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New Party Forms
The new party, constitutional union party, was made in the beginning of 1860 and was made of up former Whigs. Their view was to avoid the secession of southern states. -
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Civil War Timeline
Civil War Timeline -
Speech at Cooper Union
Before Lincoln ran for president, he was a lawyer. In New York, he gave a speech about him being against slavery. Later on, he will become the frontrunner for the presidency. -
Democratic National Convention
In Charleston, South Carolina, the 1860 Democratic National Convention was held. During this convention, they were trying to decide their candidate for the presidency and the vice president. -
Candidates are Chosen
There were four candidates running for president in 1860. Abraham Lincoln (Republican Party), John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat), Stephen A. Douglas (Northern Democrat), and John Bell (Constitutional Union). -
Wide Awake Riot
The riot known as the Wide Awake Riot was a riot caused by a group of political teenagers who were against the Republicans in Illinois. Wide Awakes, the group of political teenagers, were present at a rally, and a disturbance between the two groups occurred. -
Abraham Lincoln wins the election.
Abraham Lincoln was the candidate of the Republican party and was against slavery. Lincoln had the majority of the electoral votes, a total of 180, and was president from 1861-1865. -
Senators Start to Resign
After the election, some southerners in Congress decided to resign for their seats in Congress. Senator James Chestnut Jr. resigns from his seat in Senate and was from South Carolina. -
Second Senator Leaves
After the election, some southerners in Congress decided to resign for their seats in Congress. Senator James Chestnut Jr. resigns from his seat in Senate and was from South Carolina. -
Crittenden Compromise
The Crittenden Compromise was made up of six proposed constitutional amendments and four proposed Congressional resolutions. Senator John J. Crittenden thought this would make the southern states not secede from the Union. -
South Carolina
South Carolina left the United States and then becomes the first state to leave. -
Mississippi
Mississippi left the United States and then becomes the second state to leave. -
Florida
Florida left the United States and then becomes the third state to leave. -
Alabama
Alabama left the United States and then becomes the fourth state to leave. -
Georgia
Georgia left the United States and then becomes the fifth state to leave. -
Louisiana
Louisiana left the United States and then becomes the sixth state to leave. -
Texas
Texas left the United States and then becomes the seventh state to leave. -
Confederate States are Formed
The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate and former U.S. Army officer, as president. -
Abraham Lincoln is Inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln is officially sworn in as the sixteenth President of the United Stated of America. He would serve one full term. -
Civil War Begins
Confederate forces under General P.G.T. Beauregard attack Major Robert Anderson and his Union soldiers at Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. Then the Civil War officially begins. -
Union Surrenders at Ft. Sumter
Major Robert Anderson surrenders Fort Sumter to Confederate forces after two days of attack. -
Proclamation
President Lincoln issues a Proclamation calling for 75,000 militiamen, and summoning a special session of Congress for July 4. -
Eleven State Confederacy
Virginia secedes from the Union, followed within five weeks by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, thus forming an eleven state Confederacy with a population of 9 million, including nearly 4 million slaves. -
Proclamation Against Southern Ports
President Lincoln issues a Proclamation of Blockade against Southern ports. For the duration of the war the blockade limits the ability of the rural South to stay well supplied in its war against the industrialized North. -
2 States Leave
Arkansas and North Carolina both leave the Union in May of 1861. Arkansas secedes on May 6, 1861, and North Carolina secedes on May 20, 1861. These two states are the ninth and tenth states to leave the Union and left after the Civil War began. -
Lincoln Requests Army
Lincoln addresses Congress and requests the enlistment of a Union Army. Congress authorizes a call for 500,000 men. It is clear now that the war will not be short. -
Stonewall
Thomas J. Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall," as his brigade resists Union attacks. Union troops fall back to Washington. President Lincoln realizes the war will be long. -
George B. McClellan
President Lincoln appoints George B. McClellan as Commander of the Department of the Potomac, replacing McDowell. -
Gen. John C. Frémont's
President Lincoln revokes Gen. John C. Frémont's unauthorized military proclamation of emancipation in Missouri. -
General War Order No. 1
President Lincoln issues General War Order No. 1 calling for all United States naval and land forces to begin a general advance by February 22, George Washington's birthday. -
Grant Took Over 2 Forts
Ulysses S. Grant invaded Tennessee in February of 1862 of took control of two of the Confederacy Forts. The two forts were Fort Henry and Fort Donelson. Both were located on the Cumberland River. -
Capturing Fort Henry
Victory for Gen. Ulysses S. Grant in Tennessee, capturing Fort Henry, and ten days later Fort Donelson. -
Willie Dies
President Lincoln is struck with grief as his beloved eleven-year-old son, Willie, dies from fever, probably caused by polluted drinking water in the White House. -
Merrimac
The Confederate Ironclad 'Merrimac' sinks two wooden Union ships then battles the Union Ironclad 'Monitor' to a draw. -
Monitor Shows Up
The Monitor was a ship designed by John Ericsson for the Union army. This ironclad showed up, and wouldn’t stop fighting until the Confederates backed off. This battle ended in a draw. -
Attack on Grants Troops
Confederate surprise attack on Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's unprepared troops at Shiloh on the Tennessee River results in a bitter struggle with 13,000 Union killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates, more men than in all previous American wars combined. -
David Farragut
17 Union ships under the command of Flag Officer David Farragut move up the Mississippi River then take New Orleans, the South's greatest seaport. -
Battle of Seven Pines
The Battle of Seven Pines as Gen. Joseph E. Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops in front of Richmond and nearly defeats them. But Johnston is badly wounded. -
Robert E. Lee
Gen. Robert E. Lee assumes command, replacing the wounded Johnston. Lee then renames his force the Army of Northern Virginia. McClellan is not impressed, saying Lee is "likely to be timid and irresolute in action.: -
Gen. Henry W. Halleck.
