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Louisiana State Seminary
The Louisiana State Seminary of Higher Learning is established at Pineville. William Tecumseh Sherman is Superintendent. It later becomes LSU. -
Copper Union Address
Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Address, in which he validated the Federal Government banning slavery in new territories. This was Lincoln's most influential speech and many people believe it won him the presidency. -
The Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National convention was a meeting in Charleston, South Carolina, cannot agree on a nominee. The only thing they can agree on is to continue the debate in Baltimore the next month -
The Constitution Union Party
The Constitution Union Party was a meeting in Baltimore, creates a platform taken heavily from the U. S. Constitution and selects John Bell of Tennessee for President and Edward Everett of Massachusetts for Vice-President. It represents southern Whigs and Know-nothings (American Party). Sometimes called the Bell-Union Party -
Republican Convention
Held in Chicago, Illinois. William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase and Abraham Lincoln of Illinois are the leading contenders from a field of 12 candidates. Lincoln wins on the third ballot. Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, an outspoken, long-time abolitionist is chosen for vice-president. -
Democrats reconvene in Baltimore
The Democrats reconvene in Baltimore to select a nominee, but Douglas can't make the necessary 2/3 majority until the anti-Douglas delegates leave on June 22 and the floor rules are changed to require 2/3 vote of the members present. On June 23rd the Convention nominates Stephen Douglas and Herschal V. Johnson -
Lincoln is elected president
Lincoln is elected the 16th president. This is a major win for the North because he is going to abolish slavery. -
Robert Anderson reports Fort Sumter
Major Robert Anderson reports Fort Sumter is being threatened in Charleston as federal forces begin to improved Fort Moultrie and Fort Sumter in the harbor. -
James Buchanan State of the Union message
Outgoing President James Buchanan sends a distressed State of the Union message to Congress. In it he states that secession is unconstitutional, says the federal government lacks the authority to prevent it and calls for a constitutional amendment allowing Southern states to retain slaves as property. -
Secretary of War John Floyd
Under orders from Secretary of War John Floyd, General Don Carlos Buell visits Robert Anderson at Fort Sumter. Buell tells Anderson he may occupy any fort that he wants to if he is attacked or feels he is about to be attacked -
Lincolns Inauguration
On March 4th, Lincoln became the new president and stated that he had no plans to end slavery in the states where it already existed, but explained that he would not tolerate secession and he hoped to solve the issue without any warfare. -
Fort Sumter attacked
The civil war begins! At 4:30 a.m. The Confederates under General Pierre Beauregard open fire with 50 cannons upon Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina -
Lincoln calls 75,000 volunteers
Fort Sumter surrendered on April 14, 1861 and so Lincoln calls for 75,000 volunteers and two million men would serve in the Union Army, Navy and Marine Corp during the war. -
Robert E. Lee turn down union command
Robert E. Lee turn down the north to help and serve on the south, because he needs to stay faithful to what he first picked. North could of had a strong person but instead the south had the advantage. -
Anaconda plan
The Anaconda Plan was the first military strategy offered to President Abraham Lincoln. Constricting the of Southern states was devised by Union General Winfield Scott. On the national military situation; the results of these actions were used by Scott to work out Union military aims and cut off the south and their supplies. The plan was strong in result of the Union succeeding at the end of the civil war. -
Four Slave States Stay in the Union
Despite their acceptance of slavery, Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri did not join the Confederacy. Although divided in their loyalties, a combination of political maneuvering and Union military pressure kept these states from seceding. -
States Secede
Tennessee left the union to fight in the Civil War for the confederacy. When Tennessee left the union, the confederacy was formed completely. -
Battle of Big Bethel
The Battle of Big Bethel was one of the earliest land battles of the American Civil War. It took place on the Virginia Peninsula, near Newport News, on June 10, 1861. -
First Bull Run
The First Battle of Bull Run, also known as the First Battle of Manassas. It was the first major land battle of the American Civil War. President Lincoln realizes the war will be long. "It's damned bad," he comments. Irwin McDowell for the union and Joseph E. Johnston,P.G.T. Beauregard for the Confederacy there was a total of 4,878 Casualties and losses -
