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Constitutional Union Party Forms
This party was formed of former Whigs who wanted to avoid secession over slavery and wanted to stay apart of the Union. The party would later nominate John Bell as their candidate. -
Lincoln Visits Five Points
Lincoln visits Five Points, one of the worst slums in New York City. This gained Lincoln positive press from the media and made him more popular. -
Period: to
American Civil War
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Cooper Union Speech
Abraham Lincoln delivered his speech in New York City. This speech stated his view on slavery, which was to not expand slavery into the western territories. -
Abraham Lincoln Nominated
The Republican Party nominates Abraham Lincoln for the election of 1860. Lincoln was nominated over New York Senator William H. Seward. Lincoln would eventually win the election in November. -
Stephen Douglas Nominated
Douglas was nominated as the Democrat in the election of 1860. He was nominated after winning two thirds of the vote in a Democratic Convention which was held in Baltimore, Maryland. -
Breckinridge Nominated
The Southern Democrats nominated John C. Breckinridge for the election of 1860. Breckinridge finished second in electoral college votes, only being beaten by Abraham Lincoln. -
Abraham Lincoln Wins Election of 1860
Abraham Lincoln wins the presidential election of 1860, becoming the 16th president of the United States. This is when the south realizes they lost the struggle for power in Congress. -
South Carolina Gives a Date on Vote on Succession
This vote was formed in reaction of Abraham Lincoln winning the election of 1860. More southern states would follow South Carolina's trend in the future. -
James Chestnut Jr. Leaves Senate
James Chestnut Jr. resigned from the US Senate. He is from South Carolina, which was the first state to secede from the Union. -
South Carolina secedes from Union
South Carolina becomes the first state to leave the United States in a unanimous vote. South Carolina influences other states to also leave the United States. -
Mississippi Secedes
Mississippi seceded from the United States of America, becoming the second state to do so, following South Carolina. Mississippi also became the first state that borders the Gulf of Mexico to secede. -
Confederate States of America Form
The Confederate States of America form, officially establishing a government in the south. 11 states from the United States would join the Confederacy. -
Lincoln Becomes 16th President
Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th president of the United States of America. He is most known for winning the American Civil War for the Union. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter ended in a confederate victory and is the unofficial start to the American Civil War. President Lincoln barely sent help to the people at Fort Sumter. -
Southern Blockade
President Lincoln issued a blockade of all southern ports. This was part of the Anaconda plan, the plan the North had to win the war. -
Confederate Capital Announced as Richmond
The Confederates moved their capital from Montgomery, Alabama to Richmond, Virginia. This meant that the capital will be closer to Washington DC, therefore a "capture the flag" tactic can be played between the North and South -
Virginia Secedes
Virginia leaving the Union is significant, because it was the most northern state to be in the confederacy and the closest Confederate state to Washington DC. Also, it was the eighth state to leave the Union. -
Tennessee Secedes
Tennessee became the last state to leave the United States of America. By this point all 11 states that made up the Confederate States of America have left the Union. -
First Battle of Bull Run
This battle took place in Virginia and resulted in a Confederate victory. This is considered the first battle of the American Civil War. -
McClellan Becomes General-in-Chief of Army
George McClellan is announced as the head General of the US Army. Lincoln would later fire McClellan of having the "slows". McClellan replaced Winfield Scott as General-in-Chief of the US Army. -
Jefferson Davis Inaugurated
Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as the President of the Confederate States of America. Davis would be the President for the majority of the American Civil War. -
Battle of Pea Ridge
The Battle of Pea Ridge ended in a Union victory. The impact of this impact of this battle is it gave the Union control of the border state of Missouri for the next two years. -
Battle of Shiloh
This battle was fought in southwestern Tennessee and ended in a Union victory. Although, Ulysses S. Grant did capture two Confederate forts, both sides had major losses. -
Battle of Glendale
This battle was inconclusive and let up to the Battle of Malvern Hill, which took place the following day. Several generals including George Meade were wounded. -
Battle of Malvern Hill
This battle is a continuation of the Battle of Glendale and was chosen to take place at Malvern Hill by George McClellan. The battle ended in a Union victory. -
Second Battle of Bull Run
Confederate General Robert E. Lee outsmarted the Union generals and picked up an important win for the south. This battle pushed the Union back towards Washington DC. -
Battle of Antietam
This battle was a Union victory and the bloodiest single day of battle of the war. This battle was the first battle of the American Civil War to be fought on northern soil. -
