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Civil War
Timeline of the events that happened before, during, and after the Civil War. -
Jefferson Davis Agrees with the Idea of Succession
Jefferson Davis comes out in favor of succession for the first time. -
Cooper Union Address
Abraham Lincoln delivers his Copper Union Address at the Cooper Institute in New York City. -
Lincoln is Nominated
The Republican Party nominates Abraham Lincoln as the candidate in the Election of 1860. -
Pony Express
The Pony Express is form becoming a mail service that delivered messages, newspapers, and mail. -
Split in the Democratic Party
Southern delegates hold a National Democratic convention in Richmond. Party leaders urge a "wait and see" approach. -
Douglas is Nominated
The Democratic National Convention nominates Stephan A. Douglas as their candidate for president. -
The Southern-Democrats Want Breckinridge
The Southern-Democrats that did not want Stephan Douglas as the Democratic split and nominate John C. Breckinridge as there candidate. -
Lincoln as President
November 6 - Abraham Lincoln wins the election of 1860 making him the sixteenth president of the United States. Southerns loose angered by the thought that Lincoln will take away the right to own slaves. -
Crittenden Compromise
US Senator John J. Crittenden proposes the Crittenden Compromise which aimed to resolve the thoughts of succession. -
South Begins to Sucede
The first Secession Convention was held in December of 1860 in Columbia, South Carolina. South Carolina becomes the first state to secede from the Union. -
More Southern States Secede
Mississippi(Jan. 9), Florida(Jan. 10), Alabama(Jan. 11), Georgia(Jan. 19), and Louisiana(Jan. 26) all seceded from the Union in January. -
Texas leaves the Union
Texas secedes from the Union. -
The Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America are formed appointing Jefferson Davis as their president. -
Fort Sumter
Major Anderson sends Lincoln a message as the Southern troops demand the surrender of the fort. Lincoln refused to surrender and left the conflict up to Jefferson Davis. -
Start of a War : South Strikes and Captures Fort Sumter
Lincoln forces Jefferson Davis to be the aggressor so Davis declares war and begins to fire on the fort. No one dies but the South captures Fort Sumter. -
Virginia Secedes
Virginia secedes from the Union and joins the Confederacy unwilling to fight against the other southern states. -
Arkansas Joins the Confederacy
Arkansas secedes from the Union and joins the Confederacy becoming the 9th state to secede from the Union. -
North Carolina Secedes from the Union
North Carolina secedes from the Union becoming the 10th state to secede and join the Confederacy. -
Tennessee Completes the Confederacy
Tennessee secedes from the Union becoming the 11th and final state to secede and join the Confederacy. -
The First Official Battle of the Civil War
As General Irvin McDowell leads 30,000 inexperienced Union troops toward Richmond, Virginia (the Confederate capital) he clashes with the General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson at a little creek outside of Washington D.C. -
Captain David Farragut Joins the Action
Captain David Farragut leaves Hampton Roads aboard the USS Hartford to take command of military operations on the southern Mississippi River. -
More Fighting Breaks out
General Ulysses S. Grant invades western Tennessee and captures fort Henry. -
The "Unconditional Surrender" is Successful Once Again
Along with Fort Henry General US Grant captures Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River. Grant only accepted an "Unconditional Surrender" which is when he earned his nickname of "Unconditional Surrender". -
Battle of Shiloh
Ulysses S. Grant defeats Johnston in southwest Tennessee near Shiloh Church. -
Homestead Act
Abraham Lincoln passes the Homestead Act which encouraged western migration by offering 160 acres of surveyed government land to any adult citizen, who had never fought against the US. -
Seven Day's Battles
McClellan moved down the Potomac River to the Chesapeake Bay and landed between the York and James Rivers where he met Robert E. Lee. Lee moved against McClellan as the two forces fought in a series of battle from June 25 to July 1, 1863. Lee unnerved McClellan enough to make him retreat. -
Another Battle at Bull Run
General John Pope's troops and General Robert E. Lee's troops clash at a second Battle at Bull Run. The Confederacy wins the battle on August 30, 1860. -
Bloodiest Single Day Battle
General Robert E. Lee tries to make a move against the Union's capital, Washington D.C., after his success at the Second Battle of Bull Run. Lee retreats and McClellan does not attack the vulnerable retreating Confederate Army. -
McClellan has "the slows"
After General George McClellan fails to take advantage of an injured Confederate Army and possibly end the war, Lincoln removes him from command saying he has a case of "the slows". -
Fredreicksburg, Virginia
General Ambrose Burnside tried to capture Confederate land and is defeating by Lee and his army. -
Emancipation Proclimation
President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation which declared that all people being held as slaves in rebellious states are free. -
Commander of the Army of the Potamac is Changed
Abraham Lincoln relieves General Ambrose Burnside from command of the Army of the Potomac, replacing him with General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker. -
Conscription in the Union
During the Civil War, the U.S. Congress passes a conscription act that called for the registration of all males between 20 and 45 including immigrants to the army by April 1. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
General "Fighting Joe" Hooker's Army of the Potomac is defeated by Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia as it crosses the Rappahannock on the way to Richmond -
The Union Uses African-American Troops
The US War Department issued a General Order Number 143 establishing a "Bureau of Colored Troops" to help with the recruitment of African Americans into the Union Army. -
Virginia Splits into Two
Western counties of Virginia secede from Virginia and form their own state called West Virginia. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
After a great victory over the Union, Lee tries to move his army into the Union territory in Pennsylvania. Union wins and the three day battle becomes the bloodiest three days in American History. -
