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United States Civil War
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Jefferson Davis Reveals He is in Favor of Secession
Jefferson Davis announced that he was in favor of secession from the Union for the first time. -
National Democratic Convention
Southern delegates hold a National Democratic convention in Richmond, VA. -
Democratic Convention in Richmond
A Democratic Convention was held in Richmond, VA. They chose John C. Breckinridge as their nominee for President there. -
Abraham Lincoln Elected 16th President of the United States
Abraham Lincoln of Illinois wins the 1860 Presidential Election by obtaining 180 electoral votes. Lincoln won 39% of the popular vote and would become Chief of Party for the Republicans. -
James Chesnut
James Chesnut was the first Southerner to resign from Senate on November 10, 1860. -
Robert Toombs Resigns from Senate
After many secession debates, Robert Toombs announced the resignation from the US Senate at the end of his term. -
South Carolina Formally Secedes from the Union
South Carolina was the first state to formally seceed from the Union. They did not agree with the beliefs of the Union and disliked the fact that Abraham Lincoln was elected President. -
Edwin Stanton
Edwin Stanton becomes Attorney-General in the Buchanan Administration on December 20, 1860. -
James Buchanan Requests John Floyd's Resignation
On December 23, 1860, James Buchanan requested the resignation of Secretary of War, John Floyd. -
John Floyd Resigns
John Floyd resigned from Secretary of War for misdirecting funds to contractors and guns to the South. -
Mississippi Secedes From the Union
Mississippi was not happy with the election of Lincoln and seceded from the Union. -
Florida Secedes From the Union
The people in Florida did not want their Southern lifestyles being changed, so they seceded from the Union. -
Alabama Secedes From the Union
Alabama did not want their southern lfiestyle to be changed, so they seceded from the Union. -
Georgia Secedes From the Union
Georgia joined fellow southern states and seceeded from the Union in 1861. -
Louisiana Secedes From the Union
Louisiana was afraid that the North would try and control their lifestyle. They did not have the same political views as the North, so they seceded from the Union. -
Texas Secedes From the Union
Texas joined it's fellow southern states in the fight for their freedoms by seceding from the Union. -
The Confederate States of America are Formed
The Confederate States of America are formed with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate, as President. -
President Abraham Lincoln Inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln was inaugurated as President for the first time. -
Virginia Secedes From the Union
Virginia joined the fight for southern liberties and seceded from the Union in 1861. -
Arkansas Secedes From the Union
Arkansas joined it's neighboring states and seceded from the Union in 1861. -
North Carolina Secedes From the Union
The citizens of North Carolina did not want to have their lifestyle taken away because of the North. They seceded from the Union in 1861. -
Tennessee Secedes From the Union
Tennessee seceded from the Union in 1861. Like in many other states, the people of Tennessee did not want their southern life style taken away from them. -
Battle of Mill Springs
The battle in Kentucky was one of the Union's first significant victories of the Civil War. -
Union forces take Fort Henry
General Grant and his men won the battle at Fort Henry, and gained a great advantage over the Confederacy. They took Fort Henry which was on the Tennessee River. -
Fort Donelson
The Confederate Fort Donelson was captured by Union General Grant and his army. -
Willie Lincoln
President Lincoln's twelve year old son, Willie, passed away from fever caused by drinking polluted water. -
The Battle of Shiloh
General Grant defeated General Jonhston during the two day battle at a small church named Shiloh in Tennessee. -
Conscription in The Confederacy
Conscription (enrollment for military services) is adopted in the Confederacy. -
Jefferson Davis Replaces Johnston with Lee
Jefferson Davis replaces wounded Army of Northern Virginia commander Joseph E. Johnston with Robert E. Lee. -
Horace Greeley
Horace Greeley of the New York Tribune publishes The Prayer of Twenty Millions, a plea for Lincoln to liberate slaves in the Union. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
Stonewall Jackson and James Longstreet lead the Confederate Army to victory once again at Bull Run. -
Battle of Antietam
The Union Army defearted the Confederacy at Antietam, Maryland. It was one of the bloodiest battles ever in American history. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, which declares that slaves in the seceded states are now free. -
Draft act
On March 3, 1863, President Lincoln signed a federal draft act. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
General Lee won the battle of Chancellorsville, but suffered another great loss there. During the battle, Stonewall Jackson was accidentally shot by a fellow Confederate soldier. -
Stonewall Jackson Dies
After accidentally being shot during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Stonewall Jackson developped pneumonia. He died on May 10, 1863. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought. This battle is known as the turning point of the war for the Union soldiers. General Lee was forced to retreat across the Potomac. -