Emancipation Proclamation Issued
Soon after the Battle of Antietam, President Lincoln announces as of January 1, 1863 all slaves will be free. Lincoln did this, because he was convinced that abolition was a sound military tactic. -
George McClellan Replaced
Abraham Lincoln had enough of McClellan being so passive in the war and replaced with Ambrose Burnside. Lincoln accused McClellan of having the "slows". -
Battle of Perryville
The Battle of Perryville was fought in Kentucky and resulted in a Union strategic victory. The Union outnumbered the Confederates and lost more men than the south. -
Emancipation Proclamation in Effect
Abraham Lincoln's policy of Emancipation Proclamation was put into effect. This declared all slaves in America free, and Lincoln did this as it was a smart military move. -
Stonewall Jackson Dies
Confederate General Stonewall Jackson died of contractions of having his arm amputated. Jackson was known for standing his ground during battle. This was a huge loss for the Confederate Army. -
West Virginia Admitted to the Union
West Virginia was added to the United States of America as the 35th state. West Virginia was split with Virginia, as Virginia was apart of the Confederacy at the time. -
Meade Becomes General of the Army of the Potomac
George G. Meade became the General of the Army of the Potomac. He replace Joseph Hooker for the position. This is significant, because it took place days before the turning point of the Civil War, which was the Battle of Gettysburg. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This is the turning point of the American Civil War, with a Union victory. This three day battle was the last time the Confederates made a push into northern land. -
Confederates Surrender Vicksburg
Grant made the Confederates surrender the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. This was part of the Union's Anaconda Plan, as part of it was the conquer the Mississippi River. -
Battle of Chickamauga
This battle is one of the more bloodier battles of the American Civil War. The defeated Union soldiers retreated to Tennessee until November. -
Battle of Bristoe Station
This battle that took place in Virginia ended in a Union victory. Confederate general Robert E. Lee lost this battle. -
Gettysburg Address Delivered
President Abraham Lincoln gave his most famous speech the Gettysburg Address on this day. It united the America as a whole having the ground be a cemetery for passed Confederate and Union soldiers of the Battle of Gettysburg. -
Battle of Lookout Mountain
This battle ended in a Union victory. Union General Grant now gained the second victory in the battle of Chattanooga. -
Battle of Olustee
This battle that took place in Florida ended in a Confederate victory. This was the only major battle of the American Civil War that took place in Florida. -
Battle of the Wilderness
This battle that took place in Virginia did not have a true winner, although the North continued to advance. This was the first major battle Grant had in Virginia. -
Death of J.E.B Stuart
Confederate general J.E.B Stuart died due to a gunshot wound suffered in battle. He was most known for embarrassing the Union up until the Battle of Gettysburg. -
Battle of Dallas
This battle that took place in Georgia was won by the Union. This battle was apart of Sherman's March to the Sea. -
Battle of Atlanta
The Battle of Atlanta ended in a Union victory. This battle boosted the morale of the Union, which helped Lincoln get reelected in November. -
Battle of Mobile Bay
This battle took place in Alabama and ended in a Union victory. Farragut took just under three weeks to take over one of the last important Confederate ports. -
McClellan Nominated for Election of 1864
Former head of the Union George McClellan was nominated by the Democrats to go against his boss Abraham Lincoln. McClellan would later lose to Lincoln in the election. -
Battle of Fisher's Hill
This battle that took place in Virginia ended in an Union victory. The Confederates continued to flee deeper into Virginia. -
Battle of Peebles' Farm
This battle that took place in Virginia ended in a Union victory. During the battle, the Federals captured Fort MacRae, which was barely defended. -
Lincoln Reelected
Abraham Lincoln was reelected as President of the United States of America. Lincoln defeated his former general George McClellan in the election of 1864. -
House Passes 13th Amendment
The 13th Amendment was passed within the US House of Representatives. This amendment abolished slavery and would be strongly disliked by the southern states after the war ended. -
Battle of Sayler's Creek
This battle which was fought in Virginia was won by the Union. This battle was one of the last battles of the war and took place just over a week before Lincoln was shot. -
Lee Surrenders
Robert E. Lee surrenders to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia. This marks the end of the four year long American Civil War. -
Lincoln is Shot
President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford Theater. Lincoln would pass away the following day. -
Flag Flies Over Fort Sumter
The United States of America flag flew over Fort Sumter. This is symbolic of the end of the American Civil War, because this is where the Confederates won their first battle in the unofficial start to the war. -
Andrew Johnson Becomes 17th President.
