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Civil War
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Jefferson Davis' Resolutions
Jefferson Davis, Mississippi Senator at this time, proposed solutions to the Federal government that said they must prohibit slavery in the territories and even protect slaveholders. He did this in hopes of uniting people against Stephen Douglas, a presidential candidate. -
Consitutional Union Party
Former members of the Whig party met in Baltimore, Maryland to create the Constitutional Union Party. Its delegates nominated John Bell of Tennessee for president and Edward Everett of Massachusetts for vice-president. -
Lincoln Nomination
The Republican convention in Chicago chose to nominate Abraham Lincoln as its presidential candidate and Hannibal Hamlin as its vice-presidential candidate. The party's stance on slavery revolves around prohibiting it in the territories, but refuses to interfere with it in the states. -
Democratic Convention
Southern delegates met in Baltimore, Maryland and nominated John C. Breckinridge for president and Joseph Lane for vice-president. They called for the protection of rights to own slaves. -
Lincoln Election
Abraham Lincoln was elected the sixteenth President of the United States on this day. -
James Buchanan State of the Union Address
President James Buchanan's cabinet was split as to how they should deal with the secession crisis.He could not find a solution as they were unable to compromise. -
Crittenden Compromise
Kentucky Senator John J. Crittenden proposed the Crittenden Compromise, which consisted of six constitutional ammendments and four resolutions to address Southern concerns. Nevertheless, it was unsuccessful. -
South Carolina Secedes
On this day, South Carolina became the first state to secede from the Union. -
Resignation
The four South Carolina congressmen in the House of Representatives resigned on account of the nation's issues. -
Buchanan's Response
In response to South Carolina's secession, President James Buchanan announced that he would not withdraw Federal troops from Charleston -
Florida Secedes
By a vote of 62 to 7 at a convention in Tallahassee, Florida secedes from the Union. -
Alabama Secedes
By a vote of 61 to 39 at a convention in Montgomery, Alabama secedes from the Union. -
Crittenden Ammendment Fails
Congress determined that the Constitution shall not be ammended and, thus, killed the Crittenden Ammendment. -
Georgia Secedes
By a vote of 208 to 89 at an Milledgeville state convention, Georgia secedes from the Union. -
Lousiana Secedes
By a vote of 113 to 17 at a Baton Rouge state convention, Louisiana secedes from the Union. -
Kansas Admitted to Union
Kansas is admitted to the Union as a free state. It is the 34th. -
Texas Secedes
By a vote of 166 to 7 at an Austin state convention, Texas secedes from the Union. -
Confederate States of America
The first six seceding states officially formed the Confederate States of America, known as the Confederacy. -
Fort Sumter
The war officially begun on this day in Charleston harbor and ultimately ended in a Union surrender. -
Virginia Secedes
By a vote of 88 to 55 at a state convention in Richmond, Virginia secedes from the Union. -
MIll's Spring, Kentucky
Union troops under General Henry Thomas defeat the Confederates under General Felix K. Zollicoffer on the north bank on the Cumberland River. This is the first time the Confederate's defensive line was broken in Kentucky. -
Lincoln's Frustrations
Growing increasingly fed up with the inaction of his armies, Lincoln issued War Order No. 1 that called for a general advance of all armies on February 22. -
Fort Donelson
Confederate forces surrender Fort Donelson on the Cumberland River in Tennessee. This was extremely detrimental to the South as they now lost Kentucky. -
Shiloh
In Tennessee, about 62,000 Union troops under Ulysses S. Grant battles 40,000 Confederate troops under Albert Sidney Johnston. The fighting was difficult on both sides and became one of the bloodiest in the war. -
New Orleans Falls
Under David C. Farragut, Union forces captures New Orleans. -
Battle of Williamsburg
Retreating Confederate troops are attacked by Union forces in Williamsburg, Virginiia. The Confederates continued their retreat toward Richmond. -
Robert E. Lee
On this day, Robert E. Lee replaced Johnston and took full control of the Confederate army. -
Second Battle at Bull Run
In the second battle at Bull Run, Confederate forces defeat the Union who retreat to Centreville, Virginia. -
Antietam
The bloodiest single-day battle in the Civil War took place on this day in Sharpsburg, Maryland and Lee ultimately retreated. -
Battle of Stone's River
In a three-day battle, neither the Confederates or the Union came out victorious and the Confederates withdraw on January 3. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln releases the official version of the Emancipation Proclamation. This frees slaves in all of the rebellious states. -
Confeds Sink Union
The Confederate submarine "Hunley" sinks the Union boat "Housatonic" in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. -
Bread Riots
In Richmond, Virginia, a bread riot occurs and indicates southern wants during the war. This is unsettling for the entire Confederacy. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
Though the odds were stacked against them, Confederate forces defeat the Union troops and force them to retreat across the Rappahanock River. The Union had tried to capture Richmond once again but were still unsuccessful. -
Stonewall Jackson Dies
Around the time of the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia, confederate Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson dies of pneumonia a week after his own troops accidentally shot at him . -
West VA
West Virginia officially joins the Union as the 35th state composed of 50 former Virginia counties. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle is considered the turning point of the Civil War. Lee ultimately was forced to retreat on July 4 and was left demoralized, even offering his resignation to Davis. Davis declined in hopes of keeping the spirits of the Confederacy up. -
NYC Draft Riots
Laborers in New York City riot as the draftee names are drawn on the 11th of July until the 13th. An estimated 1,000 people were killed and $1,500,000 worth of property was destroyed. The chaos was not stopped until troops from Gettysburg arrived and intervened. -