Battle at Vicksburg
The Confederates surrender Vicksburg to Ulysses S. Grant, securing the Mississippi River for the Union. -
Riots In NYC
Many vicious riots took place in New York City in protest of the draft. -
Battle at Chickamauga
The Confederates were victorious at the battle of Chickamauga, Georgia. General Braxton Bragg led the Confederates to the victory. -
The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln delivered his famous speech, The Gettysburg Address. In the speech he reiterates that all men are created equal. -
Battle at Chattanooga
The Union had another victory at Chattanooga, Tennessee. This opened the path for the Union troops into the heart of the Confederacy. -
Lieutenant General Grant
Ulysses S. Grant is ranked as lieutenant general and given official authority to command all of the armies of the United States. -
The Battle of the Wilderness
The Battle of the Wilderness in Virginia is the first of a bloody series of month-long engagements between Generals Grant and Lee. -
The Battle of Cold Harbor
The Battle of Cold Harbor leads to a great loss of Union soldiers. -
Battle of Kennesaw Mountain
The Confederates were victorious at the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain in Georgia. The Union suffered high casualties. -
Lincoln Repeals Fugitive Slave Laws
Lincoln signs a bill repealing the fugitive slave laws. -
Farragut wins Battle of Mobile Bay
Union Admiral David G. Farragut wins the Battle of Mobile Bay. -
Union Victory at Cedar Creek
The Union victory at Cedar Creek ends the Confederate threat in the Shenandoah Valley. -
Lincoln Reelected
Lincoln is reelected President, with Andrew Johnson as Vice President. -
Battle of Nashville
General George Henry Thomas wins the Battle of Nashville for the Union. -
Sherman's Victory at Savannah
Savannah falls to Sherman’s army without resistance. Sherman gives the city to Lincoln as a Christmas present. -
Fort Fisher
Union victory in North Carolina that finally isolated Wilmington, the last southern port capable of helping Lee’s army. -
Thirteenth Amendment
Congress passes the Thirteenth Amendment, which abolishes slavery throughout the United States. -
Sherman Captures Columbia
Sherman’s army capture Columbia, the state capital of South Carolina. -
Lincoln's Second Inauguration
Lincoln is inaugurated as President for a second term. -
Battle of Kinston
The Union troops were victorious at the Battle of Kinston in North Carolina. The Confederates suffered a greater loss than the Union Army. -
Union Troops Occupy Richmond
Union troops finally occupy Richmond, the Confederate Capital. -
Lincoln Assassinated
John Wilkes Booth shoots President Lincoln at Ford’s Theater. Secretary of State William H. Seward is stabbed and wounded in an assassination attempt in his own home. -
Andrew Johnson Inaugurated
Lincoln dies, and Andrew Johnson is inaugurated as President. -
Jefferson Davis Captured
Jefferson Davis is captured and taken prisoner near Irwinville, Georgia. -
Lincoln's Conspirators Captured
Eight of the conspirators are convicted for the assassination of President Lincoln. Four of them are sentenced to death. -
Texas and The Secessionist Convention
Texas repeals the actions of the Secessionist Convention on March 15, 1866. -
President Johnson Vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 stating that it was unconstitutional. -
The U.S. Government Declares Peace with The South
The United States declares that a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia. -
Congress Overrides President Johnson's Veto
Congress overrides President Andrew Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act after he ruled it was unconstitutional. -
The Fourteenth Amendment
Thirty ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. -
Connecticut Approves the 14th Amendment
Connecticut approves the 14th Amendment on June 25, 1866. -
New Hampshire Ratifies the 14th Amendment
New Hampshire ratifies the 14th Amendment on July 6th, 1866. -
Congress Overrides President Johnson Again
Congress overrides Andrew Johnson's veto of the Freedman's Bureau bill. -
Tennessee Ratifies the 14th Amendment
Tennessee ratifies the 14th Amendment. This quick ratification meant Tennessee would not suffer under 2nd Reconstruction. -
Congress Creates the Rank of Admiral
Congress creates the rank of Admiral. David Farragut is appointed to that rank. -
Ohio Ratifies the 14th Amendment
Ohio ratifies the 14th Amendment on January 4th, 1867. -
Kentucky Rejects the 14th Amendment
Kentcucky becomes one of the first states to reject the 14th Amendment. -
African Americans Can Vote
African Americans in Washington D. C. gain the right to vote in a bill passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto. -
Virginia Rejects the 14th Amendment
Virginia rejects the 14th Amendment like Kentucky recently did. -
New York Ratifies the 14th Amendment
New York joins many other states and ratifies the 14th Amendment. -
Kansas Ratifies the 14th Amendment
Kansas ratifies the 14th Amendment. -
Pennsylvania Ratifies the 14th Amendment
Pennsylvania ratifies the 14th Amendment joining other states like New York. -
Illinois Ratifies the 14th Amendment
Illinois ratifies the 14th Amendment like Pennsylvania and New York. -
West Virgina Ratifies the 14th Amendment
West Virginia ratifies the 14th Amendment like Illinois, PA and NY. -
Michigan Ratifies the 14th Amendment
Michigan ratifies the 14th Amendment like West Virgina, Illionois and Pennsylvania.
