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Lincoln is Elected
It was a big deal that Lincoln was elected president, because the southern states pretty much new for a fact, that he would abolish slavery. Because of this, after he was elected president, the first states to secede left after only a little over a month. He is known for being honest Abe, but during his election, he was a politician. He is one of five presidents who were elected with less than 50 percent of the vote(The south secedes). -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the nation. The vote was 169-0. By February 1st, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had all joined South Carolina in the secession from the United States. They all left before Lincoln took office, but after he was elected(The South Secedes). -
The Confederation is Formed
The first state (South Carolina) left the US in December, and they had to convince other states to join them. They did this by sending letters to their legislature telling them about what bad thing Lincoln would do. Some of these include aboloshing slavery, and states rights. There were a total of 11 states in the confederation. These include Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana,Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia(Confederate States of America). -
The Civil War Begins
The civil war was officially declared by Abraham Lincoln. He declared war in response to the confederate attack on fort Sumter. In Lincoln’s proclamation of war, he also asked for a militia of 75,000 men. In his proclamation, he stated: “In virtue of the power in me vested by the Constitution, convene both Houses of Congress.” (Civil War Timeline) -
First Battle of Bull Run
This battle took place in Manassas, Virginia. The Union forces of 35,000 greatly out weighed the confederate forces of 20,000. The general for the Union side was McDowell; the opposing sides general was Joseph E. Johnston. The two generals fought hard however McDowell and his forces prevailed winning the battle for the Union(History). -
Battle of Hampton Roads
This Naval battle took place off the harbors of Hampton Roads, Virginia. The commanding officer Buchanan engaged 188 Confederate personnel. The commanding officer for the Union was John Worden. The Confederates had naval power going into this. After the battle there were 269 Union casualties and 24 Confederate casualties. Despite the differences in casualties neither ships had armor piercing rounds to pierce the hull of the others boat so the battle went down as inconclusive(battlefields). -
Battle of Shiloh
This battle took place in Hardin, Tennessee. The Union forces again outnumbered the confederate forces. General Grant’s 65,085 Union personnel vs General Johnstons 44,968 confederate forces. In the end General Grant’s experience, intelligence, and more fire power got him the win in battle and destroyed the Confederate morale(battlefields). -
Second Battle of Bull Run
This battle took place in Manassas, Virginia. The Confederate forces led by Robert E. Lee and the Union forces led by generals Pope and McClellan fought it out. The Confederates faced many casualties coming in at about 9,000. However Lee’s strategic offensive surprised the Union forces that were almost double his own force. This strategy won him this battle(History). -
Battle of Antietam
This battle took place in Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Confederate forces were led by general John Walker and General Lee. On the other side General McCellan thought that there would be more enemies so he brought many Union troops. By the end of the day 23,000 casualties were counted and 3,650 were dead. And when the dust settled it was a win for McClellan and the union army(history). -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The emancipation Proclamation made it so the slaves in the South were free. This is kind of perplexing because the south is not listening to the rules that the north makes. He did it for two main reasons. In order to keep other nations from interfering in the war, he needed to make it about slavery. The second reason is that when southern slaves come to northern soldiers, the soldiers can give them weapons and have them fight for the Union(The Emancipation Proclamation). -
Siege of Vicksburg
The siege of Vicksburg was one of the most important battles in the civil war. It lasted 47 days, and in that time Union general Ulysses S. Grant was able to win the siege. Grant’s tactic was to lay fire on them until they ran out of food. His tactic worked extremely well. It was important because it gave control of the Mississippi River to the Union(American Civil War). -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle took place in Pennsylvania. The Confederate forces were led by Lee. The Union force was led by Meade. Both sides knew it was an important battle. The Union forces came in at 93,921 and the confederate forces came in at 71,699. This caused the casualties to be 23,049 for the Union and 28,063 for the Confederate side. This made it the bloodiest battle in the civil war and also called the end to the war with a Union victory changing the US forever(battlefeilds). -
Period: to
Reconstruction on the South
This period was meant to rebuild the southern states after the Civil War. However racism and cheap black labor was very prominent. The Black codes were passed; letting people hire African Americans for extremely cheap. The government tried their best to completely take out the slavery; however many radical groups came up to restore the south and gain white supremacy. One of the most infamous groups is the Ku Klux Klan. This was a hard time and racism and segregation went on years after(history). -
Lincoln’s Reelection
Since his political party owned pretty much the entirety of what was left of America at that time, he was elected in a landslide. He didn’t know it at the time, but he was still 6 months away from the end of the war. Arguably the most important detail was that there hadn’t been an election during a military emergency before. I think the implications of his reelection are massive. It would have been detrimental to change leadership halfway through a war(Abraham Lincoln Re-elected). -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders
In the Appomattox Court House, Virginia, Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant. He surrendered his 28,000 soldiers, effectively ending the civil war. Grant pretty much told him to go home and not to fight anymore, he gave them all pardons. The amazing thing about it is that he actually did it. He could have kept fighting, however when people like John Wilkes Booth attacked, he told them to stop(Robert E Lee Surrenders). -
Lincoln’s Assassination
At Ford Theater, John Wilkes Booth came up behind Abraham Lincoln while he was watching a play and shot him in the back of the head. After he shot the President he jumped from the balcony and broke his ankle, however he got away. Soldiers later found Booth and his accomplice Herald in a barn. The soldiers set fire to the barn to flush them out, Booth was shot in the neck after raising his gun. Lincoln's Vice President Johnson soon took over, and 2 months later the Civil War was won (History).