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Robert E. Lee Resignes From Army
Colonel Robert E. Lee resigns from the United States army two days after he was offered command of the Union army and three days after his native state, Virginia, seceded from the Union.
Lee opposed secession, but he was a loyal son of Virginia. His official resignation was only one sentence, but he wrote a longer explanation to his friend and mentor, General Winfield Scott, later that day. -
Confederates defeat Union forces at the Battle of Bull Run
July 21 1861 was the Battle of Bull Run, this was the first major battle of the civil war. Both Union and confederate forces were poorly trained. After the Battle of Bull Run Lincoln realized more troops would be needed for the war, and a bill was signed for the enlistment of 500,000 men for three years. The Union first tried to enlist men by offering them money to fight in the war, soon later congress issued a national draft to gain troops to help fight in the war. -
Trent Affair
Trent Affair Video
The Trent Affair was a diplomatic crisis that took place between the United States and Great Britain from November to December 1861, during the U.S. Civil War (1861-65). -
The Legal Tender Act
To finance the Civil War, the federal government in 1862 passed the Legal Tender Act, authorizing the creation of paper money not redeemable in gold or silver. -
Congress passes the National Conscription Act
This was the first draft of U.S. citizens in American history. It called for males between the age of 20-45. Exemption from the draft could be bought for $300 or by finding a substitute draftee. This led to bloody draft riot. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was a major battle in the civil war and caused 20,000 casualties. The battle happened when a union army was camped along a Tennessee river and were ambushed by confederate forces. The Union refused to surrender and the next day they launched an attack on the south forcing them to retreat. The Union had won the battle but the battle was bloody and many lives were lost. -
Confederate Congress Passes Conscription Law
During the Civil War, the U.S. Congress passes a conscription act that produces the first wartime draft of U.S. citizens in American history. The act called for registration of all males between the ages of 20 and 45, including aliens with the intention of becoming citizens, by April 1. This clause led to bloody draft riots in New York City, where protesters were outraged that exemptions were effectively granted only to the wealthiest U.S. citizens. -
Battle of Antietam
The battle of Antietam took place September 17 1862 and is the bloodiest single day in American History. Robert E Lee invaded Maryland in hopes that winning a victory on Northern soil would help convince the South of the North's independence. The battle killed over 6,000 men and wounded 16,000 more. The victory of the North enabled Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This freed the slaves in the Southern colonies. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation took effect January 1 1863. Lincoln waited to issued the Proclamation after the union victory at the Battle of Antietam. The Emancipation Proclamation freed all enslaved people in rebellious states. The proclamation didn't free slaves in border states because Lincoln feared that in doing so he would lose the support of the states. The Emancipation Proclamation gave freedom to African-Americans in 10 states. -
54th Massachusetss regiment
The 54th Massachusetts regiment began recruiting African Americans to enlist in the Union army and navy. Immediately thousands joined the military. 54th Massachusetts was one of the first African American regiments. -
Women lead food riots in Richmond, Virginia
The riots were triggered by the women's lack of money, provisons, and food, women and men violently invaded and looted various shops and stores. Women began to protest the price of bread, and believed the government was to blame. Many protestors turned to violence. -
Battle of Fort Wagner
Battle of Fort Wagner Video
The Battle of Fort Wagner was fought July 1863 during the Civil War. The African American Regiment fought valiantly at Fort Wagner losing nearly half of it's soldiers in the battle. At the end of the war, the New York Tribune declared that the heroism of the 54th Massachusetts regiment forever answered the question of wether African Americans could make good soldiers.
