmitted

    Tennessee Readmitted
    Tennessee becomes the first state to be readmitted to the Union.
  • General

    Congress passes the legislation making General of the Army a rank. Ulysses S. Grant is the first to hold that title.
  • The Atlantic cable

    The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time.
  • Train robbery

    The first train robbery takes place. The Reno brothers get away with $13,000.
  • Longest Bridge in the World

    Longest Bridge in the World
    The wartime booming industrial economy of the North continues with the contrustuction of the Covington–Cincinnati Suspension Bridge which opens between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky in the United States, becoming the longest single-span bridge in the world.
  • African-Americans vote

    African-Americans vote
    African-American men are granted the right to vote in the District of Columbia.
  • Tenure of Office Act

    Tenure of Office Act
    Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act, denying the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress.
  • Alaska

    Alaska
    President Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. This would be the second to last state added to the United States of America.
  • Ride ins

    Ride ins
    African Americans stage a ride on streetcars in New Orleans to protest segregation.
  • States readmitted to the Union

    States readmitted to the Union
    Congress passes a bill readmitting Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina into the Union. Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, having refused to ratify the fourteenth amendment, were refused admission into the Union.
  • Edwin Stanton

    Edwin Stanton
    President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War.
  • Impeachment

    Impeachment
    Congress looks into impeaching Johnson for his lack of effectiveness and unwillingness to follow through with reconstruction.