Chattanooga
Union troops seize this important rail and river transportation center after General Braxton Bragg of the Confederates abandoned it. -
Gettysburg Address
Lincoln delivers his brief speech that serves to honor all those who lost their lives during the fighting at Gettysburg. Now, this speech is considered one of the greatest of all time and is discussed throughout history. -
Battle of Chattanooga
After several battles, Confederate forces withdraw to Chickamauga Creek defenses. There were 56,000 Union troops and 46,000 Confederates. -
Dandridge
Union forces advance on Dandridge, Tenessee, forcing Longstreet's Confederate troops to fall back.They failed to capture Union forces as they should have. -
Grant Appointed
Ulysses S. Grant officially became lieutenant general per President Lincoln's request. He took control of all Union armies the following day. -
Fort Pillow Captured
Confederates capture this fort held by Union troops. The Confederates were accused of killing Union soldiers after they had surrendered and, thus, this became known as a massacre. -
Atlanta Campaign
Accompanied by three Union armies, Sherman marches towards Georgia from Tennessee. He is against the Confederate army under Joseph Johnston and is fighting for Atlanta. -
Grant's Agenda
Meanwhile, Grant was heading towards Richmond, the Confederate capital. However, at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, Virginia, Lee successfully stalled Grant's advances. -
Second Sinking
In Cherbourg, France, the Union boat "Kearsarge" sunk Confederate "Alabama." Unlinke last time, the Union was victorious. -
Tulepo, Mississippi Battles
At these several battles near Tulepo, Mississippi, the Union's defeat of Nathan Bedford Forrest secured the supply lines to Sherman's army fighting against the Confederates in Atlanta, Georgia. -
Fall of Atlanta
Finally, Sherman's army is able to take control of Atlanta, Georgia after Confederate troops evacuated the city. Several difficult battles led Confederate General Hood to make this call. -
Lincoln Re-Election
On this day, LIncoln was reelected for his second term as President of the United States. -
March to the Sea
On this day in history, Sherman's army of Georgia began their "March to the Sea." The purpose of this was to frighten Georgia's civilian population into abandoning the Confederate cause. -
Fort Fisher
The Union capture Fort Fisher, NC, and thus closed access to Wilmington, the last southern seaport on the east coast. -
Thirteenth Amendment Passed
Though it won't be ratified until almost a year after, the Thirteenth Amendment is passed by Congress on this day. -
Lincoln's Second Inauguration
On this day, Lincoln was inaugurated for the second time. -
Richmond Evacuation
Grant and the Union break Lee's lines at Petersburg, forcing Lee to evacuate. The Confederate capital, Richmond, also is evacuated. Union troops swiftly enter and raise the Stars and Stripes. -
Confeds Surrender
Lee and the Confederates surrender to the Union at the village of Appomattox Court House. -
Lincoln Assassinated
While seeing a play with his wife at Ford's Theatre, President Abraham Lincoln is assassinated by the infamous John Wilkes Booth. He never regained consciousness upon being shot. -
Lincoln Dead
At 7:22 in the morning, Lincoln took his last breath. Andrew Johnson, vice president at the time, took his place as the leader of the United States. -
Final Confed Surrender
Union General Sherman receives a surrender from Confederate Joseph E. Johnston near Durham, North Carolina. -
Booth's Assassination
A little over ten days after he fatally shot the president, John Wilkes Booth is killed in a tobacco barn in VA. -
Thirteenth Amendment
The Thirteenth Amendment is ratified, thereby abolishing slavery. -
Johnson's Veto
Johnson vetoes the Civil Rights Act of 1866, a bill that defined citizenship and ensured that all citizens- African-Americans included- were equally protected under the law. Johnson believed it to be unconstitutional. -
Declaration of Peace
Congress formally declares that the US is at peace with Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. -
Veto Overrode
Congress overrides Johnson's veto of the Civil Rights Act -
Winfield Scott Death
Winfield Scott, United States Army general, dies on this day in West Point, New York. -
14th Amendment
Congress approves the 14th Amendment, which gives all citizens equal protection/rights under the law. -
Tennessee
In order to avoid suffering under the Second Reconstruction, Tennessee quickly ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment. -
KKK
Government begins investigating the Ku Klux Klan, a hate group mainly against African Americans. -
Peace With Texas
President Johnson issues a proclamation of peace with Texas on this day. A few months later, however, Texas still rejects the Fourteenth Amendment. -
GA
Georgia rejects the Fourteenth Amendment. -
SC
South Carolina rejects the Fourteenth Amendment on the sixth anniversary of secession. -
Washington DC
African-Americans in Washington DC earn the right to vote. Congress overrode Johnson's veto in order to pass this bill. -
Nebraska
Nebraska officially becomes the 37th state. -
Military Control
For the Second Reconstruction, the Federal army takes secures military rule over Mississippi. -
Tenure of Office Act
Congress passes the Tenure of Office Act. This prevents the president from removing officials who had been appointed with the consent of Congress. -
Alexandria
Alexandria, VA rejects thousands of votes from African-Americans who had been granted universal suffrage under the Reconstruction Act. -
2nd Reconstruction Act
Over Johnson's veto, Congress passes the 2nd Reconstruction Act. This declared that the military commanders were responsible for handling elections and registering voters in their territories. -
Nebraska Ratifies
After only recently becoming a stae, Nebraska ratifies the Fourteenth Amendment. -
States Admitted
Congress passes a bill that admits Arkansas, Alabama. Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, and South Carolina to the Union. They refused to admit Virginia, Mississippi, and Texas as they were the only states to not ratify the Fourteenth Amendment. -
Edwin Stanton
Johnson demands the resignation of Edwin Stanton, Secretary of War. He later suspends him on August 12. -
Alaska
Russia turns over Alaska to the US for $7.2 million.