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First Issue of the Liberator
The Liberator was written by William Lloyd Garrison, a white abolitionist. In the fist issue, he wrote "I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice.... I will not retreat a single inch- AND I WILL BE HEARD." -
Compromise of 1850 Passed
The Compromise was proposed by Henry Clay, a senator from Kentucky. In this Compromise, California was added to the Union as a free state. This Compromise also stated that there would be no slavery in Washington D.C. Finally, this Compromise passed a new Fugitive Slave Act which said anyone who helped a fugitive could be fined or imprisoned. -
Uncle Tom's Cabin Published
Uncle Tom's Cabin was a novel puvlished by Harriet Beecher Stowe which talks about a slave's horible life. It was originally incorporated chapter by chapter in a newspaper, but since it became popular, they decided to publish the book as a whole. -
The Kansas-Nebraska Act Passed
The Act was proposed by Stephen A. Douglas, a senator from Illinios, in 1854. Popular sovereignty would decide if slavery would or would not be allowed in Kansas and Nebraska. This Act repealed the Missouri Compromise. Northerners did not like this Act, but, on the other hand, the Southerners did. -
James Buchanan Sworn into Office as the 15th President
James Buchanan of pennsylvania, was a diplomat and former member of Congress. Buchanan tried to appeal to white Southerners. He won the presidential election in 1856. He took all the Southern states except for Maryland. He had 174 electoral votes. He was part of the Democratic Party, which supported popular sovereignty. -
Dred Scott Descision
Dred Scott was an enslaved African American. He was bought by a doctor in Missouri. He moved to Ilinois, Wisconsin, then back to Missouri. Dred Scott believed he should be free because he had lived on free land. He went from court to court, and eventually, his case reached the Supreme Court. Chief Justice Roger B. Taney ruled that Scott was still enslaved; living on free soil doesn't make him free. -
John Brown's Raid at Harper's Ferry
John Brown led a group to a federal arsenal to steal guns and ammunition so they could arm African Americans. He was defeated. This attempt was a success, but at the same time, it wasn't. John Brown died and they didn't steal the supplies, but they did get the Southerners very nervous. There were many mixed reactions to this event. Some Northerners rejected his use of violence, while others saw him as a martyr. Southerners, on the other hand, feared a great Northern Conspiracy aginst them. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected President
Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States. He was part of the Republican Party. He wanted to keep slavery where it's at, but ban it in any new territories. Eventually when the war starts, he sides with the North, and they end up winning the war, bringing the Union back together and ending slavery. -
South Carolina Secedes from the Union
South Carolina seceding from the Union caused many things, most importantly the Civil War. If they hadn't seceded, the other states wouldn't have seceded, so there wouldn't have been two groups to fight against each other. The seceded states would eventually call themselves the Confederate States of America. -
Battle at Fort Sumter Begins
Fort Sumter was a Union fort guarding Charleston Harbor. Lincoln received message that the fort was low on supplies and that the Confederates demanded its surrender. Lincoln sent an unarmed group to the fort with supplies. As they approached, Jefferson Davis ordered his men to attack. The Union ships couldn't reach the Fort, so the Union surrendered the fort. Surprisingly, no one had died. After the fighting was over, Lincoln issued a call for troops. Our Civil War had begun. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The first Battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle of the Civil War. The North launched several attacks, and it looked like they were going to win. During one attack, General Jackson got his nickname, "Stonewall." The Confederates, after stopping the Union attacks, counterattacked, causing the Union to retreat to Washington D.C. After this, McDowell was blamed for losing the battle, so he was replaced ny General McClellan. -
Emancipation Proclamation Goes into Effect
After the Union won the Battle of Antietam, he issued the Emancipation Proclamation. In this, he stated that all slaves shall be freed. Even though no slaves were freed, it was an important turning point in the war. -
Battle of Gettysburg Begins
The Confederates arrived in Gettysburg looking for supplies, so the North went to Cemetary Ridge, and held their ground. After shooting cannons at the Union, the Confederates charged under the leadership of General Pickett, in Pickett's Charge. At first, it seemed as if the charge would work, but the Confederates ended up losing half the men involved in the charge. The main importance of this battle is that it ended the Confederates hope for help from the French and British. -
Sherman's March to the Sea Begins
The Confederates wern't giving up, so Sherman and his troops went on his famous "March to the Sea." In this march, he fisrt went to Atlanta, and burned much of the city. Then he continued on his way towards the Atlantic Ocean, burning crops. He was met by General Grant near Richmond. They continued on , stealing food, burning fields, and killing livestock. This march was part of a strategy called total war, which means targeting the South's people and enviroment, not just their army. -
The Surrender at Appomattox Court House
Grant and Lee met in Appomattox Court House, Virginia, to discuss the war. Lee surrendered, since his troops were starving and had little fight left in them. As a result, Grant said all soldiers could keep arms or their horses (if they had one), no one would disturb them on their way home, and he also gave Lee's troops 25,000 rations. -
Lincoln's Assassination
On April 15th, some sources say 14th, President Abraham Lincoln attended a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C., 6 (or 5) days after the end of the Civil War. John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate actor, shot Lincoln during the play, and he was killed.