George B. McClellan becomes Commander
McClellan becomes the Commander of the Union Army till March 7th 1862 when he loses command and is replaced General Ambrose Burnside. -
General War Order 1
Lincoln orders all United States naval and land forces to begin an advance. Lincoln was convinced General McClellan did not have an attack plan so he used the war order to push him into action. The date issued for the order was George Washington's birthday witch gave it more significance. -
Fort Henry and Donelson
The Battle of Fort Henry on February 6, 1862, was the first significant Union victory of the American Civil War (1861-65). In an effort to gain control of rivers and supply lines west of the Appalachians, Union Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant and Commodore Andrew Foote launched an attack on the lightly defended Fort Henry in Tennessee. -
Confederate surprise attack
Confederate surprise attack on Ulysses Grants at Shiloh results loss of 13,000 Union soldiers and 10,000 Confederates. More men than in all previous American wars combined. The president is then pressured to fire Grant but resists. -
Hampton Roads
The Battle of Hampton Roads was fought over two days, March 8–9, 1862. There were a ton of casualties, about 433. 409 of which were a part of the Union. On March 8th the first Confederate ironclad steamed down the Elizabeth River into Hampton Roads to attack the wooden sided U.S. blockading fleet. There they sank Cumberland. In the end Neither sides won this battle. -
Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh, also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, was fought April 6-7 1862. On April 7, the Union armies numbered 45,000 men. The Confederates had suffered as many as 8,500 the first day. The two-day battle resulted in the defeat of the Confederate army and frustration of Johnston's plans to prevent the joining of the two Union armies in Tennessee. They discovered the war would continue in great cost in casualties and resources until the Union was divided. -
Ironclad Merrimac
Ironclad Merrimac sinks two wooden Union ships. It also fights the Union Ironclad Monitor to a draw. This changes Naval warfare forever making wooden ships obsolete. -
The Battle of Seven Pines
Joseph Johnston's Army attacks McClellan's troops in front of Richmond. He nearly defeats them but Jesoph is badly wounded. Joseph will be replaced by Robert E. Lee later on. -
The bloodiest day in the War
Robert E. Lee and the Confederate Armies are stopped at Antietam. Lee then withdraws to Virginia. -
Emancipation Proclamation issued
It is an executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War using his war powers. The significance is that it proclaimed the freedom of slaves. -
2nd Bull Run
It was fought August 28–30, 1862, as part of the American Civil War. It was the culmination of an offensive campaign waged by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia against Union Maj. Gen. John Pope's Army of Virginia. The significance is that it was a much larger in scale and number -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued by Abraham Lincoln on this date. It stated, "that all persons held as slaves" within the rebellious areas "are, and henceforward shall be free." -
Abe Lincoln relieves General Ambrose
Abraham Lincoln relieves General Ambrose Burnside from command of the Army of the Potomac, replacing him with General Joseph "Fighting Joe" Hooker. -
Suspension of Habeas Corpus
The Habeas Corpus Suspension Act authorizes the president of the United States to suspend the writ of habeas corpus, which normally enforces the right of a prisoner's case to be examined by a judge to determine if their detainment is lawful. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
The Battle of Chancellorsville was fought from April 30, 1863 to May 6, 1863. Chancellorsville is known as Lee's "perfect battle" because his risky decision to divide his army in the presence of a much larger enemy force resulted in a significant Confederate victory. -
The Battle of Vicksburg
This battle ended on July the 4th with a Union win because the city and Confederates had ran out of supplies. -
The Battle of Gettysburg Begins
The Batlle of Gettysburg was the deadliest battle of the Civil War. Over 50,000 Americans lost their lives in the three days of this battle. The Union who started with 2,750,000 men, lost 360,222 men. The Confederate started with anywhere from 750,000 to 1,250,000 men, and lost 258,000. -
The Battle of Little Roundtop
Little Round Top is the smaller of two rocky hills south of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. It was the site of an unsuccessful attack by Confederate troops against the Union on July 2, 1863, the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg. -
