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Period: to
Civil War
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Strike
20,000 New England shoeworkers go on strike and subsequently win higher wages. -
Lincoln's speech
Lincoln makes a speech at Cooper Union at New York City that is greatly responsible for his election to presidency. -
Pre-emption bill
Congress pass the pre-emption bill, which in turn gives free land in the west for colonists. -
Pony express begins
Pony express begins. Mail from Sacramento California and St.Joseph's Missouri is carried over the Oregan trail for 18 months. The Pony express came obselete when the Telegraph was put to use. -
Lincoln as presidential canidate
Republican convention selects Abraham Lincoln as a presidential canidate. -
Lincoln nominated
Republican party nominates Lincoln for president. -
Printing office
U.S Congress establishes a government printing office. -
Abraham elected as president
Abrahm Lincoln, the person who had declared "Government cannot endure permanently half slave, half free" is elected as president reciving 40% of popular vote. -
States secede
South Carolina secedes from Union. Followed within two months by Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Lousiana, and Texas. -
Tubman arrives in Auburn NY
Harriet Tubman arrives in Auburn NY, on her last mission to free slaves, while evading capture for 8 years with the use of the Underground Railroad. -
Formation of Confederate States
The Confederate States of America is formed with Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate and former U.S army officer, as president. -
Abraham sworn in
Abraham Lincoln sworn as 16th president of United States -
Civil War begins
Confederates under General Pierre Beaurgard fired 50 cannons at Fort Sumter beginning the Civil War. -
Lincoln calls
Lincoln issues a proclamtaion calling for 75,000 militiamen, and summoning a special session of congress for july 4 -
Lee declines
Robert E. Lee, son of revolutionary war hero, and a 25 year distinguished veteran of the United States Army, is offered command of the Union Army. Lee declines the offer. -
Blockade
President Licoln issues a blockade on all southern ports -
More states secede
Virginia secedes from the Union, followed within five weeks Arkansas, Tennesse, and North Carolina secedes making an eleven state confederacy. -
Lee resigns/ accept Confederacy's offer
Robert E. Lee resigns his commission in the United States army "I cannot raise my hand against my birthplace, my home, my children." Lee goes to Richmond Virginia and is offered command of military and naval forces. Lee accepts the offer. -
McClellan as general in chief
Lincoln appoints McClellan as general in chief of all Union forces after resignation of Winfield Scott. -
One war at a time
Two Confederate officials heading to England are captured by the U.S Navy. England the current leading world power demands their release. Lincoln orders their release in December and remarks "One war at a time". -
Grants victory
General Ulysses S. Grant captured Fort Henry in Tennesse -
Grants capture of Fort Donelson
Ten days after his victory at Fort Henry General Grant captures Fort Donelson and earns the nickname Uncoditional Surrender. -
New Orleans capture
17 Union ships under the command of David Farragut move up the Mississippi river and takes the south's greatest seaport New Orleans. -
General Johnston's loss
At the battle of Seven Pines General Joseph E. Johnston nearly defeats General McClellan's army in front of Richmond, but got wounded during battle. -
Lee takes over
Robert E. Lee takes command of Confederate army replacing the wounded Johnston, then renames his force the Army of Northern Virginia. -
McClellan retreats
During the Seven Days Battles Lee attacks McClellan near Richmond with both army reciving heavy losses. McClellan then withdraws back to Washington -
Halleck now General-in-chief
After 4 months as general-in-chief Lincoln hands over the task to General Henry W. Halleck -
Union with 75,000 losses to Confederates with 50,000
75,000 Federals under the command of General John Pope losses to 50,000 Confederates who are commanded by Stonewall Jackson and James Longstreet. -
Antietam
The battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day battle in U.S military history with 26,000 men dead, wounded or missing by nightfall. -
McClellan is replaced with Burnside being new commander of army
Due to McClellans slowness, Lincoln grown impaient with him and replaced McClellan with General Amberose E. Burnside. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issues Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves in Confederate territories and emphasizes in enlisting black soldiers in the Union Army. -
Grant in charge of western army
General Grant is placed in command of the Army of the West with orders to capture Vicksburg. -
The blood of a poor man is as precious as that of a wealthy man.
