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Battle at Fort Sumter
The Battle at Fort Sumter took place on April 12, 1861 – April 13, 1861. The Battle at Fort Sumter was the very first battle of the Civil War. This is significant because this was the very first battle of the Civil War. The Battle at at Fort Sumter was a Confederate victory. The Battle of Fort Sumter is important, because it plays an important role in triggering the Civil War. -
First Battle of Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run is considered to be the first major battle of the Civil War. The First Battle of Bull Run was a Confederate victory. The defeat for the Union shocked the people in the North who believed that one battle would defeat the Confederacy. This battle killed 400 Confederate soldiers and wounded 1600. 625 Union soldiers were killed, 950 were wounded, and 1,200 were captured. -
The Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh took place on April 6-7, 1862. 65,000 Union soldiers led by General Ulysses Grant fought against 45,000 Confederate soldiers led by General Albert Sidney Johnston. The Battle of Shiloh is significant because it was the most lethal battle of the war to date by far. The battle killed or wounded more than 23,000 Union and Confederate soldiers. The Battle of Shiloh was a Union victory. -
Capture of New Orleans
The Capture of New Orleans took place on April 25, 1862 – May 1, 1862. This was a Union victory. The Capture of New Orleans is significant because this is when the Confederacy lost their biggest city and main port. This is also significant because this is when the Confederacy lost control of the Mississippi. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was a Union victory. More than twenty-three thousand people had been killed or wounded. This is significant because it marks September 17 as the bloodiest day of the entire war and of U.S. military history. -
Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is significant, because it declared that all enslaved people in the Confederacy were free. Since the Union had no control over the Confederacy at the time, no slaves were actually freed. By issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, President Lincoln had clearly linked the goals of restoring the Union and abolishing slavery. -
Siege of Vicksburg
On May 18, 1863, 77,000 Union soldiers led by General Ulysses S. Grant besieged the city of Vicksburg for 47 days. Union troops cut off all supplies to the 32,000 Confederate soldiers as well as the civilians who remained. On July 4, 1863 the Confederate city of Vicksburg, Mississippi surrendered. This is significant, because it brought the Union one step closer to completely conquering the Confederacy, and ending the Civil War. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg took place on July 1-3, 1863. Lee believed that defeating the Union army on its own territory might lead the North to end the war. The Battle of Gettysburg is significant, because it was a clear defeat for the Confederacy and marked a turning point in the war. Lee’s army wouldn't launch another attack on Northern soil and Britain would never intervene on the side of the Confederacy. The Union victory also stopped Lee's second invasion of the North. -
1864 Presidential Election
Abraham Lincoln won the Presidential Election of 1864. This is significant, because this meant that there didn't need to be an interruption in the Civil War. This is also significant, because this was the first time that there was an election during a military emergency. -
The Battle of Appomattox Court House
The Battle of Appomattox Court House was the end of the Civil War. This is when Lee surrendered to Grant. The Battle of Appomattox Court House is significant, because this is when the Civil War was finally over.
