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Abraham Lincoln elected president
Lincoln was elected president in 1860. He took office following this election. -
South Carolina votes to secede from the United States
South Carolina voted to secede from the United States. After Lincoln was elected, many wanted disunion but South Carolina was the first to succeed in secede. -
Jefferson Davis elected president of the Confederacy
On February 9th, Jefferson Davis was elected president of the Confederacy. This means the South official see themselves apart from the North because they wanted their own leader. -
Confederate forces fire on Fort Sumter
The Confederates fired up on Fort Sumter. In less than a day, the Confederates took Fort Sumter after the Union surrendered. -
Anaconda Plan
An early attempt at to suppress the Confederacy. The Union wanted to isolate the Confederacy. -
Richmond becomes the capital of the Confederacy
The Capital of the Confederacy was changed from the City of Montgomery to Richmond. This was due to the strategic importance of Virginia. -
First Battle of Bull Run is fought
This battle was fought 30 miles from Washington D.C. This battle was thought an easy win for the Union, but ended up losing. -
The Merrimack and the Monitor fight of the Virginia coast
This fight was a naval engagement at Hampton Roads. This fight was the first between ironclads and inspired a new era of naval warfare. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Unions victory destroyed the Confederacy's hopes of blocking the Union's advance into Mississippi. The Confederates also lost Albert Sidney Johnston, their commander, in the battle. -
Robert E. Lee is named commander of the Army of Northern Virginia
Lee was given the role of commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. This was the main Confederate army in the East. -
Battle of Antietam
23,000 soldiers were hurt, killed, or missing. This battle also ended the Confederate Army of North Virginia's first invasion into the North. -
Lincoln suspends habeas corpus
Lincoln suspends the habeas corpus. This was a right which protects against unlawful imprisonment. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle was fought in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Union Army lost about 12,500 soldiers while the Confederates only lost 6,000. -
Emancipation Proclamation is announced
Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation the first day of 1863. It stated that all people held as slaves would be free within the rebellious states. -
Battle of Chancellorsville
General Stonewall Jackson died which was a huge loss to the Confederates. The victory caused General Lee to move North into Maryland and Pennsylvania. -
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought at Gettysburg. This battle had the largest number of casualties in the whole Civil War. -
Confederates surrender at Vicksburg
The Confederates surrendered at Vicksburg. The Vicksburg campaign started in 1862 and ended with this surrender. -
New York City draft riots
The first lottery of conscription law was held. The city went quiet, and after the silence there was a great fight that lasted days. -
54th Massachusetts fighting a Second Battle of Ft. Wagner
This was an assault led by the 54th Massachusetts. They were an African American infantry. -
Lincoln gives his Gettysburg Address
Lincoln gave one of his most famous speeches of all time. It was a shorter speech dedicated to the battlefield cemetery at Gettysburg. -
The Battle of the Crater
This battle was part of the Petersburg Campaign. The Union was trying to break through the Confederates defenses. -
Atlanta is captured
The Battle of Atlanta started in July of 1864. It wasn't until September that the Union took control of Atlanta. -
Abraham Lincoln defeats George McClellan to win re-election
Lincoln beat George McClellan to win re-election. He returned to office following the election of 1864 -
Sherman begins his March to the Sea
This was the most destructive campaign against civilians in the Civil War. The Union went through the Confederate states and destroyed military and civilian property. -
Congress passes the 13th Amendment
The 13th amendment passed Congress. No slavery unless being punishment would happen in America. -
Freedmen's Bureau is created
The Bureau of Refugees, Abandoned Lands, and Freedmen was established. This group provided help to the previously enslaved people. -
Lincoln gives his second inaugural address
Lincoln delivered his 2nd inaugural speech while the Civil War came to an end. This speech was justifying why slavery should be banned in the constitution. -
Richmond falls to the Union Army
The Union Army took control of Richmond. This was the confederacy's capital making it a significant loss for the Confederates. -
Robert E. Lee surrenders at Appomattox
Lee surrendered at Appomattox. This was the end of the war for Lee and the Confederate Army of North Virginia. -
Appomattox Court House--Surrender of Lee’s forces
Lee surrendered his forces. This ended the war in Virginia. -
President Lincoln Assassination
On April 15 Lincoln was shot. He was shot by John Wilkes Booth, a famous actor. He was killed because Wilkes Booth was a Confederate and disagreed with Lincoln. -
John Wilkes Booth is killed
John Wilkes Booth, who murdered President Lincoln is now dead. Booth was shot by a soldier when he was hiding in a barn.