1. The Civil War Begins Abraham Lincoln is elected president 1860-61 November 1860 South Carolina becomes the first slave state to secede More slaves states begin leaving the Union Attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina marks the start of the war April 12 1861 Killing of Lincoln’s close friend Colonel Elmer Ellsworth May 1861 July 21 1861 Battle of Bull Run at Manassas, Virginia Aeronauts gained relevance to the war as Thaddeus Lowe was able to see Confederate troops 3 miles away The Battle of Ball’s Bluff at Potomac River triggers the U.S Congress to set up a committee to monitor the war effort September 24 1861 October 1861

2. The Civil War Expands 1862 General George McClellan launches the peninsula campaign which attempts to capture the Confederate capital of Richmond. It triggers other, small battles including the seven pines battle (May31- June 1 1862) The Battle of Shiloh Fought in Tennessee On the Union side, 13000 were killed or wounded On the confederate side 10000 were killed or wounded April 24-25, 1862- A Union fleet of gunships passes Confederate forts guarding the mouth of the Mississippi River. They arrive at New Orleans and within two days the forts fall into Union hands and the mouth of the great river is under Union control. May 31-June 1, 1862- The Battle of Seven Pines General Joseph Johnston, commander of the Confederate army in Virginia is wounded and replaced by Robert E. Lee who renames his command the "Army of Northern Virginia".

3. 1862 continued August 30-31, 1862- The Battle of Second Bull Run takes place on the same spot as the first. The Union army is defeated again. September 17, 1862- The Battle of Antietam. bloodiest single day of the Civil War Emancipation proclamation is issued after the Union army June 25-July 1, 1862- The Seven Days' Battles. General Lee's army attacks the "Army of the Potomac" under General McClellan in a set of battles beginning at Mechanicsville on June 26 and ending at Malvern Hill on July 1. The Civil War Expands Further

4. More Violence Ensues 1863 January 1, 1863- The Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect. March 3, 1863- Conscription begins in the North. It had begun in the South the year before. The battle of Chancellorsvile General Hooker is defeated and confederate General Stonewall Jackson is mortally wounded by his own soldiers General George G. Meade becomes the 5 th man to command the army of the Potomac that year after Hooker is replaced Vicksburg is taken by the Union, making the confederate stronghold split in half by the Unions control over the Mississippi River The battle of Gettysburg Lincoln addresses the crowd

5. The Union Takes The Lead 1864 May 4, 1864 - The beginning of a massive, coordinated campaign involving all the Union Armies. In Virginia, Grant with an Army of 120,000 begins advancing toward Richmond to engage Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, now numbering 64,000, beginning a war of attrition that will include major battles at the Wilderness (May 5-6), Spotsylvania (May 8-12), and Cold Harbour (June 1-3). June 15, 1864 - Union forces miss an opportunity to capture Petersburg and cut off the Confederate rail lines. As a result, a nine month siege of Petersburg begins with Grant's forces surrounding Lee Atlanta is captured by the Union President Lincoln appoints Gen. Grant to command all of the armies of the United States Abraham Lincoln is re-elected president, defeating Democrat George B. McClellan. Lincoln carries all but three states with 55 percent of the popular vote and 212 of 233 electoral votes

6. The War Concludes 1865 January 31, 1865 - The U.S. Congress approves the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, to abolish slavery. The amendment is then submitted to the states for ratification. April 2, 1865 - Grant's forces begin a general advance and break through Lee's lines at Petersburg. Confederate Gen. Ambrose P. Hill is killed. Lee evacuates Petersburg. The Confederate Capital, Richmond is evacuated. Fires and looting break out. The next day, Union troops enter and raise the Stars and Stripes. Remaining Confederate forces surrender. The Nation is reunited as the Civil War ends. Over 620,000 Americans died in the war, with disease killing twice as many as those lost in battle. 50,000 survivors return home as amputees. Lincoln is killed December 6, 1865 - The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, passed by Congress on January 31, 1865, is finally ratified. Slavery is abolished