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Republican Party is Formed
The Republican Party was created by people who opposed the spread of slavery into new territories. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act Passed
This law let people in Kansas and Nebraska vote on whether to allow slavery, which caused major tensions between pro- and anti-slavery groups. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
Lincoln was elected as the first Republican president, which upset many Southern states. -
South Carolina Votes to Secede from the United States
South Carolina became the first state to secede after Lincoln's election. -
Jefferson Davis Elected President of the Confederacy
Davis was chosen to lead the newly formed Confederate States of America. -
Confederate Forces Fire on Fort Sumter
The first shots of the Civil War were fired by the Confederates at this Union fort in South Carolina. -
Lincoln Suspends Habeas Corpus
Lincoln took away the right to a fair trial for some people to stop rebellion and keep order. -
Richmond Becomes the Capital of the Confederacy
The Confederacy moved its capital to Richmond, Virginia, closer to the fighting. -
First Battle of Bull Run is Fought
This was the first major battle of the war, and it showed that the conflict would be long and deadly. -
The Merrimac and the Monitor Fight of the Virginia Coast
These two ironclad ships battled to a draw, changing naval warfare forever. -
Battle of Shiloh
One of the bloodiest early battles, it showed how brutal the war would become. -
Robert E. Lee is Named Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
Lee became the top general for the Confederate army in the East and led many major battles. -
Battle of Antietam
This was the bloodiest single day in American history and led to Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
A major Confederate victory, where Union forces suffered heavy losses attacking entrenched positions. -
Emancipation Proclamation is Announced
Lincoln declared that enslaved people in the Confederate states were free, changing the war’s purpose. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
A major Confederate victory, but General "Stonewall" Jackson was accidentally killed by his own men. -
Battle of Gettysburg
A turning point of the war, the Union repelled Lee's invasion of the North. -
Confederates Surrenders at Vicksburg
The Union gained control of the Mississippi River, splitting the Confederacy in two. -
New York City Draft Riots
Violent protests broke out over a new draft law, especially among poor immigrants. -
Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address
In a short speech, Lincoln honored fallen soldiers and reaffirmed the goal of saving the Union. -
Atlanta is Captured
Union forces took Atlanta, a key Southern city, boosting Northern morale and helping Lincoln’s re-election. -
Abraham Lincoln Defeats George McClellan to win re-election
Despite the ongoing war, Lincoln was re-elected, showing support for continuing the fight. -
Sherman Begins his March to the Sea
Union General Sherman marched through Georgia, destroying everything to weaken the South’s will to fight. -
Congress Passes the 13th Amendment
This amendment officially abolished slavery throughout the United States. -
Freedman's Bureau is Created
The government set up this agency to help formerly enslaved people adjust to freedom. -
Lincoln Gives his Second Inaugural Address
Lincoln called for healing and unity as the war neared its end. -
Richmond Falls to the Union Army
The Confederate capital was captured by Union troops, signaling the South's defeat. -
Robert E. Lee Surrenders at Appomattox
Lee surrendered to General Grant, effectively ending the Civil War. -
President Lincoln Assassinated
Lincoln was shot by John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford’s Theatre. -
John Wilkes Booth is Killed
Booth was found and killed by Union soldiers after assassinating Lincoln.