Former Vice President Andrew Johnson becomes the 17th president of the United States of America. The Democrat was sworn in after the untimely death of Abraham Lincoln. -
John Wilkes Booth Killed
The assassin of Abraham Lincoln was killed after being surrounded in a barn. This ended the almost two week manhunt for him. -
Davis Captured
Former President of the Confederate States of America Jefferson Davis was captured. He previously had a bounty set out on him and he was captured in Georgia. -
Johnson Gives Amnesty
President Andrew Johnson gave amnesty to most Confederates that fought in the Civil War. This move showed unity of the country, and an effort to keep the Union together. -
Henry Wirz Hanged
Wirz was the only person to be executed due to war crimes for actions during the American Civil War. Wirz ran the a Confederate prisoner of war camp in Georgia which treated prisoners horribly. Some photos from the camp even look "Holocaust-like" -
Last Issue of the Liberator
The Liberator was published for one last time in Boston. The Liberator was a newspaper that supported Abolition movement. It did not need to be published anymore due to the 13th Amendment. -
Congress passes the Civil Rights Acts of 1866
This was the first piece of legislation to protect the civil rights of anyone in the country. Congress overwhelmingly passed this bill. -
Johnson Vetos Civil Rights Act of 1866
President Andrew Johnson vetoed the Civil Rights Act of 1866. His veto would later be overruled by the Senate and the House of Representatives. -
Congress Overrules Johnson's Veto
President Andrew Johnson's Veto was overruled by both the Senate and the House of Representatives. This marks the first time Congress overruled the president's veto. -
Nickel is Approved
Congress passed the bill for the nickel to be minted, this eliminates the half dime. -
Death of Winfield Scott
US General Winfield Scott passed away. He was known for his 53 year service to the military and a failed campaign in the Election of 1852. -
Great Fire of Portland
This fire that took place in Maine was the worst fire in America at the time. It left over nine thousand people homeless. -
Number of Justices Reduced
The number of Supreme Court was reduced to seven. This means that only four people can decide which way a case will go. -
Tennessee Readmitted
Tennessee was the first Confederate state to be readmitted into the Union. Other states would follow the trend that Tennessee set. -
House of Representatives Elections
Andrew Johnson's efforts to promote Democratic candidates fell flat as the Republicans won more elections. The Republican party was getting more popular by the year. -
African-American Vote in DC
The District of Columbia allowed African-American men to vote. This is ahead of the amendment that allowed all African-American to vote in any election. -
West Virginia University
The University of West Virginia is established in Morgantown, West Virginia. The university was founded a few years after West Virginia separated from Virginia. -
Nebraska Admitted to Union
Nebraska becomes the 37th state of the United States of America. Nebraska became the first state to be admitted after the conclusion of the American Civil War. -
Purchase of Alaska
The United States purchase Alaska from Russia for over seven million dollars. Alaska would not become a state for almost another 100 years. -
Death of George Randolph
Confederate General George W. Randolph passed away in April of this year. He was most known for being the third secretary of war for the Confederate States of America. -
First Dental School in America
The Harvard School of Dental Medicine was established, becoming the first of its kind. This is a huge step for scientific research and anyone interested in teeth and the mouth. -
Death of Michael O'Laughlen
Michael O'Laughlen became another victim of the yellow fever. He was most known for being a conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. -
US Control of Midway Island
The United States of America annexed Midway Island. The island was the first in the Pacific to be annexed. The island would play an important factor during WWII. -
Death of Sterling Price
Confederate General Sterling Price passed away. He is most known for being the governor of Missouri and losing the Battle of Pea Ridge during the Civil War. -
Angola Train Crash
Over forty people die in a train crash that took place in Angola, New York.
