Civil War and Reconstruction

Battle of Fort Sumter

Apr 12, 1861

First Battle of the Civil War

Battle of Hampton Roads

Mar 8, 1862

Battle between two ironclad ships and was the first engagement of ironclads in history.

Homestead Act

May 20, 1862

Provided that any adult citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. government could claim 160 acres of surveyed government land.

Seven Days Battle

Jul 26, 1862

Series of 6 Battles near Richmond, Virgina. The Battles included: Oak Grove, Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, Savage’s Station, Glendale, Malvern Hill.

Invasion of the north at Anteitam

Sep 17, 1862

Bloodest single day of war with 22,717 dead, wounded, missing

Emancipation Proclamation

Jan 1, 1863

The proclamation declared "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free."

Conscription Act

Mar 3, 1863

All men between 20-45 must regester for the draft in war. Exemptions in war are to pay $300 or find someone to take your spot. reaction to this was the riot in New York

Battle of Gettysburg

Jul 3, 1863

General Lee's furthest major offensive in the north. Took place in Pennsylavania. An estimated 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, captured, or listed as missing after Gettysburg.
-Costliess of the war in terms of caualties and led to the Gettysburg address

Siege of Vicksburg

Jul 4, 1863

In the Western Theater General Grant laid Siege to and captured Vicksburg. Union won

Atlanta Campaign

Sep 1, 1863

Series of battles fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War throughout northwest Georgia and the area around Atlanta. Union General Sherman took Atlanta. Atlanta was a rainroad hub and manufactoring state. Happened close to the election of 1864.

Gettysburg Address

Nov 19, 1863

President Abraham Lincoln was invited to deliver remarks, which later became known as the Gettysburg Address, at the official dedication ceremony for the National Cemetery of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania, on the site of one of the bloodiest and most decisive battles of the Civil War.

Civil Rights Act

Jul 2, 1864

Ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, is considered one of the crowning legislative achievements of the civil rights movement.

Battle of Appomattox Court house

Apr 9, 1865

Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered his approximately 28,000 troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant in the front parlor of Wilmer McLean’s home in Appomattox Court House, Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War.

Civil Rights Bill

Apr 9, 1866

Passed by Congress over the veto of President Andrew Johnson. The act declared that all persons born in the United States were now citizens, without regard to race, color, or previous condition.

Reconstruction Act

Mar 2, 1867

Divided the South (except Tennessee) into five military districts in which the authority of the army commander was supreme.

Amendment XIV

Jul 9, 1868

The amendment addresses citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws, and was proposed in response to issues related to former slaves following the American Civil War.