After four months as his own general-in-chief, President Lincoln hands over the task to Gen. Henry W. Halleck. -
Seven days Battle
The Seven Days Battles as Lee attacks McClellan near Richmond, resulting in very heavy losses for both armies. McClellan then begins a withdrawal b -
New Naval Officer
Farragut was the first naval rear admiral for the United States. He was very old. -
Thought of the Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln thought of a plan, that freed all of the slaves that were in the South. On July 22, he proposed this idea to his cabinet. -
Bull Run #2
This will be the second battle of Bull Run. The Confederate army had a victory at Bull Run and was a moral boost for the Confederacy army. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle of the Civil War. The Confederate army was undersupplied and had fewer people than the Union army, but McClellan still lets them retreat from the battle. Abraham Lincoln decided to fire McClellan for having the “slows”. -
Harpers Ferry
Lee invades the North with 50,000 Confederates and heads for Harpers Ferry, located 50 miles northwest of Washington. -
26,000 Men Dead, Wounded, or Missing
The bloodiest day in U.S. military history as Gen. Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Armies are stopped at Antietam in Maryland by McClellan and numerically superior Union forces. By nightfall 26,000 men are dead, wounded, or missing. Lee then withdraws to Virginia. -
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation freeing slaves issued by President Lincoln. -
Commander of the Army
The president replaces McClellan with Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside as the new Commander of the Army of the Potomac. Lincoln had grown impatient with McClellan's slowness to follow up on the success at Antietam -
Marye's Heightss
Army of the Potomac under Gen. Burnside suffers a costly defeat at Fredericksburg in Virginia with a loss of 12,653 men after 14 frontal assaults on well entrenched Rebels on Marye's Heights. -
Final Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in territories held by Confederates and emphasizes the enlisting of black soldiers in the Union Army. The war to preserve the Union now becomes a revolutionary struggle for the abolition of slavery. -
Gen. Joseph (Fighting Joe) Hooker
The president appoints Gen. Joseph (Fighting Joe) Hooker as Commander of the Army of the Potomac, replacing Burnside. -
Capture Vicksburg
Gen. Grant is placed in command of the Army of the West, with orders to capture Vicksburg. -
Congress Enacts a Draft
The U.S. Congress enacts a draft, affecting male citizens aged 20 to 45, but also exempts those who pay $300 or provide a substitute. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Union Army under Gen. Hooker is decisively defeated by Lee's much smaller forces at the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia as a result of Lee's brilliant and daring tactics. Confederate Gen. Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded by his own soldiers. Hooker retreats. Union losses are 17,000 killed, wounded and missing out of 130,000. The Confederates, 13, 000 out of 60,000. -
North Conscription
Congress passed a law that started drafts for the Union army. This made any people in the draft, have to serve. -
Stonewall Jackson dies
The South suffers a huge blow as Stonewall Jackson dies from his wounds, his last words, "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees." -
West Virginia is Formed
The western part of Virginia did not agree with the viewpoint on the issue of the Civil War. In 1863, these counties of western Virginia broke off and created West Virginia. -
Gettysburg Day 1
On a farm in Pennsylvania, John Buford, the leader of the Union troops, meets with A.P. Hill, the leader of the Confederate troops. Both sides are going to need reinforcements throughout the battle. -
Gettysburg Day 2
On the second day, the Confederate troops try to take control of the high grounds. The professor from Maine, Chamberlain, kept the rebels from taking control of the high grounds. -
Gettysburg Day 3
This was the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg. This was considered a Union victory, but both sides had a major loss of life. Because of the terrible outcome, Lee tries to resign but is denied. -
4 Days of Rioting
From July 13 to July 16, there were riots happening because of the conscriptions. These riots were taken place in the streets of New York. -
Gettysburg Address
President Abraham Lincoln dedicated a cemetery for the Battle of Gettysburg. At this cemetery, Abraham Lincoln gave a speech for the fallen soldiers, both Union and Confederate soldiers, called the Gettysburg Address. -
Camp Sumter
In Andersonville, Georgia, a Confederate prisoner of war camp opened up called Camp Sumter. This is the worst POW during the Civil War. -
New Commander
Ulysses S. Grant was appointed the new commander of the Union army by President Lincoln. Before Grant was the commander, McClellan was the commander but was fired. -
Fort Pillow
