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Presidential Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln wins the Presidential Election against three other candidates and becomes the first Republican to gain presidency in the United States. Lincoln received immense support from the North, which was heavily populated, and had no support from the South which kindled more tension.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/election-of-1860 -
Secession Begins
South Carolina (which did not have any support for President Lincoln) secedes from the Union after refusing to reside under a Republican President in fear of Lincoln posing a threat to slavery that their economy relied on.
Source: https://www.historytoday.com/archive/months-past/south-carolina-secedes-union -
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Follow South Carolina's Lead
Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Kansas, and Texas join South Carolina in holding a convention and voting upon seceding from the Union before Abraham Lincoln had even been inaugurated as President of the United States.
Source: https://ehistory.osu.edu/articles/states-which-seceded -
Confederate States of America est. 1861
The states that had seceded from the Union meet in Montgomery, Alabama and establish the Confederate States of America. They also appoint former Mississippi Senator, Jefferson Davis, as the President of the Confederate States of America and Alexander Stephens as Vice President.
Source:https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/confederate-states-of-america -
First Major Battle - Battle of Bull Run
First major battle of the Civil War and was a victory for the Confederate army.
Video: https://youtu.be/hMecSHNA9UU -
Antietam the Bloodiest 1 Day Civil War Battle
The Battle of Antietam took place in Maryland and resulted in approximately 23,000 deaths and although there was no clear victor, the battle gave rise to President Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation by suppressing the Confederacy.
Video: https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-antietam
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/battle-of-antietam -
Lincoln's 10% Plan
The Ten Percent Plan was proposed by President Abraham Lincoln as a method for Confederate states to reunite with the Union if 10% of the 1860 votes had pledged their allegiance to the United States and if they would agree the slavery is prohibited.
Source: https://www.americanhistoryusa.com/topic/ten-percent-plan/ -
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The Battle of Gettysburg
In Gettysburg, Pennsylvania the Confederate Army's leader, Robert E. Lee, chooses to invade Union territory and attempt to beat the Union on their own soil. However, it is a Union victory and results in 51,000 casualties.
Video: https://youtu.be/v9aQXVA_cks -
The Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln reflects upon and honors those who died at the Battle of Gettysburg and to bring about inspiration in Union citizens to continue the fight for an equal and lasting America.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/gettysburg-address#section_5 -
"Black Laws"
Southern states, such as Mississippi and South Carolina, enact "Black Codes' to suppress Black Americans further by controlling their rights and limiting their freedom. Many laws remained intact until the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Source: https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-codes -
The Thirteenth Amendment
Slavery is now abolished due to the signing of The Thirteenth Amendment that had been added to the Constitution of the United States. Would not be ratified until Dec. 6, 1865.
Source: https://www.archives.gov/historical-docs/13th-amendment -
The Confederacy Surrenders
Confederate General, Robert E. Lee, surrenders his soldiers to the Union's General, Ulysses S. Grant, at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia ending the Civil War.
Source: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/robert-e-lee-surrenders -
President Lincoln Assassinated
Former slave owner, John Wilkes Booth, assassinates President Abraham Lincoln due to contention of equal rights for Black Americans.
Video: https://youtu.be/7NZLe90ZD2k -
The Fourteenth Amendment
The Fourteenth Amendment granted to everyone born in the United States citizenship and "equal protection of the laws". This includes former slaves and was a step closer for equality and civil rights for Black Americans.
Source:https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/fourteenth-amendment
Video: https://youtu.be/i8m5orOB3gk -
President Ulysses S. Grant
Known as an American hero after serving as a Union Army General during the Civil War, Ulysses S. Grant wins the 1868 Presidential Election. -
First Black Senator
Hiram Revels becomes the first Black senator and was very outspoken about racial injustice. Revels only served as senator for one year, yet it was a step in the right direction for progression.
Source:https://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/history/h_multi_sections_and_teasers/Photo_Exhibit_African_American_Senators.htm -
The Fifteenth Amendment
The Fifteenth Amendment prohibited discrimination in voting that is based on race. Many Black Americans were still not granted access to vote despite the ratification of this amendment.
Video: https://youtu.be/3PWgcHkHFeM -
The 42nd Congress
The Forty-second Congress included five Black Representatives including Benjamin S. Turner, Josiah T. Walls, Robert Brown Elliot, Joseph H. Rainey, and Robert Carlos DeLarge.
Source:https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/treasures_of_congress/Images/page_13/47a.html -
First Black Govenor
P.B.S. Pinchback became state governor of Louisiana, however due to growing tension from white citizens, his term was very short.
Source: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/the-black-governor-who-was-almost-a-senator/ -
Civil Rights Act of 1875
Introduced by Charles Sumner, the bill guaranteed equal treatment and outlawed racial discrimination for Black Americans in public accommodations, however the bill was later deemed Unconstitutional in 1883.
Source: https://www.annenbergclassroom.org/timeline_event/civil-rights-act-of-1875-declared-unconstitutional/ -
The New Governor of South Carolina
Wade Hampton, a Confederacy military leader, is elected South Carolina Governor. This shows how the south is not willing to commit to the Reconstruction.
Source:https://www.history.com/topics/american-civil-war/wade-hampton -
End of the Reconstruction-The Compromise of 1877
The Compromise of 1887 allowed Florida, Louisiana, and South Carolina to become democratic and these southern states promised to preserve the rights and freedoms of Black citizens, however these promises were not upheld. The Compromise of 1887 effectively ended the Reconstruction era and federal troops were removed from the southern states.
Source:https://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/compromise-of-1877 -
The Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln announces the Emancipation Proclamation which declared all the Confederate states to reunite with the Union or the slaves in those states would now be considered free.
Video: https://youtu.be/M4a7bIYL-Y4
