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Harper's Ferry
Led by John Brown a group of abolistonists raided the town of Harpers Ferry in hopes to destroy the strong pro slavery stronghold. While Brown was hoping he would gain help from liberated slaves he never earned it. It would end in Browns capture. -
Lincoln's First Election
He was elected the 16th president just ahead of John C. Breckinridge. Lincoln was a controversial canidate as he hated slavery. With Lincoln coming into office several states began the process of seceding. -
South Secedes
South Carolina would be the first to secede. A special convention would be called together in which there was a unamous vote to with draw from the union. -
Confederate States of America
The constitution of the South was largely similar to the North. However, it did recognize slavery and make it practically imposible to abolish it. The south also recognized states as soverign. -
First Income Tax
The first federal income tax put into play. Its sole purpose was to finance the war for the union. -
1 st Battle of Bull Run
This would be the first battle of the civil war. Where a union army under Irvin Mcdowell would meet a small confederate army under P.G.T. Beauregard in northern Virgina. After a savage counter attack by the south Mcdowell was forced to retreat to D.C. -
1 st confiscation Act
The first act was put in play in order to sieze union land in seceded territory. It also tried to liberate slaves within these areas. -
Trent Affair
a British ship is intercepted by union forces. Two confederate diplomats are found on board trying to gain foregin support. -
Monitor v. Merrimack
This was the only real naval engagment between the two. It was also a battle of two brand new all iron ships. The Monitor would emerge victorius for the North. -
Shiloh
A key moment in Grants march along the Tenesse river. Grant would be suprised at this town and lose a good majority of his forces. However, Grant would recover and win several days later. -
Capture of New Orleans
A squadron of ironclads and wooden vessels led by David G. Farragut would smash through defenses at the mouth of the Mississippi river and begin the fight. They took it over rather fast due to the fact that New Orleans was expecting an attack from the North. -
Homestead/Morrill Land Grant Acts
Was put in play after the secession of the south. The Homestead act allowed any person who hadnt taken up arms against the union 160 acres of land. The Morrill land grant act gave each union state 30,000 acres of public land to work with. -
Writ of Habeas Corpus suspended
Licoln suspends the right of an arrested to a speedy trial. He did so in regards to those disloyal to his form of goverment. -
2nd confiscation Act
was pushed through with efforts by radicals. It declared the freedom of slaves halping put down the confederacy. -
Antietam
An assualt led by George McClellan on Robert E. Lee's forces in Maryland. It was the single bloodiest days in the war as 6 thousand deaths and 17 thousand casualties. Lee would emerge victorious for the time. -
Emacipation Proclimation
This was a proclimation which Licoln drafted. It declared free slaves in all areas except those already under union control. The proclamation didnt apply to border states. -
National Draft Law
Virtually all males were eligiable for war and was one of the only systems used to gain a military. It was put in play due to the hevy amount of troops in the west. -
Vicksburg
This was the main point of success for the North. Grant, after stratigically placing his men, was able to over run Vicksburg. Until this point Vicksburg had been a stronghold in the west. -
Capture of Atlanta
William T. Sherman would march into Atlanta and defeat John B. Hood. Hood would try and bait Sherman North by threating to invade Tenesse. Sherman didnt take the bait and would eventually burn down Atlanta. -
Lincoln's Re-election
Lincoln barely won this election due to several key victories towards the end of his term. He also won many people over with his staunch negativity towards slavery and an impending abolishment of Slavery. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
After a successful campaign in Atlanta, Sherman would begin his march to the sea. Sherman would burn down everything in his path with the desire to gain control of the deep south. After reaching Savannah he would begin working his way North. -
13th Amendment
was put in place to declare that slavery or anyone involved in slavery shall be punished. However, it wouldnt be ratified until december 6th of the same year. -
Capture of Richmond
After a major victory in the heart of the South and the capture of a major railroad Richmond was in trouble. Grant's success at the railroad cut Richmond off from the rest of the South and left Robert E. Lee hopeless. -
Surrender at Appomattox
The Appomattox court house is where Robert E. Lee would surrender. Only 9 days later would Johnston surrender to Sherman in North Carolina. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln was attending a play at Ford's theater when he was shot in the back of the head. John Wilkes Booth was the ma responsible. The next moroning Lincoln passed away.
