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Election of Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln is elected as the 16th president of the United States, becoming the first Republican to win the presidency. Lincoln received 40 percent of the popular vote and defeated the three other candidates: Southern Democrat John C. Breckinridge, Constitutional Union candidate John Bell, and Northern Democrat Stephen Douglas, a U.S. senator for Illinois.
The announcement of Lincoln’s victory meant the secession of the Southern states. -
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Battle of Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter on April 12–14, 1861 was the bombardment and surrender of Fort Sumter, near Charleston in South Carolina. This was the battle that started the American Civil War. A federal outpost was attacked by confederate troops. This controlled the entrance to the harbor. On April 12, General P.G.T. Beauregard opened fire on the Union holding Fort Sumter. Soon after on April 13 Major Robert Anderson surrendered the fort and evacuated the next day. -
First Battle of Bull Run
It was the first major battle of the civil war, and it was a confederates' victory. The battle is also known as the First Battle of Manassas. On July 16, 1861, the Union army with General Irvin McDowell marched from Washington against the Confederate army, behind Bull Run beyond Centreville. On the 21st, McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill. The defeat shattered the North's hopes of winning the war. -
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Second Battle of Bull Run
Jackson's troops met Pope's Union forces and fought for 3 full days. On the first day, Captain George Fairfield called the battle a "slaughter" due to their defeat and the amount of troops lost. On the second day, Pope found Jackson's troop along an unfinished railroad. The attacks were repulsed with heavy casualties on both sides. On the last day, Pope renewed his attacks, unaware that Longstreet was on the field. Longstreet’s 28,000 men counterattacked thus, the largest assault of the war. -
Battle of Antietam
Also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, the Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single-day battle of the Civil War and in U.S. history. More soldiers were killed and wounded in the battle then their were deaths in the American Revolutionary War of 1812 and the Mexican-American war combined.
The Potomac Army, under the command of George McClellan assaulted Robert E. Lee’s forces. The Federal forces began to collapse the Confederate right.The bloodiest day in American history ended in a draw. -
Emancipation Proclamation
President Abraham Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation to request the freedom of the confederate slaves. The Proclamation was a military order that freed slaves only in areas controlled by the confederacy. However, the Proclamation had little immediate effect and thus, did not stop slavery. -
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Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was the key battle that finally turned the tide against the confederates. The battle began when the confederate raiding party and the union forces began exchanging fire. -
Gettysburg Address
President Lincoln gave a speech called the Gettysburg Address, in which he praised the bravery of Union Soldiers and renewed his commitment to winning the Civil War.
This moving speech became one of the most famous in American history. -
Surrender of Confederate Forces
Grant broke thorough the confederate defenses; thus on April Lee continued to try last minute attacks. However he failed;therefor, trapped by the Union he met at the Appomattox Courthouse and surrendered to Grant. -
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
At age 56 Lincoln's life was cut short by assassin John Wilkes Booth, Shot on April 14 he died the very next day.