Pickett's Charge
Pickett's Charge was one of Robort E. Lee's biggest mistakes in the Civil War. The Confederate's casualties were 5,675 while the Union suffered from a smaller loss of about 1,500. After the charge, the Confederate Army retreated, and later Lee resigned from the army. -
Battle of Chickamauga
Between U.S. and Confederate forces in the American Civil War, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia. The Chickamauga Campaign -
Gettysburg Address
The Gettysburg Address was one of the best known speeches in United States History . It was delivered by Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War at the dedication of the Soldier's National Cemetery in Gettysburg. It was said four and a half months after the Union Armies defeated the confederacy at the Battle of Gettysburg. -
Virginia Campaign
Ulysses S. Grant and 120,000 troops march south towards the Confederate capital. Over the course of the next six weeks, a brutal war of attrition results in the deaths of nearly 50,000 Union soldiers. -
Battle of the Wilderness
In Virginia just days before Lee's last battle he and his men of 61,025 were confronted by Grant and his many numbers of men up to 101,895. Still even though the Union out numbered the Confederacy, Lee held off and made best of what he had and barely lost any of his men. Lee only lost 7,750 men when him and his men killed 17,666 Union solders under Grants control. But the victorian of this battle was not known. -
Battle of Spotsylvania
Finally trying to stop Robert E. Lee and his 50,000 men for a final time and who stepped up for the Challenge was Ulysses S. Grant with 83,000 men. But even though Grant out numbered Lee tremendously, Lee was still the better general and out witted Grant and pulled a victory once again loosing only 9,000 men and Grant loosing 18,399 men. -
Confederate Troops Approach Washington,D.C
Confederate General Jubal Early led his forces into Maryland to relieve the pressure on Lee's army. Early got within five miles of Washington, D.C., but on July 13, he was driven back to Virginia. -
The Siege of Petersburg
The battle in Petersburg was between Ulysses s. Grant and Robert E. Lee this wasn’t the last war between them The two massive armies would not become disentangled until April 9, 1865, when Lee surrendered and his men went home. -
The battle of cold Harbor
Grant again attacked Confederate forces at Cold Harbor, losing over 7,000 men in twenty minutes which is about 350 men dying each minute.Although Lee suffered fewer casualties, his army never recovered from Grant's attacks. -
General William T. Sherman’s March to the sea
General Sherman continued his march through Georgia to the sea. In the course of the march, he cut himself off from his source of supplies, planning for his troops to live off the land. His men cut a path 300 miles in length and 60 miles wide as they passed through Georgia, destroying factories, bridges, railroads, and public buildings. -
Fort Monroe and hampton, Virginia
Its own intrinsic strength and the ease with which it could be supplied and reinforced by sea kept the largest American fort in federal hands throughout the war. Fort Monroe was the starting point for McClellan's Peninsular Campaign in 1862 and for Butler's advance to Petersburg in 1864. The photographs depict only uneventful garrison life toward the end of 1864. -
Sherman at the Sea
After marching through Georgia for a month, Sherman stormed Fort McAllister on December 13, 1864, and captured Savannah itself eight days later. These seven views show the former stronghold and its dismantling preparatory to Sherman's further movement northward. -
Hood before Nashville
Continuing his policy of taking the offensive at any cost, General John B. Hood brought his reduced army before the defenses of Nashville, where it was repulsed by General George H. Thomas on December 15-16, in the most complete victory of the war. -
The 13th Amendment
On January 11,1864 The 13th Amendment (ending slavery) to the Constitution is proposed by Senator John B. Henderson of Missouri John B. worked with Abraham Lincoln during the civil war but he was very conservative on slavery but still supported Abraham Lincoln. -
Sherman's March Through North and South Carolina
Union General Sherman moved from Georgia through South Carolina, destroying almost everything in his path. -
Fallen Richmond
On March 25, General Lee attacked General Grant's forces near Petersburg, but was defeated -- attacking and losing again on April 1. On April 2, Lee evacuated Richmond, the Confederate capital, and headed west to join with other forces. -
President Lincoln inaugurated for his second time
President Abraham Lincoln is inaugurated for his second term as president in Washington, DC. -
Appomatox Courthouse
-Confederate General Lee surrenders to Union General Grant.
