Civil War Timeline

  • Abraham Lincoln Elected

    Abraham Lincoln Elected
    Sigmificance: The election of Abraham Lincoln caused tention between the northern and southern states. Southern states begin to succeed and ultimately leads to the civil war.
  • South Carolina Secedes

    South Carolina Secedes
    Significance: South Carolina secceeding sets the tone after Lincoln's election. This influences others to join in a stance against the Union.
  • Confederacy Is Formed

    Confederacy Is Formed
    Significance: This solidifies the splitting of the north and south. This means there will be war.
  • Lincoln's Inauguration

    Lincoln's Inauguration
    Significance: This furthermore causes tension bethween sides making pure seperation between them.
  • Attack at Fort Sumter

    Attack at Fort Sumter
    Location: Charleston, SC
    Who Won: Confederate Victory
    Significance: First battle of civil war that showed it was going to be a longer war than expected.
  • Battle of Bull Run #1

    Battle of Bull Run #1
    Location: Manassas, VA
    Who won: Confederate Victory
    Significance: First major battle of the civil war. The amount of causualties let the north and south know this wasn't going to be a short war.
  • Battle of Shiloh

    Battle of Shiloh
    Location: Shiloh, TN
    Who won: Union Victory
    Significance: The south suprise attacked the north causing massive casualties to the north. The north gained reinforcements and pushed the confederates to the Mississippi. This stopped the south's hopes of retaking TN.
  • 7 Days Battle

    7 Days Battle
    Location: Richmond, VA
    Who won: Confederate Victory
    Significance: Lee's first major victory. Outnumbered, he pushed the Union back to Washigton.
  • Battle of Chattanooga

    Battle of Chattanooga
    Location: Chattanooga, TN
    Who won: Union Victory
    Significance: Grant removed confederate soldiers from their positions. This opened the path for Sherman's march.
  • Battle of Bull Run 2

    Battle of Bull Run 2
    Location: Manassas
    Who won: Confederate Victory
    Significance: Was another win for the south. it took place in the same spot as the first Battle of Bull Run. This was another win for Lee, supporting his reputation.
  • Battle of Antietam

    Battle of Antietam
    Location: Sharpsburg, MD
    Who won: Union Victory
    Significance: This is one of the only oly major battles fought in the north. It was also the bloodiest.
  • Emancipation Proclamation

    Emancipation Proclamation
    Significance: This said that if the southern states in rebellion didn't come back to the Union their slaves would be set free by the Union.
  • Battle of Fredericksburg

    Battle of Fredericksburg
    Location: Fredericksburg,VA
    Who won: Confederate Victory
    Significance: Hard loss for Union. The Confederate forces were entrenched deeply into a hill. Thus, giving them a great advantage.
  • Battle of Stones River

    Battle of Stones River
    Location: Murfreesburo, TN
    Who won: Union Victory
    Significance: This was another extremely deadly battle. This was considered a win by the south but was seen as a moral boost to the north.
  • Battle of Chancellorsville

    Battle of Chancellorsville
    Location: Chancellorsville, VA
    Who won: Confederate Victory
    Significance: The south outnumbered the Union and won by a great margin. Jackson was shot by his own men and died a week later.
  • Siege of Vicksburg

    Siege of Vicksburg
    Location: Vicksburg, MS
    Who won: Union Victory
    Significance: Was a massive victory for the Union. Taking control of the city meant they would have control of the south's supplies.
  • Battle of Gettysberg

    Battle of Gettysberg
    Location: Gettysburg, PA
    Who won: Union Victory
    Significance: This was the turning point of the war. The union pushed the south back to the south in a very bloody battle.
  • Battle of Chickamauga

    Battle of Chickamauga
    Location: Chickamauga, GA
    Who won: Confederate Victory
    Significance: Confederate forces defeated a large Union army. However, the Confederates didn't use this to their advantage.
  • Gettysburg Address

    Gettysburg Address
    Significance: a speech given about the dedication of the soldiers of the civil war. This made Gettysburg a national cemetery. Regarded as one of the greatest speeches ever.
  • Battle of the Wilderness

    Battle of the Wilderness
    Location: Wilderness around Richmond, VA
    Who won: N/A
    Significance: The battle took place in the woods near Richmond, VA. The outcome of the battle was inconclusive.
  • Battle of Spotsylvania

    Battle of Spotsylvania
    Location: Spotsylvania, VA
    Who won: N/A
    Significance: Grant continued his push to Richmond to stop the war. Grant could lose men while Lee could not.
  • Lincoln is Reelected

    Lincoln is Reelected
    Significance: Lincoln was reelected mostly due to the confidence made by Sherman in Atlanta. Before, the possibility was slim.
  • Battle of Franklin

    Battle of Franklin
    Location: Franklin, TN
    Who won: Union Victory
    Significance: A Union victory in the South. Had a high death rate per amount of time. It was one of the bloodiest charges for the confederate forces.
  • Sherman's march to the Sea

    Sherman's march to the Sea
    Location: Atlanta, GA
    Who won: Union Victory
    Significance: Most destructive campaign against civilians in the civil war. Helps Limcoln's reelection.
  • Lincoln's Second Inauguration

    Lincoln's Second Inauguration
    Significance: Lincoln wasn't expected to have the vote for president before Sherman's march. This shows a complete swing for the best for the Union.
  • Surrender at Appomattox Court House

    Surrender at Appomattox Court House
    Location: Appomattox, VA
    Who won: Union Victory
    Significance: This is the surrendering of Lee to Union forces. This is the unofficial end to the civil war.
  • Official End of Civil War

    Official End of Civil War
    Significance: After Lee's surrender this is the official end to the war. Soldiers are now coming home and the south is defeated.
  • Lincoln's Assassanation

    Lincoln's Assassanation
    Significance: The leader who kept the Union running during the long war is no longer alive. The U.S. is left without a leader.