The American Civil War

Abraham Lincoln is President

Nov 6, 1860

Lincoln is elected President. This made him the first Republican to receive 180 of 303 electoral votes. "Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free..." - Abraham Lincoln

South Carolina secedes from the Union

Dec 20, 1860

South Carolina was the first state to secede. They were followed two months later by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisianna, and Texas.

The Confederate States of America is formed

Feb 9, 1861

Jefferson Davis serves as the president of the Confederate States of America. He was a former U.S. Army officer.

Lincoln was sworn in as the 16th President.

Mar 4, 1861

This would be his second term.

Fort Sumter is attacked.

Apr 12, 1861

The Confederates open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. The Civil War begins.

Virginia secedes from the Union.

Apr 17, 1861

Virginia is followed by Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina. This gave the Confederacy a total of eleven states.

The Battle of Bull Run

Jul 21, 1861

The Union Army suffers a defeat at Bull Run.
Confederate General Thomas J. Jackson earns the nickname "Stonewall," as his forces resists Union attacks.

Naval Battles

Mar 8, 1862

The Confederate Ironclad Merrimack sinks two wooden Union ships and then battles the Union Ironclad 'Monitor' to a draw. This changes Naval warfare forever. This means that there is no longer a need for wooden ships.

Shiloh

Apr 6, 1862

The Confederates perform surprise attack on General Ulysses S. Grant and his unprepared troops at Shiloh. It ended in a bitter struggle with 13,000 Union soldiers killed and wounded and 10,000 Confederates.

This was more men than in all previous American wars combined.

Second Battle of Bull Run

Aug 29, 1862

The Union Army is defeated by the Confederates at the second battle of Bull Run in northern Virginia. Once again the Union Army retreats to Washington.

Antietam

Sep 17, 1862

This was the bloodiest day in U.S. military history. By nightfall 26,000 men were dead, wounded, or missing. The Confederate Army withdrew to Virginia.

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

President Lincoln issues the final Emancipation Proclamation in order to free all slaves in the territories that are being held by Confederates. The war now becomes a revolutionary struggle for the abolition of slavery.