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Civil War Timeline
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American College in Rome
American College established in Rome by Pope Pius IX. -
Senator Jefferson Davis:
Senator Jefferson Davis argued that slavery should be allowed in U.S. territories. He intended to unite the Democratic party and also gave reasons to why slave holders should be protected. -
Copper Union Address
Lincoln gives the Cooper Union Address and he stated that he approved of the Federal Government banning slavery in the new territories. This was probably one of Lincoln's most powerful speeches and many believe it won him the presidency. -
Pony Express
The Pony Express began from Saint Louis, Missouri to Sacramento, California.It made it possible for more letters to be delivered faster a securely.It stations that were each 12 miles apart and there were almost 120 of them. -
Formation of Constitutional Union Party
Former members of the Whig and American parties meet at Baltimore and create the Constitutional Union Party. They elected John Bell and Edward Everett as candidates for President and Cice President. -
Grace asks Lincoln to grow a beard
An 11 year old girl,Grace Bedell, writes Lincoln. In her letter she asked him to grow a beard and told him that a beard would make his face look much better because it is so thin. Lincoln immediately decides to let his beard grow out. -
Lincoln is elected as President of the U.S.A
Lincoln is elected as the president of the United States. He becomes the 16th president. -
Southern secession is urged
30 members of congress issue a manifesto telling the south to secede. It also recommends forming a Southern Confederacy. -
South Carolina leaves the Union
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union as a result of Lincoln becoming president. The south did not want their way of life changed. -
South Carolina Congressmen Resign
The South Carolina Congressmen resign due to the South's secession. However, they remain on the job in the Unions eyes because the Union still does not acknowledge secession yet. -
South Carolina's Declaration
South Carolina makes their own "Declaration of Independence". It justifies their secession and independence. -
Kansas becomes a State of the United States
Kansas is admitted to the Union as the 34th state and was supposed to be a slave state. Although it became a free state and caused many problems. -
Jefferson Davis is elected the President of CSA
Jefferson Davis is elected the provisional president of the Confederate States of America. -
Fort Sumter under siege
The first (unofficial) battle of the Civil War happened at Fort Sumter in South Carolina. The battle was won by the Confederates and lasted two days. -
Lincoln suspends Habeas Corpus
Lincoln suspends Habeas Corpus. This meant that people could be imprisoned without a trial. -
The Crittenden-Johnson Resolution
It states that the war is to preserve the Union, not really to end slavery. Gave Congress a reason to give reasoning behind the war. -
Union Captures the Tennessee River
General Ulysses S. Grant and the Union army, capture Paducah, Kentucky. No causalities are sustained while they were capturing the river. -
Lincoln appoints McClellan as Commander
Lincoln makes George B. McClellan as commander of the Union Army. Which later was a mistake in Lincolns eyes. -
USS San Jacinto Incident
USS San Jacinto stops a United Kingdom mail ship, The Trent. The Union arrested two Confederates, James Mason and John Slidell. Britain now has tension with the Union. -
Judah Benjmamin as his Secretary of War for CSA
Jefferson Davis makes Judah Benjamin his Secretary of War for Confederate Army. Later on Davis appointed him to Secretary of State. -
Kentucky Joins the Confederacy
Kentucky is now the 13th Confederate state at this point.Also this means the Confederates are gaining more power and resources, making them more powerful. -
McClellan ignores Lincoln's order
Lincoln orders the first General War Order, telling all land and sea army forces to advance. McClellan ignores, but because of his backing Lincoln could not punish him. -
New Money know as Greenbacks
A new form paper money introduced by Lincoln. It unified money for the United States and was used by the Union army. -
Conscription Act
Davis and the Confederate Congress approve the conscription act. This is like a draft and called all white male ages 18 to 35 to fight for the confederate army. -
Internal Revenue Law
This law would give the government funds to use towards the civil war. It put a tax on inheritance and incomes over $600. It also taxed tobacco. -
Alice in Wonderland is Made
Lewis Carroll creates Alice in Wonderland. A tale he created for Alice Liddell and her sisters one day when they were going on a picnic. -
African Americans join the Army
The Union army is allowed to hire African Americans as laborers. The slaves are now allowed to help in the army that is being fought to free them. -
Battle of Antietam
The battle of Antietam is the bloodiest single day battle in American history. Neither side won the war but the Confederate retreated. -
Emancipation Planned
This gives the slaves hope for their freedom. Lincoln's plan for Emancipation is published in the Union newspapers. -
Grant Against the Jewish
Grant issues an order to bar Jewish people from serving under his command. This is kind of ironic in my opinion. -
Lincoln hangs Native Americans
Lincoln orders 39 Sioux Indian men to be hanged. -
Emancipation Proclamation is Signed
Lincoln signs the Emancipation and officially frees 3.1 million of the nation's slaves. This document only freed slaves that were not under Union control. It also let them serve in the Union Army. -
National Banking Act
Lincoln signs the National Banking Act, making it a law. Lead to the creation of local banks. -
National Conscription Act
The National Conscription Act is signed forcing able bodied males aged 18-35 into joining the Union Army. Which caused many riots. -
The Battle of Chancellorsville
This battle took place from May 1st to May 4th, ending in a Confederate victory. Both sides lost a lot of men, but the South lost their great General "Stonewall" Jackson. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This is the largest battle of the Civil War, taking place in a field in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. General Meade's Union forces turn back Lee's Confederates during this battle. Many casualties on both sides, but ended in a Union Victory. -
