-
Period: to
Civil War
-
Jefferson Davis favors Secession
Jefferson Davis, future leader of the Confederate States of America, admits that he's in favor of Secession. -
Copper Union Speech
Abraham Lincoln delivers his Copper Union Speech -
Pony Express
The Pony Express begins where riders on horseback carry mail along the Oregon Trail -
Lincoln is a Nominee
Abraham Lincoln is chosen by the Republicans as their presidential nominee -
Southern Democrat Nominee
The Southern Democrats select John C. Breckinridge for their nominee for president. -
Abraham Lincoln is elected president
Abraham Lincoln's election enraged the South extremely. Not one southern voter had voted for Lincoln yet he still won. This made the south feel powerless in government. -
South Carolina Meets
South Carolina calls for a convention to discuss Secession -
South Carolina Senators resign
The resignation of these senators is a foreshadowing of future secession in the southern states. -
South Carolina Secedes
South Carolina is the first state to secede from the union. South Carolina sets an example that many southern states follow with its secession. -
Move to Fort Sumter
Major-General Robert Anderson moves his troops to Fort Sumter in Charlston South Carolina. -
Jefferson Davis Inaugerated
Jefferson Davis is inaugerated as President of the Confederate States of America. He is the first and last Confederate President. -
Bombardment on Fort Sumter
Confederates open fire on Fort Sumter. No one was harmed. -
Fort Sumter Surrenders
Major Robert Anderson surrenders the fort after the Confederates had been bombarding it. -
Lee Takes Charge
Robert E. Lee becomes the commander of the Virginia forces. -
Last States Secede
Arkansas and Tennessee secede from the union, being the last two states to secede, and join the Confederate States of America -
West Virginia
Virginia is torn by the issue of slavery, and half of the state decides to join the Union and form West Virginia. -
Battle of Bull Run
The first major battle of the Civil War, Bull Run, erupts in Virginia. -
Major George McClellan Appointed
McClellan was appointed as the first commander of the Union army. -
Grant Promoted
Ulsses S. Grant was promoted to brigadier general. -
McClellan becomes General
George McClellan takes over as general-in-chief of the U.S. army. He replaced Lt. General Winfield Scott. -
War is Issued
Lincoln issues war authorizing agressive action against the Confederates. -
Fort Henry
Ulysses S. Grant wins for the Union at Fort Henry. -
Fort Donelson
Ulsses S. Grant wins again at For Donelson. The battle started on the 11th and ended on the 16th. -
Yorktown
An inconclusive battle at Yorktown. -
The Battle of Shiloh
A two day battle where both sides suffered major casualties. The Union was victorious. -
The Homestead Act
The Homestead Act was passed, allowing any American Citizen to claim 160 acres of land. -
The Second Bull Run
Another Confederate victory at Bull Run. Also known as Manassas Second. -
Richmond
Confederates Win a battle in Richmond, their capitol. -
Antietam
A three day battle that is the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The battle was inconclusive. -
McClellan Replaced
McClellan is replaced by General Ambrose E. Burnside as the new commander of the Army of the Potomac. -
Emancipation Proclomation
The Emancipation Proclomation is announced. The war is now about ending slavery, not just to to preserve the union. -
The Conscription Act
Conscription is passed, and now men can be drafted for the war. -
Salem Church
A Confederate victory at Salem Church, a two day battle. -
The Death of Stonewall Jackson
General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson, a Confederate general who led the first battle of Bull Run, dies from his wounds. He was shot by his own men on his ride back from a battle and died several days after. -
General Lee Marches North
General Lee begins to march North to Pennsylvenia to get supplies for his men. -
Hooker is Replaced
Hooker is replaced by George G Meade as Commander of the Army of the Potomac -
Gettysburg
The Union wins at Gettysburg, a major 3 day battle considered the turning point of the war. Massive Casualties on both sides. -
Surrender of Vicksburg
Vicksburg surrenders to the union the day after Gettysburg. Vicksburg and Gettysburg hurt Confederate Morale extremely. -
Riots in New York
