Timeline of Important Events & Places Prior, During, & After the Civil War
Compromise of 1850
> Abolished slavery in the District of Columbia but forced Congress to create the Fugitive Slave Law, which forced all states to return escaped slaves. The Compromise also allowed California to become a free state.
> Abolished slavery in the District of Columbia but forced Congress to create the Fugitive Slave Law, which forced all states to return escaped slaves. The Compromise also allowed California to become a free state.
The Kansas Nebraska Act of 1854
> Organized the leftover territory from the Louisiana Purchase into possible Union States. The leftover territory was divided into two parts; the top half being a free territory (no slavery) and the bottom half being able to decide if its citizens wanted to continue slavery in their territory by popular sovereignty.
> Organized the leftover territory from the Louisiana Purchase into possible Union States. The leftover territory was divided into two parts; the top half being a free territory (no slavery) and the bottom half being able to decide if its citizens wanted to continue slavery in their territory by popular sovereignty.
Bleeding Kansas (1854-ish)
> "Bleeding Kansas" is a term commonly used to describe the cruel and harsh acts of violence that occurred when Kansas was starting to be settled. Settlers flocked from the Union and from the Confederacy to Kansas to try to influence the popular sovereignty vote. The "Bleeding" part of the phrase comes from all of the blood that was shed during that time period.
> "Bleeding Kansas" is a term commonly used to describe the cruel and harsh acts of violence that occurred when Kansas was starting to be settled. Settlers flocked from the Union and from the Confederacy to Kansas to try to influence the popular sovereignty vote. The "Bleeding" part of the phrase comes from all of the blood that was shed during that time period.
The Dred Scott Decision (1857)
> The Dred Scott Decision ruled that African-American slaves could never become citizens. This was ruled by the Supreme Court. The federal court of this case declared that Dred Scott, the slave who claimed that he was free when he and his master traveled to Illinois and Minnesota, was a citizen. The fact that there was controversy dealing with a slave that had gone to a federal and a Supreme Court portrayed more and more flaw in our slave-holding system.
> The Dred Scott Decision ruled that African-American slaves could never become citizens. This was ruled by the Supreme Court. The federal court of this case declared that Dred Scott, the slave who claimed that he was free when he and his master traveled to Illinois and Minnesota, was a citizen. The fact that there was controversy dealing with a slave that had gone to a federal and a Supreme Court portrayed more and more flaw in our slave-holding system.
Lincoln-Douglas Debates (1858)
> Lincoln (Republican) and Douglas (Democrat) were running against each other for Senate in 1858. They mainly argued about slavery and popular sovereignty. Lincoln was a part of the Free-Soil party which opposed the expansion of slavery to the new territories, while Douglas supported the option of having the citizens of that territory vote on whether they hold slaves or not (through local government). These debates really got Lincoln in the news and his ideas were welcomed in the Union, although he did not win the spot in the Senate.
> Lincoln (Republican) and Douglas (Democrat) were running against each other for Senate in 1858. They mainly argued about slavery and popular sovereignty. Lincoln was a part of the Free-Soil party which opposed the expansion of slavery to the new territories, while Douglas supported the option of having the citizens of that territory vote on whether they hold slaves or not (through local government). These debates really got Lincoln in the news and his ideas were welcomed in the Union, although he did not win the spot in the Senate.
Harper's Ferry (1859)
> John Brown, an extremist version of an abolitionist who thought slavery was to be abolished or avenged by the use of violence, attempted to lead a slave uprising in Virginia. For the most part, his plan was successful. He and his twenty-one men took over the arsenal and gathered the weapons. Brown thought that the local slaves would come to join him but sadly there was lack of communication and Brown was taken prisoner.
> John Brown, an extremist version of an abolitionist who thought slavery was to be abolished or avenged by the use of violence, attempted to lead a slave uprising in Virginia. For the most part, his plan was successful. He and his twenty-one men took over the arsenal and gathered the weapons. Brown thought that the local slaves would come to join him but sadly there was lack of communication and Brown was taken prisoner.
Lincoln's Election (1860)
> President Lincoln (the sixteenth President of the United States) was elected at a crucial time for the U.S. The Northern and Southern states had been bickering for quite some time now over slavery and the moral aspects of it. When Lincoln was elected, he sought after his original views: slavery should not spread into new territory. But as the years passed and battles (physical and verbal) were fought, he came to realize that he wanted to abolish slavery. He is credited for freeing slaves across the country.
> President Lincoln (the sixteenth President of the United States) was elected at a crucial time for the U.S. The Northern and Southern states had been bickering for quite some time now over slavery and the moral aspects of it. When Lincoln was elected, he sought after his original views: slavery should not spread into new territory. But as the years passed and battles (physical and verbal) were fought, he came to realize that he wanted to abolish slavery. He is credited for freeing slaves across the country.
Fort Sumter (1861)
> Fort Sumter was the first battle and the beginning of the Civil War. The Union Army was attacked by the Confederate Army from all sides (Fort Sumter is on an island in South Carolina). The Union Army eventually surrendered to the Confederate Army. This battle kicked off the start of the Civil War.
> Fort Sumter was the first battle and the beginning of the Civil War. The Union Army was attacked by the Confederate Army from all sides (Fort Sumter is on an island in South Carolina). The Union Army eventually surrendered to the Confederate Army. This battle kicked off the start of the Civil War.
Bull Run (1861)
> Bull Run was the first real land battle of the Civil War. The battle was eventually won by the Confederate Army but the Union Army went down with a fight.. The second lost battle of the Civil War for the Union started to create disheartening effects on Union citizens and the Confederate citizens thrived on the current victories.