In Tennessee, the Confederate troops captured 200 African Americans. These troops murdered all 200 African Americans and were considered a massacre. -
Battle of Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor took place in Virginia. This will be the last victory for Robert E. Lee during the Civil War. -
Equal Pay
Congress pass a law that both black and white soldiers will get paid the same. -
Battle of Mobile Bay
This battle was a win for the Union. It was led by Rear Admiral Farragut. -
Burning of Atlanta
Union General William T. Sherman captured Atlanta on September 2. He also burned it down. -
Medal of Honor
The medal of honor is the highest medal that someone in the military can receive. In the fall of 1864, black soldiers received the Medal of Honor. -
Maryland Bans Slavery
Maryland was a part of the Union during the Civil War. In 1864, Maryland finally abolishes slavery. -
Battle of Nashville
The Battle of Nashville was a Union victory. It ended on December 16 after 4400 casualties. -
13th Amendment: Passed
January of 1865, the United States Congress passed the amendment that abolished slavery. -
The Flee from the Capital
The capital of the Confederacy was Richmond, Virginia. Jefferson Davis fled the capital, and burned it, so the Union could not capture it. -
2nd Term
Abraham Lincoln was elected for his 2nd term as president in November of 1864. In March of 1865, he was inaugurated into office. -
Lee Surrenders
Lee and Grant meet at Appomattox Court House to discuss the terms of surrender. The terms made were generous to the South, and fighting had to stop within a month. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Five days after Lee’s surrender, Abraham Lincoln was shot at Ford’s Theater. John W. Booth was the person who shot Lincoln in the head. Lincoln died the next day. -
Capture Davis
President Andrew Johnson put out a hunt to find Jefferson Davis, the former president of the CSA. He said that if they found Davis they would get a reward of 100,000 dollars. -
Davis Captured
Jefferson Davis was found on May 10, 1865. He was captured by the Union armies in Irwinville, Georgia. -
Release of CSA VP
The Confederacy’s Vice President was Alexander H. Stephens. President Johnson released for a little bit of time. -
13th Amendment: Ratified
The 13th Amendment was the first amendment to be ratified in the result of the Civil War. This amendment abolished slavery in every state. -
African Americans Can Vote
Congress passed a law, that African Americans can vote in Washington D.C. President Johnson tried to veto it, but the Congress rejected it. -
Johnson Vetoes Bill
Congress created a bill that talks about civil rights. Later on, it becomes the 14th Amendment. -
Veto Denied
Congress rejects the president veto on the bill. So rejecting the veto gave everyone equal rights. -
Equal Rights Association Formed
After civil rights being enforced, many people form a group that helps promote equality for everyone. -
14th Amendment: Passes
Congress passed the 14th Amendment, which gives people equal rights. It will later be ratified in 1868. -
Tennessee is Back
Tennessee was the last state to leave the Union and joining the Confederacy. In 1866, Tennessee was the first state readmitted to the Union. -
Grant is Honored
Because of his leadership during the Civil War, he was honored as 1st General of the US Army. -
Farragut is Honored
Because of his leadership in the Civil War, he was honored as 1st admiral to the US Navy. -
Officially Over
President Andrew Johnson formally declares the Civil War is over. -
First Black Delegate
Frederick Douglass was an abolitionist. He was the 1st African American delegate to attend a national convention. -
Grand Army Republic Convention
This was the first convention of the Grand Army Republic. It was to thank veterans that served in the Civil War. -
African Americans Can Vote
Congress passed a law, that African Americans can vote in Washington D.C. President Johnson tried to veto it, but the Congress rejected it. -
1st Reconstruction Act
Congress passed the first Reconstruction Act, that was vetoed by Johnson. This gave suffrage for freedmen and military administration in the south. -
2nd Reconstruction Act
Congress passed the second Reconstruction Act against Johnson’s veto. This helped support the first reconstruction act. -
Lincoln's Memorial
Congress approves the building of the Lincoln Memorial that is in Washington D.C. -
Ride-In
Demonstrations by African Americans stage a ride-in on streetcars in Richmond, Virginia. -
Reconstruction Begins
Reconstruction starts in the south. Also, the start of black voting registration. -
3rd Reconstruction Act
Congress passed the Third Reconstruction Act, even though Johnson vetoed this act. This helped support the first and second reconstruction act. -
First National Vote
African Americans are able for the first time in a national state election. The election took place in Tennessee. -
1st All-Black College
The first all-black university is created by Congress. It’s called the Howard University. -
Impeachment of Johnson?
Congress commissions start to look at Andrew Johnson and decide if he possibly should be impeached.