Vicksburg
General Grant wins small victories and eventually forces the Confederates to surrender allowing him to secure the Mississippi. -
Riots Break Out Because of Conscription Act
Rioter torched government buildings and fought pitched battles with troops. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln delivers his famous speech, the Gettysburg Address, to consecrate the battle field and unify the nation. -
First Submarine Attack of Civil War
The first submarine attack of the Civil War. The Hunley attacked the USS Houstonic outside Charleston South, Carolina. -
Union Armies in the Command of Ulysses S. Grant
Lincoln appoints Ulysses S. Grant to lieutenant general giving him command of all Union Armies in the field. -
Fort Pillow Massacre
Confederate troops under General Nathan Bedford Forrest shot more than 200 prisoners and some whites who begged for their lives at Fort Pillow, Tennessee. -
Battle of the Wilderness
General Ulysses S. Grant, accompanying the Army of the Potomac under General Meade, issued orders for the campaign to begin on May 3. Lee responded by attacking the Union column in the woods known as the Wilderness, west of Fredericksburg, Virginia. -
Lincoln is Nominated Once Again
Abraham Lincoln is nominated by the Republican Party to serve for a second term. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
Confederate General Robert E. Lee defeats Union lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant in one of the American history's bloodiest battles. -
Fall of Atlanta, Georgia
Confederate troops under General Hood evacuate the city of Atlanta. General Sherman's army occupies the city and its defenses the following day. -
Second Term
Abraham Lincoln is reelected president of the United States. -
March to the Sea
General Sherman's Army of Georgia begins the "March to the Sea". -
The "March to the Sea" is Complete
Sherman and his troops arrive at Savannah Georgia only being attacked by the Georgia militia which completed the "March to the Sea". Sherman's troops capture Fort McAllister and force Confederate defenders to evacuate the city. -
The Thirteenth Amendment is Submitted
Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution to abolish slavery and submitted to the states for ratification. -
Lincoln Meets to Talk Peace
President Lincoln meets with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens and three other men to discuss peace terms at the Hampton Roads Conference near Fort Monroe. -
Lincoln Outlines Second Term
Lincoln outlines his second term talking directly to the Confederate people and Andrew Johnson, replacing Henry Hamlin as Vice-president gives a rambling, drunk speech. -
Battle of Fort Stedman
Confederates break Union line at Petersburg. General John B. Gordon capture Fort Stedman. Confederate units then made a desperate attempt to hit the federal supply base at City Point. With overwhelming force the federal troops turned back the advance, recaptured the fort and retook the lines -
The Battle of Five Forks
The Confederate defeat at Five Forks initiates General Lee's decision to abandon the Petersburg-Richmond siege lines. -
Union Move South
Union troops occupy Richmond and Petersburg, Virginia. -
Appomattox Court House
Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses S. Grant at the home of Wilmer McLean in Appomattox Court House. -
President Lincoln is Assignated
President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated on Good Friday by John Wilkes Booth in Ford's Theatre, Washington, D. C. -
The Thirteenth Amendment is Ratfied
The Thirteenth Amendment is ratified which abolished slavery. -
The Ku Klux Klan is Formed
A group of Confederate veteran form a secret society call the "Ku Klux Klan" which wished to ensure the local African Americans population did not gain civil or legal rights. -
Remembering Lincoln's Birthday
The first fcelebration of President Lincoln's birthday is held in Washington, D. C. President Andrew Johnson attends. -
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. -
Johnson Vetoes
President Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the thought that it was unconstitutional. -
United States Declares Peace
The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. -
Johnson's Veto is Overrided
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act. -
The Nickel
The U.S. Congress approves the minting of a nickel 5-cent coin (nickel), eliminating its old name, the half dime. -
The Judicial Circuits Act
The Judicial Circuits Act reduces the number of United States circuit courts to nine and the number of Supreme Court justices to seven. -
US Grant is Promoted
Congress establishes "general of the armies" and Ulysses S. Grant is immediately promoted to 4-star general and put in this position. William Tecumseh Sherman assumes the rank of Lt. General. -
The National Union Convention
The National Union Convention is held in Philadelphia with hopes to reconcile the Radical Republicans in Congress with the Reconstructionist policies of President Andrew Johnson. -
Johnson's Swing Around the Circle
President Andrew Johnson goes on his Swing Around the Circle speaking tour to gain support for his Reconstructionist policies and Democratic Party candidates in the upcoming elections. -
African Americans Have the Right to Vote in D.C.
African-American men are granted the right to vote in the District of Columbia. -
Nebraska Becomes the 37th State
Nebraska is admitted as the 37th U.S. state. -
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. -
African Americans Votes are Rejected
Alexandria, Virginia rejects thousand of votes cast by Negroes, who were granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act. -
2nd Veto Act
Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act over Andrew Johnson's veto -
Seward Signs for Alaska
William P. Seward signs a treaty with Russia buying Alaska for 2 cents an acre. Democrats called it "Seward's Folly" -
Congress Admits to the Refusal of Letting Confederate States into the Union
Congress passes a bill admitting 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. -
Johnson Demands Resignation of Secretary of War
President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War. -
Interim Secretary of War
Ulysses S. Grant becomes ad interim Secretary of War -
U.S. Gains Alaska
Russia turns over Alaska to the United States.
