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Period: to
Era Before 1863
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Election of 1860
When Abraham Lincoln is elected President, a new era of Republican leadership in Washington begins. With a divided Democratic party with canidates John C. Breckenridge and Stephen Douglas. Lincoln's unity in the Republican party proves victorious. Eventhough his name was banned on the bellots in 10 southern states. -
South Carokina Secedes
When Lincoln was elected President, many Southerners felt they weren't being treated fairly. With a history of nullification, South Carolina became the 1st state to secede from the Union and form its own government. The government became known as the Confederate States of America -
Confederate States of America Form
Delegates from South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana met in Montgomery, Alabama to form the Confederate States of America. Jefferson Davis was elected President of the Confederacy. In the Confederate's minds, they were seperate and of equal status as a sovereign nation like that of their Northern brothers. -
Capital of COnfederates Established
As four more states left the Union, the Confederacy was essentially finalized with 11 member states. The capitol of the CSA was moved to Richmond, Virginia, and major military, political, and economical decisions began to take place within the CSA. The capitol was relatively close to Washington and the Union government. -
Battle of Fort Sumter
The fort stationed in South Carolina was given reinforcement supplies by President Lincoln. Because the fort belonged to the North, the South took the reinforcements as a confrontation. With that attitude, the first shots of the Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter. -
First Battle of Bull Run
General Irvin McDowell attacked the Confederate troops stationed at Manassas Junction, Virginia. Initially, he was successful until the Confederates brought reinforcements. The blow was ultimately a big shock to Washington and brought a greater attention to the Civil War. -
McClellan As General
Lincoln made the 1st of several changes of commanders of the Union army by appointing McClellan. General McClellan was an exceptionally good at organization and training of the Union troops. He lead the Union until March 1862. -
The Penisnular Campaign
This failed attempt to capture Richmond was a result of the incoporation of Confederate reinforcements after an initial defeat. The Union was not able to achieve its hopeful stifling of the Confederacy. As a result, the Union army was taken aback and General Lee was able to fortify the Confederate forts. -
Emancipation Proclomation
On New Years Day. President Lincoln delivered his famous proclmation of the freedom of slaves. The speech was the moral shifter of the Uion's goal in fighting the war, but it did little to actually emancipate the slaves. Slaves became part of the fighting as army men and soldiers in the Union. -
Gettysburg
The bloodiest battle of the Civil War, the results dratiscally changed the course of the war. The Confederacy was not able to be recognized by foreign nations as a result of the war. President Lincoln marked this site as a national (Union and Confederacy) mourning site and gave his famous Gettysburg Address. -
Period: to
Era After 1863
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Ulysses S. Grant
President Lincoln appointed General Ulysses S. Grant to become commander of the US army after the Vicksburg battle. Grant would eventually lead the Union to victory in the Civil War. Grant went on to become President, though he possessed more military leadership qualities. -
Sherman Takes Atlanta
Using powerful tactics, Sherman commanded the Union army and attacked Atlanta. He completely destroyed the city and left the Confederates hopeless. He instituted his philosophy of total war on the lives of the Georgians. Then led his March to the Sea. -
Election of 1864
Lincoln was reelected President and the Republican ruling of the Union continued. Lincoln's election brought continuity to the Union. By retaining its leader, the Union was able to push its way to victory. guarnatneed win after the succes of Sherman taking atlanta and pushing to the Atlantic. -
General Lee
General Robert E. Lee becomes commander of the Confederate Army. Lee was a prominent leader, great military figure, and the best chance the Confederacy had to win. Soon after however, Lee joined General Grant to talk surrendering. -
Capture of Columbia and Charlestown
In the capture of Columbia ad Charleston, South Carolina, the Union began its cutting off of the Confederacy. President Lincoln wanted Union troops to cut off the CSA right down the middle. By capturing these cities, the Union army began to do that and provided a spark fro the defeat of the Confederacy a few months later. -
Slaves get freedom to Fight in South
The Confederacy initiated the requirement to slaves saying they could be free if they fought in the war. This was a huge step towards eventual emancipation. The reality of the maneuver though, was that the Confederacy needed more men to fight the war they were losing. -
Lee Surrenders
General Lee surrenders to the Union army at the Appomattox Court House. Union soldiers practically surrounded Richmond and thus forced General Lee to surrender. This ended the Civil War, but hostile tensions proved to continue. -
Lincoln Assisinated
Days after the ending of war, President Lincoln was shot and killed by John Wilks Booth in Ford's Theater. The great emancipator died at a point where he had the greatest reputation. VP Andrew Johnson became President and was thrown into the shaky attitudes of citizens in the Union. Never got to see reconstruction through after the war. -
Davis Captured
Jefferson Davis is captured and President Johnson declares the fighting between the two sides is officially over. The lone president of the CSA is captured, therefore the CSA became a power vacucum the Union was eager to recapture. Shortly after, President Johnson developed his reconstruction plan for allowing the confederate states back in the Union. -
13th Amendment Passed (Ratified date)
The 13th Amendment to the Constitution declared that "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." Formally abolishing slavery in the United States, the 13th Amendment was passed by the Congress on January 31, 1865, and ratified by the states on December 6, 1865.