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Jefferson Davis
Davis was the president of the Confederacy, elected just weeks after Lincoln. Before he took this office, he served as a representative for Mississippi in the house of representatives. -
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th president of the United States, winning in the 1860 election. He was an important figure in the Civil War, announcing the emancipation proclamation and eventually assisting in ending the war. He was elected for a second term as president and just 42 days later, on April 15, 1865, he was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth. -
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was a general for the Union during the civil war. He was a business man and author, and many of his war tactics are still used today. -
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was a former slave who escaped from slavery. She wanted to help other slaves do the same, so she helped with the Underground Railroad, a series of safe places that helped slaves escape to Canada and freedom. -
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th US president and before that, led the Union army against the Confederacy. He was a commanding general, and did well, so people remembered him when his election came. -
Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson was a general who led the Confederacy against the Union. He was an experienced military leader, as he had fought in the Mexican-American war before his position in the Civil War. -
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska act allowed for the new territories of Kansas and Nebraska to become states. It repealed the Missouri compromise and said that state populations would now vote to decide whether or not they would be a slave state or free state. -
Harper's Ferry Raid
John Brown led his supporters on a raid at Harper's Ferry that lasted multiple days. By doing this, he intended to cause a slave revolt and to help them secure their freedom. -
Election of 1860
This was an election between several major candidates, including Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglass. Abraham had previously lost to Douglass running for senator, but would end up winning the election for president. -
Confederacy is Formed
The Confederacy was the south states of the US that broke off and attempted to become their own country when Abraham Lincoln was elected for president. They were afraid that Lincoln would abolish slavery and take away their slaves. -
Fort Sumter
This was the first battle of the civil war. The North had control over Fort Sumter, a fort located in the South. The Confederacy was determined to make them leave, so after the North refused, they began firing at the fort. After a 34-hour long battle, the North surrendered with the only casualty being a horse. -
The Civil War
The Civil War was one of the biggest wars the United States was involved in. It lasted 4 long years during which the North and the South in the United States had a series of battles. The main cause of the war was the South seceding after President Lincoln was elected. They believed he was going to take away their slaves, so they tried to become their own country, and the fighting began shortly after. -
Battle of the Bull Run
The Battle of the Bull Run was the first land battle of the war. While it was happening, people would sit on a nearby hill and watch, having picnics. It was the second victory for the South, and made it clear to everyone that the war would not be over anytime soon. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Abraham Lincoln announced this during the civil war, in hopes of finally ending it. It threatened the South that if they did not end their rebellion and rejoin the rest of the country, all slaves in the North states would be set free. -
Gettysburg
This battle was a major victory for the Union. However, though they won, they were criticized for not pursuing the enemy when they clearly had the advantage. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
A man named Sherman led troops to Georgia and was determined to convince them to leave the Confederacy. They stole and burned buildings of people who fought back. -
13th Amendment
The 13th amendment freed all slaves in the U.S. The South could no longer own slaves, and the North won the Civil war just a couple months after this amendment. -
14th Amendment
This amendment allowed every person born and raised in the US citizenship. It allowed everyone equal protection and rights, but it was ratified 2 years later. -
15th Amendment
The 15th amendment extended the right to vote to all men. Women were still unable to vote, but any man over 18 now could.