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Limcoln was elected president
Even though he won in the electoral college. Lincoln's lack of a popular majority votes was is an indication of the problems he would face with a divided nation. -
South Carolina secedes from the union
When everyone heard the news about Lincoln's election, the South Carolina seceded. -
States meet to form Confederacy
In Montgomery, Alabama, delegates from South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana convene to establish the Confederate States of America.write their own constitution, and plan for an independent nation -
Lincoln inaugurated
Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th president of the United States. And his inauguration speech, Lincoln extendes an olive branch to the South. But made it clear that he intended to enforce federal laws in the states that seceded. -
Fort Sumter fired upon
The American Civil War begins when Confederates fired on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor in South Carolina. -
The First Battle of Bull Run
Was the first major land battle of the Civil War. It was a large Union force under General Irvin McDowell. And was routed by a Confederate army under General Pierre G.T. Beauregard. -
The Battle of Fort Henry & Fort Donelson
Was the first significant Union victory of the American Civil War. It was in effort to gain control of rivers and supply lines west of the Appalachians. The Union also on this day sent thousands of rebel troops to reinforce at the Fort Donelson. Which was located 10 miles away on the Cumberland River. -
Monitor vs. Merrimack
Was one of the most famous naval battles in American history. It occured as two ironclads, the U.S.S.Monitor and the C.S.S. Virginia fight to a draw off Hampton Roads. The ships pounded each other all morning but their armor plates easily deflected the cannon shots, signaling a new era of steam-powered iron ships. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Civil War explodesd in the west as the armies of Union General Ulysses S. Grant and Confederate General Albert Sidney Johnston collide at Shiloh. Close to Pittsburgh Landing in Tennessee. This battle became one of the bloodiest engagements of the war. And the level of violence shocked North and South alike. -
2nd Battle of Bull Run
Was between the Union and confederate armies in Virginia. A large Union force commanded by John Pope. He waited for George McClellan's Army. Robert E. Lee was the one who first decided to strike. He sent half of his army to hit the Federal supply base at Manassas. And then led Stonewall Jackson 13 months earlier to the rebels seized supplies and burned the depot. August 29 Pope's Federals clashed with Jackson's men.Next day Longstreet launched a counterattack forcing Pope to withdraw. -
Battle of Antietam
Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s army pulls away from Antietam Creek. And heads back to Virginia. A day before at the Battle of Antietam, Lee’s force had engaged in the bloodiest one-day battle of the Civil War. The armies struggled to a standstill. But all the magnitude of losses led Lee to abandon his invasion of Maryland. -
The Battle of Fredericksburg
Was fought December 11-15, 1862 around Fredericksburg, Virginia. Between General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia and the Union Army of the Potomac. Commanded by Major General Ambrose Burnside. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation as a nation and approched its third year of bloody civil war. The proclamation declaredd "that all persons held as slaves " within the rebellious states "are, and henceforward shall be free." -
Battle of Vicksburg
Started on May 18 until July 4 of 1863. On July 4 Vicksburg surrendered after prolonged siege operations. It was one of the most brilliant military campaigns of the war. With all the loss of Pemberton's army and it is a vital stronghold on the Confederacy was effectively split in half. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Lasted from July 1-3 of 1863. Was fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. By Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. The battle involved the largest number of casualties of the all wars. Also is often described as the war's turning point. -
Sherman's march to sea
Began in Atlanta on November 15, 1864, and ended in Savannah on December 21, 1864. William T. Sherman abandoned his supply line and marched across Georgia to the Atlantic Ocean to prove to the Confederate population. That his government could not protect the people from invaders. He practiced psychological warfar. He believed that by marching an army across the state he would demonstrate to the world that the Union had a power the Confederacy could not resist. -
Robert E. Lee surenders
At Virginia, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders his 28,000 troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant. Ending the American Civil War. And forced to abandon the Confederate capital of Richmond, and blocked from joining the surviving Confederate force in North Carolina. Also harassed constantly by Union cavalry. Leewas left with no other option.
