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Election of Abraham Lincoln
November 1860. Lincoln faced Douglas, Breckinridge, and Bell for the presidency. Abraham Lincoln won only two counties out of 996. It is important because this leaded to the secession of the Southern States. -
South Carolina's Secession
On December 20, 1860, the convention met in Charleston, South Carolina to draft an ordinance of secession. South Carolina seceded on this day. This is important because South Carolina was the first state to secede which caused the other Southern states to secede. -
Secession of Virginia
On April 4, 1861 Virginia leaders voted against secession. Opinions changed on April 15 and Virginia voted to secede. This is important because this created the West Virginia that we know today. People in the Western part of Virginia did not want to seceded so they broke off from Virginia and were strong in the Union -
North Carolina Secedes
North Carolina was reluctant to secede from the Union when it became clear that Lincoln was to win the presidency. North Carolina did not secede until the fall of Fort Sumter and the secession of Virginia -
Suspension of Habeas Corpus
Lincoln had received word that anti-war Maryland officials intended to destroy the railroad tracks between Annapolis and Philadelphia, which was a vital supply line for the army preparing to fight the south. This caused him to suspend the Habeas corpus. The government can suspend it if the public safety requires it during times of rebellion or invasion. It was important because it denied a prisoner the right to secure such a writ and therefore can be held without trail indefinitely. -
Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson- Second Battle of Bull Run
Fought in Prince William County, Georgia.This is important because he moved his troops towards the line as reinforcements. As the other troops would retreat, the commanders would yell "Get behind Stonewall" as his troops moved forward, protecting the troops who were retreating. -
Ironclad Ships
The first battle between two ironclad ships was in 1862. It was between the Monitor and the Union's fleet of wooden ships and the Virginia along with other Confederate ships. This was important because this allowed more protection when fighting at sea and it made the navies get stronger and bigger -
Battle of Shiloh
Also known as the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, fought in the Western Theater of the American Civil War between the Confederacy and the Union. This battle was important because it was the bloodiest battle fought so far during the Civil War. It gave Tennessee to the North -
Union Capture of New Orleans
A Union fleet, led by Admiral David Farragut led a fleet of 24 gunboats, 19 mortar boats, and 15,000 soldiers past forts Jackson and St. Phillip. This was important because the Confederacy lost a major city and the lower Mississippi was under control of the Union -
Battle of Antietam
Also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, it was fought particularly in the South. It is important because it is the bloodiest day in American history and it resulted in Abraham Lincoln issuing his Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. -
Emancipation Proclamation
Written by Abraham Lincoln. It told all the rebel states who were fighting against the Union that their slaves are free. This freed all the slaves in the rebelling states but not in the border states. This is because Lincoln did not want to lose the support of the border states. This was important because it weakened the south in their economy because they used slaves in order to pick the cotton to sell. -
The 54th Massachusetts Regiment
African American men headed to training camp and became known as the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. Two weeks later, more than 1,000 men volunteered to fight. This was important because it was the first African Americans who fought for the United States -
Siege of Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Warren County, Mississippi. It was the final military action in the Vicksburg Campaign. Union troops and Maj. Gen. Ulysses Grant crossed the Mississippi River and drove the Confederate Army of Mississippi into the defensive lines surrounding the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi. This was important because the Confederacy was split in half. -
Battle of Gettysburg
Fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, this battle had the largest casualties of any of battle in the Civil War, with more than 50,000 casualties General George Meade led Union troops to end the Confederate attacks from General Robert E. Lee. This was important because it was the bloodiest battle in the American Civil War. -
Pickett's Charge
An infantry assault ordered by Confederate General Robert E. Lee against Maj. General George G. Meade and his Union army. The Union was on Cemetery Ridge and the Confederate troops moved to attack. This was important because it happened on the last day of the Battle of Gettysburg, meaning that it ended the Battle of Gettysburg. -
Robert E. Lee
Battle of Gettysburg- resignation. Confederate commander. He commanded the Confederate army of North Virginia. After his loss at Gettysburg, he sent his letter of resignation to President Davis. This was important because the South would lose a valuable general in the war. -
Gettysburg Address
Written by President Abraham Lincoln. This address was to say thank you to all the soldiers who died during the Civil War and it especially thanked those soldiers who died during the Battle of Gettysburg. It was important because it comforted the nation after the large number of 51,000 casualties at Gettysburg spread around for everyone to hear. -
Sherman's March to Sea
A military campaign of the American Civil War that was conducted through Georgia. It was led by Maj. Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman of the Union Army. This was important because him and his men captured Atlanta, Georgia which was a major and important transportation center for the Confederacy -
First Battle of Fort Fisher
A naval siege where the Union army tried to capture the fort that was guarding Wilmington, NC. Maj. Gen. Benjamin Butler was leading the attack on Fort Fisher but decided to abort the mission due the the worsening weather and the approaching enemy reinforcements. This was important because the Confederacy won this battle but the second battle of Fort Fisher would be different. -
Second Battle of Fort Fisher
Fort Fisher was the last major stronghold of the Confederacy. After a first attempt made by the Union to overtake the fort, the Union decided they were not going to lose the war and made another attack. This time, it resulted in a victory. This was important because they now had a large fort on the water and they could easily capture Wilmington. -
Battle of Wilmington
Wilmington, North Carolina. It fell to Union troops after the second battle of Fort Fisher because once Fort Fisher was captured by the Union, the Confederacy could no longer use it as a port. This was important because it opened up a major port for the Union side. -
Battle of Bentonville, NC
Fought in Bentonville, NC near the town of Four Oaks. It was the last battle between the armies of Union Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman and Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston. It was important because it was the last time in the Civil War where the Confederate Army was able to mount a tactical offensive. It was the largest battle in North Carolina -
Confederacy Surrenders
Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses Grant and the Union army. He surrendered at the McLean house. This was important because this ended the war between the Union and the Confederacy. -
President Lincoln's Assassination
Abraham Lincoln was killed by John Wilkes Booth. Booth wanted to revive the Confederate cause and hope to get much Southern support. He was shot in the head in the Petersen House in Washington, D.C. He was watching the comedy play, Our American Cousin. This was important because John Wilkes Booth became the first person the assassinate an American president, and Abraham Lincoln was now dead and nobody knew what would happen next. -
Clara Barton- American Red Cross
The American Red Cross extends care to those in need whether they have been struck disasters such as hurricanes and tornadoes or even floods. Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. It is important because this was the start of the United States helping everyone in need. Clara Barton used the Red Cross to help soldiers who were injured during the Civil War because women were not allowed to fight on the battlefield
