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Fort Sumter
First shots of the civil war are shot. This marks the point where there is no longer a chance to get the South back in the Union without war thus the civil war begins. -
1st Battle of Bull Run
Marks first major battle of the civil war. The South scores a victory and proves to the North that it would not be near as easy of a war as they once thought. -
Monitor vs. Merrimac
First two iron battle ships, changed warships forever as nations all around the world switched from wooden ships to iron. Both the Union and Confederates claimed victory. -
Battle of Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day during the Civil War. This was also the 1st major fighting on Union soil. The Union won this battle and with the win, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. -
Emancipation Proclamation
On January 1st Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation. It stated that slaves in the rebelling states were free. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg took place over 3 days and was a major turning point in the war. After the Confederates victory at Chancellorsville, General Robert E. Lee was very confident and marched his army into Union territory. Lee made his first mistake of the war at Gettysburg when he ordered an attack now known as "Pickets Charge". This was very costly for the Confederates and the Union secured a big victory that gave them hope. -
Battle of Petersburg
Battle between General Grant and Lee where the Union Army attacked Petersburg, a vital Southern rail center. The Confederates would hold off the Union army for nearly a year but they were extremely low on resources and eventually had no choice but to surrender -
Sherman's March to the Sea
General William T. Sherman implemented the strategy of total war on his march from Atlanta to Savannah Georgia that lasted just over a month. On their march, they would take civilians food and resources. If the civilians fought back, Sherman and his army would burn down the civilians' houses or barns. The idea behind total war is that if you put fear into the civilians then they will abandon the Confederates cause. -
Lee Surrenders to Grant
Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court House.This marked the end of the Civil War. The Union had defeated the Confederates. -
Battle at Appomattox Courthouse
Final battle of the civil war where Union troops surrounded the now weak Confederate army.