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Abraham Lincoln Elected into Presidency
Abraham Lincoln, a northern Republican, traveled across the states, gaining popularity by all except a few. He became the first Republican to be in office for a long time, which upset the southern democratic populace. -
Assault on Fort Sumter
Confederate General Pierre Beauregard led a platoon of cannons and launched the first attack on the Northern Union. This marked the first battle in aggression between the Union and the Confederates. The beginning of the Civil War. -
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The Civil War
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Battle of Bull Run
Lincoln ordered General Irvin McDowell to attempt to bring the war to a quick end. Gathering up 35,000 volunteer troops, whom did not look prepared to fight, McDowell marched from Washington into Virginia in hopes to capture Richmond, the Confederate Capitol. As they approached the Bull Run River, they were met by a large group of Confederate soldiers. The battle begun, each side taking as much damage. In the end, however, the Confederates won the battle, sending the Union back to Washington. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was the first of numerous major battles that took the lives of many people. Albert Johnston, a Confederate General, led a strategic assault on scattered Union forces. Cornering them near the Shiloh Church, all looked well for the Confederates to succeed. However, Union General Ulysses Grant was swift to provide reinforcements for the main unit. He gathered the soldiers and lead a counter-offensive on Johnston, taking many lives and forcing the Confederates to retreat. -
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is signed and given to the States. "All slaves shall be free." Thought it was not officially produced as an instated rule, Lincoln no longer wanted slavery in America. -
The Battle of Gettysburg
In an effort to crumble the Union's morale, Lee marched his armies to the north to capture several military bases. A Confederate calavry unit came across a large army of Union soldiers in Gettysburg and reported to Lee, who took advantage of the event. Marching with 60,000 men, he assaulted the Union army at Gettysburg but failed to adjust to the battle. Union forces fell back to Cemetary hill and laid waste on the Confederacy from a distance. This was a major turning point in the war. -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln gave a speech looking back on the tedious, influential battle of Gettysburg. Attempting to come to terms with the Confederates by finding common ground between the people's perspective on the battle, Lincoln succeeded in gaining approval from the entire country. -
Sherman's March
A Union General by the name of WIlliam T. Sherman marched 60,000 soldier throughout the southern Confederate states. During their travels, the hoped to spread fear among the people supporting the war and sided with the Confederacy. He believed that it was the populace support that rallied the soldiers into fighting, and if they could break the morale, they could end the war from the inside. -
The End of the War
Sometime in May, all Confederate State Armies surrendered to the North. Andrew Johnson, the newest president, takes heed of the events throughout the war and pushes for the 13th amendment to be ratified, which would be later that year. Slavery was now illegal, and America had become a free country.