General Lee Resigns
After defeat at Gettysburg, General Lee sends a letter of resignation to Confederate President Jefferson Davis. Davis turns it down. -
The Battle of Lawrence
This battle took place in Lawrence, Kansas, the site of much previous violence over the issue of slavery. The north views this as one of the most vicious atrocities of the war. -
Official Creation of Thanksgiving
Lincoln makes Thanksgiving a national holiday to be celebrated the last Thursday in November, this holiday is to celebrate the colonists and Native Americans coming together and sharing their resources. -
The Gettysburg Address
Lincoln's speech dedicating the military cemetery at Gettysburg. The address is not very long but considered the most influential speech. Not many liked it at first but it is now very popular. -
John Hunt Morgan Escapes
John Hunt Morgan, a confederate Calvary leader, and some of his men escape the Ohio state prison. They escape by cutting a hole in a cell and crawling through the ventilation system. They return safety to the South and Morgan picks up his Calvary activities. -
Andersonville Prison
Hundreds of prisoners of war arrive at the Confederate prison camp in Andersonville. This was the harshest prison camp of the Civil War. many of the prisoners died. -
The Coinage Act
Congress passed the Coinage Act in 1864. This act states the the inscription "In God we Trust" must be on every coin made by the US. -
Conscription Hoax
New York World and the New York Journal of Commerce publish an article stating that Lincoln has drafted around 400,000 troops. Many thought it was fake though. -
Arlington National Cemetary
The Arlington National Cemetery is established by Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton. It is created from Robert E Lee's home, Arlington House. -
Lincoln's Conscription Law
Lincoln signs that someone could pay to be free and avoid being drafted into the Union Army. -
A Confederate Spy
A Confederate spy named Belle Boyd is arrested by Union forces. She was held in a prison in Washington D.C. -
Helena and Gold
Helena, Montana is founded by prospectors. They founded it after finding gold at Last Chance Gulch. -
Lincoln is Relected
Lincoln is re-elected in 1864. He won by many votes compared to McClellan. -
Sherman's March to the Sea
Waynesboro, Georgia forces the Union prevent Confederate troops from interfering with General Sherman's plan to destroy part of the South by matching to Savannah, Georgia. -
Battle at Fort Stedman
The Confederate forces capture Fort Stedman from the Union forces. There was also a counter attacked which killed or captured many of Lee's men. -
Richmond Captured
Confederate President Davis and his cabinet flee the confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia as Union forces came upon it. Also it was taken the following day by the Union Forces. -
Appottamax
General Lee surrenders to General Grant at Appomattox courthouse. This is the end of the Civil War officially. -
John Wilkes Booth killed Lincoln
John Wilkes Booth shot and killed President Lincoln at Fords Theater during the performance of My American Cousin. Lincoln is pronounced dead early the next morning -
Booth is Captured
John Wilkes Booth was captured and killed in a barn in Virginia at the Garret's farm. -
Juneteenth is Made
General Granger arrives in Texas and speaks of the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is now celebrated as holiday. -
Conspirators are Hanged
Four conspirators in Lincoln's assassination are hanged. -
Henry Wirz is Killed
He becomes the only soldier hanged for war crimes. Major Henry Wirz was the leader of the atrocious war camp, Andersonville -
13th Amendment is Made
This amendment permanently abolishes slavery. -
KKK
Jonathan Shank and Barry Ownby form the Ku Klux Klan. They try to resist reconstruction as well as to repress the freed African Americans. -
Jesse James and Gang
The first day light bank robbery takes place in Liberty, Missouri. This was carried out by Jesse James and his gang. -
ASPCA
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is created by Henry Bergh in NY. -
Nickel is Now in the Mint
No more half dime now. Congress approves the minting of a five cent piece, know as the nickel. -
14th Amendment
This gives civil rights to all the freed African Americans. -
Tennessee is Back in the Union
Following the Civil War Tennessee becomes the first state readmitted to the Union. -
Rank General of the Army
Congress makes General of the Army a rank. Ulysses S. Grant is the first to have this title. -
Creation of the Atlantic Cable
Atlantic Cable is established allowing transatlantic telegraph communication for the first time ever. -
First Train Robbery
The first train robbery takes place. Reno brothers get away with $13,000 of loot. -
Jesse and gang in Missouri
Jesse James and gang rob a bank in Missouri. They get away with $2,000. -
African American Males have the Right to Vote
African American males can vote in Washington D.C. Congress over came President Johnson's veto to not let them. -
First Reconstruction Acts
The first reconstruction act sets up five military districts in the South, each under the control of a military commander.The Army Appropriations Act is passed.The final act passed is The Tenure Office Act. -
Jesse James robs Savannah
Jesse James robs a bank in Savannah,Missouri, but fails and someone gets injured. -
Department of Education
US Congress creates the Department of Education. This is a major step in the school system. -
Ride In Protests
African Americans stage a ride on streetcars in New Orleans to protest segregation. -
Alaska is Announced
President Andrew Johnson announces the purchase of Alaska. This would be the second to last state added to the United States of America. -
Third Reconstruction Act
Johnson vetoes the third reconstruction act. Congress overrides Johnson's' veto. -
Johnson suspends Stanton
Johnson suspends Stanton as Secretary of War.Johnson places Ulysses S. Grant in the position. -
Alaska is officially Acquired
The United States buys Alaska for 7.2 Million dollars from Russia. -
Congress looks to Impeach
Congress looks into impeaching Johnson for his lack of reconstruction in the US. -
Grange Order
Former Minnesota farmer Oliver Hudson Kelley establishes an Order of the Patrons of Husbandry. This order is known as the farmers organization Grange.
