Civil War Timeline 1861-1865

1860 Abraham Lincoln elected President in November 1860 South Carolina secedes in December Followed by Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Texas

1861 February- Confederate States of America (CSA) is formed Jefferson Davis is chosen as President of the CSA Fort Sumter, SC- first shots fired. War begins Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina and Arkansas join the Confederacy

1861 Some slave states remained in the Union. These are known as BORDER STATES Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland, Delaware and West Virginia (western counties of Virginia that broke away when they seceded Robert E. Lee chosen as leader of the Confederate Army

1861 Anaconda Plan- Northern strategy to win the war by cutting off the south from trade and aid from other countries with a naval blockade South’s plan was to fight a defensive war North- (Union, Yankee, The Blue) South- (Confederacy, Rebels, The Gray)

1861 Battle of Bull Run Confederate General “Stonewall” Jackson forced Union forces to retreat Julia Ward Howe writes “Battle Hymn of the Republic”

North vs. South Northern Advantages Southern Advantages More resources- factories and raw materials Better military leadership Larger population to draw on for soldiers Motivation- fighting for independence and way of life Better transportation system Fighting on home turf More farmland dedicated to food

North vs. South Northern Disadvantages Southern Disadvantages Poor military leadership Northern blockade hindered trade Fighting away from home Inflation- no gold/silver backing of currency Soldiers lacked motivation Farmland dedicated to cotton Smaller population

1862 Monitor vs. Merrimack- first battle of iron ships (ironclads) Battle of Antietam- “Blood Lane” 1st attempt by the South to invade North More causalities in one day than any other day in American History Emancipation Proclamation- order signed by Lincoln freeing all slaves in Confederate states (not including border states)

1863 Siege of Vicksburg-southern city put under siege by Union General Ulysses S. Grant This northern victory gave the Union control of the Mississippi River, splitting the south in two Battle of Gettysburg- 2nd attempt by the South to invade North Largest battle in the Western Hemisphere Turning point of the war

1863 Gettysburg Address- speech made by Lincoln dedicating a military cemetery at Gettysburg This was his most famous speech. Especially the end where he speaks of a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.”

1864 Ulysses S. Grant takes charge of the Union army Only Union General willing to go TO the enemy Copperheads-northerners against war Lincoln is reelected In his 2nd Inaugural Address, he lays out a plan to reconcile with the South “with malice toward none and charity for all”

1864 Sherman’s March to the Sea Union march through Georgia Cut the south in half “Total War”- destroying anything that would help the south keep fighting

1865 Surrender at Appomattox Courthouse Lee surrenders to Grant - ends the war Lincoln assassinated by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre just a few days after the surrender Andrew Johnson becomes president Plans to follow Lincoln’s lenient plan for reconciliation with the south

Reconstruction Refers to the time period after the Civil War when th southern states would be readmitted to the U.S. Some northerners (Radical Republicans) believed that the south should be punished in some way for leaving the union and causing the war. Lincoln had been against that idea.

Reconstruction When Andrew Johnson tried to follow through with Lincoln’s plans, he angered the Radical Republicans. They came up with a way to impeach him Found not guilty and served the rest of his term as president

Civil War Amendments 13th Amendment- abolished slavery in the U.S. 14th Amendment- made all citizens born or naturalized in the U.S. citizens (including former slaves) 15th Amendment- stated that citizens could not be stopped from voting because of their race, color or previous servitude

Freedman’s Bureau Federal agency set up to help former slaves after the Civil War Offered job training, education, etc.

Terms Carpetbaggers- northerners who moved to the south after the war for economic and political gain Scalawags- southerners who helped carpetbaggers Conscription- required military service

Special Honors William Carney was the first African American to win the Congressional Medal of Honor Philip Bazaar was the first Hispanic-American to win the Congressional Medal of Honor Clara Barton was significant because she treated injured soldiers & went on to found the American Red Cross