The U.S Congress enacts a draft, affecting male citizens aged 20 to 45, but also exempts those who pay $300 or provides a substitue. -
Stonewall shot by his own men/ General Hooker's loss
During the battle of Chancellorsville Stonewall is accidently shot by his own men and was mortally wounded. General Hooker was defeated by Lee's smaller forces losing 17,000 out of 130,000 and the Confederates losing 13,000 out of 60,000. -
Stonewall dies
The Confederates suffers a huge blow after Stonewall Jackson dies from his wounds with his last words "Let us cross over the river and rest under the shade of the trees". -
The second invasion
Lee with 75,000 Confederates launches a second invasion of the North, which would soon lead up to the battle of Gettysburg. -
Meade is now in command
Lincoln appoints General George G. Meade as the commander of the Potomac Army, replacing Hooker and making him the 5th man to take command of the army in less than a year. -
The turning point of the war
The tide of the war turns against the south when the Confederates suffers a heavy lost at the battle of Gettysburg and with the inability to ever invade the North again. -
Vicksburg
The last Confederate stronghold Vicksburg on the Mississippi river surrenders to Grant effectively splitting the Confederacy in two. -
Lincoln meets with Douglas
Lincoln Meets with abolitionist Fredrick Douglass who pushes for full equality for Union Negro Troops. -
Grant is appointed command of all of U.S army
Lincoln appoints General Grant to command all of the armies of the U.S.. General William T. Sherman succeds Grant as commander in the West. -
The campaign
The beginning of a massive, coordinated campaign involving all Union Armies. Lee takes an army of 120,000 and begins advancing toward Richmond engage Lee's army of 60,000 men. Sherman with 100,000 men advances towards Alanta to engage Johnston's army of 60,000 men. -
Grant's mistake
A costly mistake by Grant causes him 7,000 Union casualties during an offensive against a Rebel fort in Cold Harbor Virginia. -
A missed opportunity
The Union misses an oppotunity to capture Petersburg and cut off Confedrates rail lines. This results in a nine month siege of Petersburg. -
Battle at Alanta
Shermans forces battle against thr Rebels who are now under command of General John B. Hood who replaced Johnston. -
McClellan vs Lincoln
Democrats nominate George B. McClellan to run for president against Abraham Lincoln. -
Sherman captures Alanta
Sherman captures Alanta with his army. The victory greatly helps Lincoln bid for re-election. -
Union victory at Shenandoah valley
A decisive victory at Shenandoah valley was by Cavalry General Phillip H. Sheridan over Jubal Early's troops -
Abraham re-elected as president
Lincoln is re-elected as president, beating Democrat George B. McClellan. Lincoln wins with 55% of the popular vote and 212 of 233 electoral vote. -
Sherman's path of destruction
General Sherman reaches Savannah in Georgia leaving behind a 300 mile long path of destruction 60 miles wide. Sherman telegraphs Lincoln and gives him the city of Savannah as a Christmas present. -
Thirteenth Amendment approved
U.S Congress approves Thirteeth Amendement to the United States Constitution, Amendment is later sent out to states fot ratifacation. -
Peace conference with Confederates
President Lincoln meets with Confederate Vice President Alexander Stephens. Conference ends in failure, the war will continue. -
Inauguration for Lincoln
Inauguration cerimonies are hold in Washington for Lincoln. "With malice towards none: with charity for all...let us strive to finish the work we are in...to do all wich may achieve and cherish a just, and a lasting peace, among ourselves, and with all nations". - Abraham Lincoln -
Lee's last offensive
The last offensive for Lee's Army of Northern Virginia begins with an attack on the center of Grant's forces Petersburg. Hours later the attack is broken. -
Grant advances/ Lee flees
Grants forces begin to advance and break through Lee's line at Petersburg. Confederate General Ambrose P. Hill is killed and Lee evacuates Petersburg. -
Lincoln tours Richmond
Lincoln tours Richmond and enters he Confederate White House. With a serious, dreamy expression Lincoln sits at the desk of Jefferson Davis for a few momwnts. -
Lee surrenders
Robert E. Lee surrenders his Confederate Army to Ulysses S. Grant at Appotmatox Court House in Virginia. Grant allows officers to keep their sidearms, horses and mules. -
Celebrations
Celebrations break out in Washington to honor the end of the war. -
Lincoln shot
While watching a play at Ford's Theater, Lincoln is shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth. Doctors quickly attends to the presidents wound and move him to the house across the street. He never regained consciouness. -
Lincoln dies
Abraham Liincoln dies at 7:22 in the morning. Vice President Andrew Johnson assumes presidency. -
Lincolns birthday
First formal observation of President Lincoln's birthday is hekd in Washington D.C. -
Congress pass/ Johnson vetoes New Freedman's Bureau bill
The New Freedman's Bureau bill is passed by Conrgress. President Andrew Johnson vetoes the bill that allows military trial for those accused of depriving Negroes of the Civil Rights. -
Johnson vetoes Civil Rights act
President Johnson vetoes Civil Rights act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. -
United states declares a state of peace
The United States declares a state of peace exists with Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia -
Congress overides Johnson's veto
Congress overides President Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act. -
14th Amendment approved
Thirty-ninth Congress approves the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. -
First state to ratify 14th Amendment
New Hampshire is the first state to ratify 14th Amendment. -
Peace with Texas
A proclamation of peace with Texas is issued by President Andrew Johnson. -
Oregan ratifies the 14th amendment/more states soon follows and ratify Amendment
Oregan ratifies the 14th Amendment as well. More state will soon follow and ratify the Amendment. -
South Carolina rejects Amendment
On their 6th anniversery of secession South Carolina rejects the 14th Amendment. -
African Americans in D.C are able to vote
African Americans in Washington D.C gain the right to vote in a bill passed over Johnson's veto. -
Military restores rule to Mississippi
Federal Army restores military rule to Mississippi during 2nd reconstruction. -
Jesse James robs a bank
Jesse James and his gang robs a bank but fails with 1 dead -
Congress passes first act of Reconstruction
Five seperate military districts are setup in the south each with their own commander. The army appropriations act is passed which decreases Johnson's control over the military. -
Lincoln Memorial
congress first approves building of Lincoln Memorial -
U.S officaly owns Alaska
The United States officaly owns the stae Alaska after buying it from Russia for $7.2million. -
States refused admission into Union
Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, having refused ratifying the 14th Amendment, were refused admission into Union. -
Stanton suspended by Johnson
After Stanton and President Johnson battle over the Reconstruction plans, Johnston suspends Stanton from Secretary of War. Ulysses S. Grant gains the position. -
Congress looks to impeach Johnston
Congress seeks to impeach Johnston due to the fact of him not following through with the reconstruction plans and defing Congress when he suspended Stanton. -
Midway islands annexed by America
United States claim Midway islands, the first territory annexed outside of continental limits