-April 9, 1865.
-Signifies the official end of the war.
-Appomatox Courthouse, VA. -
The Fall of the Confederacy
Transportation problems and successful blockades caused severe shortages of food and supplies in the South. Starving soldiers began to desert Lee's forces, and although President Jefferson Davis approved the arming of slaves as a means of augmenting the shrinking army, the measure was never put into effect. -
Lincoln Is Assassinated
On April 14, as President Lincoln was watching a performance of "Our American Cousin" at Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C., he was shot by John Wilkes Booth, an actor from Maryland obsessed with avenging the Confederate defeat. Lincoln died the next morning. Booth escaped to Virginia. Eleven days later, cornered in a burning barn, Booth was fatally shot by a Union soldier. Nine other people were involved in the assassination; four were hanged, four imprisoned, and one acquitted. -
Final Surrenders among Remaining Confederate Troops
Remaining Confederate troops were defeated between the end of April and the end of May. Jefferson Davis was captured in Georgia on May 10. -
Battle of Cedar Creek
In an early morning surprise attack, Jubal Early's Confederates successfully attack and drive troops of the Army of the Shenandoah from their camps on the banks of Cedar Creek south of Middleton, Virginia. Hearing the fight from his headquarters at Winchester, General Philip Sheridan rides southward, rallying dispirited troops who return to the battlefield. By day's end, Early's forces are put to flight. -
The Execution of Cpt. Henry Wirz
The notorious superintendent of the Confederate prison at Andersonville, Georgia, was tried by a military commission presided over by General Lew Wallace from August 23 to October 24, 1865, and was hanged in the yard of the Old Capitol Prison on November 10. -
The Liberator
The last issue of the Liberator is published. The newspaper has now becomes unnecessary because the slaves have been freed. -
Jesse James
The first day light bank robbery takes place in Liberty, Missouri. This was carried out by Jesse James and his gang, although no one is quite sure where Jesse James fits into this event. -
Civil Rights Act of 1866
President Johnson vetos the Civil Rights Act of 1866 on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is founded in New York by Henry Bergh. -
Nickel
Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, know as the nickel. This eliminates the half dime. -
The 14th Amendment
The 14th amendment is ratified. This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans. -
Tennesse
Following the Civil War Tennessee becomes the first state readmitted to the Union. -
General of the armies
Congress establishes "general of the armies" and Ulysses S. Grant is immediately promoted to 4-star general and put in this position. William Tecumseh Sherman assumes the rank of Lt. General. -
Atlantic Cable
The Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time. -
Train Robbery
The first train robbery takes place. The Reno brothers get away with $13,000. -
Longest Bridge in the World
The wartime booming industrial economy of the North continues with the contrustuction of the Covington–Cincinnati Suspension Bridge which opens between Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky in the United States, becoming the longest single-span bridge in the world. -
African-Americans vote
African-American men are granted the right to vote in the District of Columbia. -
Peabody Education Fund
The Peabody Education Fund raised money for to educate African-Americans in the South allowing them to live a brighter future -
Tenure of Office Act
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act, denying the right of the President to remove officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress. -
Second Reconstruction
The Second Reconstruction Act is passed by Congress, and it overrode Johnson's veto. The Union army, during this period, would go into southern states and make sure that black's rights weren't being taken away. -
Alaska Purchase
The Alaska Purchase was the United States' acquisition of Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867 by a treaty ratified by the U.S. Senate. -
States readmitted to the Union
Congress passes a bill readmitting Arkansas, Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina into the Union. Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas, having refused to ratify the fourteenth amendment, were refused admission into the Union. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Registrars are directed to go beyond the loyalty oath by determining the eligibility of each person who wants to take it; district commanders are authorized to re-take control by replacing the preexisting state officeholders. -
Edwin Stanton
President Andrew Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War. -
Johnson Violates Office of Tenure Act
The Office of Tenure Act restricted the president's ability to remove an office member while Congress is not in session. Johnson intentionally violates the Tenure of Office Act when he suspends Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton and replaces him with General Ulysses S. Grant during a congressional recess, and causes himself to be impeached the next year.
