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Election of Lincoln (VUS.7a)
The Democrat vote was split between Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas, and Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, the young Republican Party elected its first President in Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln pledged that he was not in favor of abolition, and would allow slavery to continue where it already existed. This promise was not enough to avoid secession! Read MORE -
Secession and the Confederacy (VUS.7a)
Jefferson Davis was selected to be the President, and their constitution resembled the old Articles of Confederation, with many powers reserved to the states (indicating the strong belief in States’ Rights). The first state to secede was South Carolina, followed by Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas were the original members. War seemed inevitable! Read MORE -
Lincoln Inaugurated (VUS.7a)
Abraham Lincoln once again tried to reach out to the states in rebellion, inviting them to return and assuring the Southern states that he did not support abolition. Eventually, Lincoln would be willing to go to war to restore the Union, not necessarily to emancipate slaves. Read his speech HERE. -
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Abraham Lincoln - "Honest Abe" (VUS.7)
Abraham Lincoln served during the most crucial period in American History. With a “hands-on” approach, he guided the nation through the Civil War, preserved the Union, and instigated what he called a “Second American Revolution”. -
Ft. Sumter Attacked! (VUS.7b)
This fort which guarded the harbor in Charleston, SC was being manned by pro-union troops. Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederacy, finally gave the authorization for Confederate forces to attack the fort. The Confederacy took to fort by the next day – and this is considered the opening shots of the Civil War! Read MORE -
VA and others join the Confederacy (VUS.7a)
On Feb. 13, Delegates across Virginia voted to remain with the Union. However, after news of FT. Sumter and Abraham Lincoln called for troops, the delegates changed their mind and joined the Confederacy. North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas also joined – making the eleven states in secession. Read More -
First Battle of Bull Run (VUS.7b)
The first “planned” battle between the Union and Confederacy, both sides were confident in their preparations. As the battle unfolded, confidence turned into chaos – the Union forces were routed, and the retreat was complicated by the number of spectators who came out to watch. The war would likely not “be over by Christmas”. Read MORE -
Homestead Act (VUS.8a)
This law provided free public land to people who would stake a claim of 160 acres, and work on that land to “improve” it. After 5 years, the land would become theirs! This law was designed to encourage people to migrate into the West – which became a popular thing for those who were devastated by the Civil War. Read MORE -
Pacific Railroad Act Encourages Growth (VUS.8b)
This was the first of the land grants to railroads which were given by the Federal Government. Railroads were given land on which to build their lines, but then given the opportunity to sell the extra land off to potential farmers to help ease their cost of building. This was an example of Government encouraging the expansion of industry, and the settling of the West. MORE -
Antietam (VUS.7b-c)
Union General George McClellan attacked Confederate forces commanded by Robert E. Lee in Maryland. Considered the bloodiest day of single battle, there were about 23,000 casualties, which ended with Lee’s retreat. McClellan’s failure to chase and capture Lee likely extended the war. After this “victory”, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. MORE -
Emancipation Proclamation (VUS.7b-c)
Announced after the Battle of Antietam, Lincoln demanded that slaves held in areas of rebellion would be “free”. Lincoln was hoping to make slavery an issue for the Civil War, to prevent Great Britain and France from assisting the Confederacy, and to weaken the war power of the South by encouraging slaves to revolt. Read MORE -
54th of Mass becomes first Black Regiment (VUS.7b)
At the urging of Frederick Douglass, and with the assistance of the Emancipation Proclamation, Lincoln authorized the creation of the first “Black Regiment”, the 54th of Mass. In the end, about 180,000 African-Americans served in the war on the side of the Union. Read MORE -
Richmond Bread Riots (VUS.7e)
There were severe shortages on the home front during the Civil War. Women were asked to take on new roles in agriculture, nursing, and in war industries – and often faced poverty and hunger. Rapid inflation and scarcity of goods caused the women in Richmond to “take to the streets”. Read about how the Civil War affected the NORTH and the SOUTH at the home front. -
Siege of Vicksburg begins (VUS.7b)
The victory at Vicksburg did not come until July 4, 1863 – but the capture by Ulysses S. Grant placed the Mississippi River under Union control, which split the Confederacy and greatly hurt their war making abilities. Read MORE -
West Virginia becomes a state (VUS.7)
Unsatisfied with secession, several western counties in Virginia decided to petition Congress for statehood. Eager to have former Confederate territory rejoin the Union, West Virginia became a new state – technically a border state – where slavery would still be permitted under the terms of the Emancipation Proclamation (as they were no longer in rebellion). Read MORE -
Battle of Gettysburg (VUS.7b)
To relieve pressure on the Confederate capitol of Richmond, Robert E. Lee devised a plan to attack Union territory in Pennsylvania. This 3-day battle would mark the TURNING POINT in the war, as lee lost so many men that he was forced to retreat to central Virginia and attempt to defend the capitol. Read MORE -
Gettysburg Address (VUS.7c)
Abraham Lincoln, while dedicating a national cemetery at the Battle of Gettysburg, reminded the nation of the purpose of the war – to preserve this union. Reiterating that “all men are created equal”, and that this is a nation “of the people, by the people and for the people”. A short but eloquent speech inspired the nation. Read the text of the SPEECH -
Lincoln issues a plan for Reconstruction (VUS.7d)
General amnesty for all Confederates who pledged oath of loyalty to the Union, officers and high Confederate officials would be temporarily excluded, and when 1 out of 10 people took the oath, the state could launch a new government. Lincoln wanted to act, “With malice toward none, with charity for all, to bind up the nation’s wounds” as stated in his second inaugural address. MORE -
Grant becomes commander of Union Army (VUS.7b)
After several other Union commanders had failed in capturing Robert E. Lee’s forces, Abraham Lincoln turned to Ulysses S. Grant – hero of the Western front – to lead all the Union forces. Read MORE -
Sherman’s March to the Sea (VUS.7b)
One of Grant’s best generals, William T. Sherman, abandoned his supply lines and marched across Georgia after burning Atlanta. He operated using a “scorched earth” policy, destroying land and property along the way. This march of destruction ended on December 22 as he won Savannah. From there, he turned north to help Grant in Virginia. Grant would not need the help! MORE -
Lee Surrenders at Appomattox (VUS.7b)
Unable to hold Richmond, Robert E. Lee was chased to Appomattox, where he surrendered his army. Generous terms were offered by Grant – and this effectively ended the formal Civil War. While some skirmishes still were fought, Robert E. Lee encouraged the defeated southerners to accept – and rejoin the union. Read MORE -
“The Last Shot” of the Civil War (VUS.7d)
Part of a large plot that included several assassination attempts, John Wilkes Booth shot and killed Abraham Lincoln as he watched a play at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C. A Confederate sympathizer, Booth and his conspirators were likely attempting to continue the fight. Lincoln died the next morning – Read MORE
