-
Uncle Tom's Cabin is published
It was an anti-slave novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe. -
Republican Party is formed
The anti-slavery Whigs and upper Midwestern states met to discuss creating a new party. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act passed
It allowed both Kansas and Nebraska to decide if they would allow slavery inside their boarders. It was created to appeal the Missouri Compromise. -
Dred Scott v. Stanford decision is rendered
It stated that the slaves were not citizens of the United States and they could not sue in federal court. -
John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry
John Brown was an armed abolitionist. He wanted to initiate an armed slaves revolt. John went about this by taking over the United States arsenal in Harper's Ferry, Virginia. -
John brown is hanged
He was executed on charges of treason and murder. -
Abraham Lincoln elected president
Lincoln faced Douglas one last time on the day of the election.Lincoln won the election. -
South Carolina votes to secede from the United States
South Carolina was the first slave state from the south to announce that they had seceded from the United States. -
Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter
The Confederate forces opened fire around Fort Sumter. Later the next day the fort was surrendered to the confederate forces. -
Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy
It was moved to Richmond after the battle of Fort Sumter was won. -
Lincoln suspends habeas corpus
Lincoln met with congress and explained that this was necessary and constitutional. -
First Battle of Bull Run is fought
It was fought in Prince William County Virginia.It was also known as the first battle of Manassas. -
Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederacy
Jefferson Davis had ran without an opponent. President Lincoln supported Davis and wanted him to be elected. -
The Merrimac and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast
It was the first meeting in combat with ironclad ships. -
Battle of Shiloh
Fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War. This battle was a victory for the union. -
Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
The army got its final name from Lee when he was announced as the commander. -
Battle of Antietam
Was also known as the battle of Sharpsburg. This battles outcome is vital to America's future. It was one of the deadliest battles in America's history. -
Emancipation Proclamation is announced
It was announced in the middle of the civil war. It stated that if the rebels did not rejoin the Union by January 1st of the new year all slaves in those states would be free. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
General Robert E. Lee fought using the Confederate Army against the Union Army. The Confederate Army won. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The confederates won this battle that was able to stop a flanking movement. -
Confederates surrender at Vicksburg
It was the last major confederate stronghold on the Mississippi River.Capturing it completed the second part of the Northern strategy. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The battle of Gettysburg is considered one of the most important battles in the civil war.The Union took a great victory at that battle. -
New York City draft riots
They were violent disturbances in lower Manhattan. -
Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address
He gave his address during the civil war. It happened at the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery. -
Congress passes the 13th Amendment
This is the amendment that abolished all slavery in the United Sates unless it was punishment for a crime. -
Atlanta is captured
The Union captured Atlanta but before that happened a battle was fought. This was another battle in the civil war. -
Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election
Democrat Abraham Lincoln beat out his opponent George McClellan
in his re-election, in the middle of the Civil War. -
Sherman begins his March to the Sea
General Sherman led 60,000 union men on a 285 mile march.The purpose was to frighten Georgia's civilian population. -
Freedman's Bureau is created
It is an agency of the United States Department of War. -
Lincoln gives his second inaugural address
His second inaugural address was delivered in the final days of the civil war and just a month before he was assassinated. -
Richmond falls to the Union Army
The Union won against the Confederacy at Richmond and they were able to capture Richmond from the Confederacy. -
Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox
Was one of the last battles of the American Civil War. -
President Lincoln Assassinated
President Lincoln was assassinated by stage actor John Wilkes Booth. He was attending a play at the time of his assassination. -
John Wilkes Booth is killed
Union soldiers tracked him down. They found him at a farm 12 days after he killed Lincoln.