Anti-Draft riots break out in New York City -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln dedicates a portion of Gettysburg to be a national cemetary for soldiers of both sides. One of the most famous and remembered speaches in American History. -
Battle of Athens
Union victory at Athens. -
Morton's Ford
Inconclusive Battle at Monton's Ford. -
Grant Takes Over
Lincoln appoints Ulysses S. Grant to command all of the armies of the United States. General Sherman takes his place as the western commander. -
Battle of Monett's Ferry
Union Victory at the Battle of Monett's Ferry -
9 Month Siege
Nine Month Siege of Petersburg begins -
Battle of Killdeer Mountain
Union victory at the battle of Killdeer Mountain -
Battle of Memphis
Confederate Victory at Memphis -
Atlanta is Captured
General Sherman captures Atlanta Georgia. -
Battle of Saltville
Confederates win the battle of Saltville -
Lincoln Re-elected
Lincoln is Re-eclected, defeating former General McClellan. -
Sherman's March to The Sea Begins
Sherman's March begins where him and his army destroy everything in their path as they march north. -
13th Amendment
Congress Approves the 13th Amendment of the United States which abolishes slavery. -
Failure Peace Conference
A Peace Conference between Lincoln and the Confederate Vice President Fails. -
Lee's Surrender
General Robert E. Lee Surrenders to General Ulysses S. Grant in the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. -
Lincoln is Shot
While attending Ford's Theater the President is shot by John Wilkes Booth. -
Lincoln's Death
The following morning after being shot in the head, President Abraham Lincoln dies. -
Johnston's Surrender
General Johnston surrenders to General Sherman in North Carolina. -
John Wilkes Booth is Killed
Booth was shot and killed in a tobacco barn in Virginia. -
Lincoln Laid to Rest
Presiden Abraham Lincoln is laid to rest in the Oakfield Cemetary outside Springfield Illinois. -
13th Amendment Ratified
The 13th Amendment is ratified and officially added to the constitution. Slavery is Abolished. -
The KKK
The Ku Klux Klan is formed -
Douglass and Johnson Meet
A black delegation led by Fredrick Douglass meet with President Johnson to discuss black suffrage. The meeting ends in controversy. -
Texas Repeals
Texas Repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention. -
Civil Rights Bill
Congress passes Civil Rights Bill over Johnson's Veto -
Racial Violence
In Memphis Tennesse whites assault African Americans for nearly three days -
Tennesse Returns
Tennesse returns to the union and is the first former Confederate state to return to the union. -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th Amendment was proposed, but won't be ratified for another 2 years. -
Third Freedman Bill
Congress passes another Freedman Bill, overriding another Veto. -
New Orleans Riots
Riots break out at a Black Suffrage Convention in New Orleans and Whites attacked African Americans and Radical Republicans -
Demobilization
Union troops are demobilized in the South and half of the remaining troops are African American. -
Radical Reconstruction
Congress imposes Radical Reconstruction when the Republicans gained control of Reconstruction. Southerners got harsher treatment than in Lincoln or Johnson's reconstruction plans. -
African American's Vote
Congress grant African American men in Washington D.C. the right to vote, overriding Johnson's Veto. -
Nebraska
Nebraska becomes a state. -
Tenure of Office Act
Congress Passes the Tenure of Office act, denying presidents the right to remove officials that have the consent of Congress. -
Military Rule
The Federal government restores military rule to Mississippi -
Blacks Rejected
In Alexandria Virginia thousands of votes submitted by African American Voters were Rejected. -
Second Reconstruction Act
Congress passes the Second Reconstruction Act over Johnson's veto. -
Congress Re-Admits States
Congress admits all states but Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas who have not ratified the 14th Amendment. -
Johnson Violates Tenure of Office Act
President Johnson violates the Tenure of Office Act by suspending the Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. -
Alaska
Russia turns Alaska over to the United States. -
Elections
Reconstruction Elections held under the Radical Reconstruction Plan in every state but Texas