> Bull Run was the first real land battle of the Civil War. The battle was eventually won by the Confederate Army but the Union Army went down with a fight.. The second lost battle of the Civil War for the Union started to create disheartening effects on Union citizens and the Confederate citizens thrived on the current victories.
Antietam (1862)
> General E. Lee led the Confederate Army up into Maryland, hoping to advance as far north as possible. The Union Army was using measured amounts of men while the Confederate Army was using all the men they could to keep off the Union Army. The Union Army eventually claimed victory after General E. Lee began to take his troops back to Virginia. President Lincoln changed his views after this battle: from a Free-Soil-er to an abolitionist. He gave the Emancipation Proclamation. This ensured that all slaves would be freed once the Union gained control of the nation.
> General E. Lee led the Confederate Army up into Maryland, hoping to advance as far north as possible. The Union Army was using measured amounts of men while the Confederate Army was using all the men they could to keep off the Union Army. The Union Army eventually claimed victory after General E. Lee began to take his troops back to Virginia. President Lincoln changed his views after this battle: from a Free-Soil-er to an abolitionist. He gave the Emancipation Proclamation. This ensured that all slaves would be freed once the Union gained control of the nation.
Emancipation Proclamation (1863)
> President Abraham Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation speech after the Battle of Antietam was won by the Union. Up to this point, Lincoln did not want to abolish slavery; he just didn't want slavery to be present in the new territories. The Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves in the Confederate states and allowed those free slaves to join the Union Navy and Army. Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not free the slaves in the Border States, it still opened up a new chapter on morals. With the slavery pulling at the heartstrings of Northerners, the French, and the English citizens, Lincoln knew that France and England could not support the Confederate States. This as a game changer in the Civil War.
> President Abraham Lincoln gave the Emancipation Proclamation speech after the Battle of Antietam was won by the Union. Up to this point, Lincoln did not want to abolish slavery; he just didn't want slavery to be present in the new territories. The Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves in the Confederate states and allowed those free slaves to join the Union Navy and Army. Although the Emancipation Proclamation did not free the slaves in the Border States, it still opened up a new chapter on morals. With the slavery pulling at the heartstrings of Northerners, the French, and the English citizens, Lincoln knew that France and England could not support the Confederate States. This as a game changer in the Civil War.
Gettysburg and the Gettysburg Address (1863)
> The Battle of Gettysburg was another victory for the Union. The Confederate troops were badly wounded, dead, or missing. The Union troops also had a dent in their numbers but not as bad as the Confederate Army. It was one of the bloodiest, most devastating battles in United States history and has its own graveyard dedicated to the men who fought there.
The Gettysburg Address was a short, prompt speech given by Abraham Lincoln. His speech called to society to remember how the country was built and the ideas that the Founding Fathers had laid out for the public to elaborate on and use. Lincoln reminded the crowd of who fought for their country and how their final resting pace would be on the Gettysburg field. The last part of Lincoln's two minute speech was to force society to look into the future and realize that they, society as a whole, can overcome this war. He gave hope in society and in himself that the states would unite and all slaves would be freed. This speech is one of the most recognized speeches in U.S. History.
> The Battle of Gettysburg was another victory for the Union. The Confederate troops were badly wounded, dead, or missing. The Union troops also had a dent in their numbers but not as bad as the Confederate Army. It was one of the bloodiest, most devastating battles in United States history and has its own graveyard dedicated to the men who fought there.
The Gettysburg Address was a short, prompt speech given by Abraham Lincoln. His speech called to society to remember how the country was built and the ideas that the Founding Fathers had laid out for the public to elaborate on and use. Lincoln reminded the crowd of who fought for their country and how their final resting pace would be on the Gettysburg field. The last part of Lincoln's two minute speech was to force society to look into the future and realize that they, society as a whole, can overcome this war. He gave hope in society and in himself that the states would unite and all slaves would be freed. This speech is one of the most recognized speeches in U.S. History.
Andersonville Prison (built in early 1864)
> Also known as Camp Sumter, it held more prisoners at any given time than any of the other Confederate prisons. It was a brutal Confederate prison camp that lacked food supply, health supplies, proper housing, and space for the thousands upon thousands of Union captives that were forced to live there.
> Also known as Camp Sumter, it held more prisoners at any given time than any of the other Confederate prisons. It was a brutal Confederate prison camp that lacked food supply, health supplies, proper housing, and space for the thousands upon thousands of Union captives that were forced to live there.
Surrender at Appomattox Court House (April 9th, 1865)
> General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the Virginia Court House. This surrender marked the end of the Civil War.
> General Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate troops to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the Virginia Court House. This surrender marked the end of the Civil War.
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln (April 14th, 1865)
> The leader of the United States who led the Union to gain victory over the Confederate Army was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14th, 1865 while watching a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. Lincoln had served the United States well in a time when it needed mounds of guidance and assistance. His death was not taken lightly by the public of his comrades. The public was distraught, surprised, and confused at Lincoln's death. Lincoln had lead the country back on its course; it was going to follow what the Founding Fathers expected it to be. He was a great leader for the United States and will forever be an inspiration to the country.
> The leader of the United States who led the Union to gain victory over the Confederate Army was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth on April 14th, 1865 while watching a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C. Lincoln had served the United States well in a time when it needed mounds of guidance and assistance. His death was not taken lightly by the public of his comrades. The public was distraught, surprised, and confused at Lincoln's death. Lincoln had lead the country back on its course; it was going to follow what the Founding Fathers expected it to be. He was a great leader for the United States and will forever be an inspiration to the country.
Reconstruction of the South (1865-1877)
> The Reconstruction Era was not all flowers and sunshine, in fact it was a war after a war. The radicals in the North wanted to punish the Confederate states for what they had done, sadly, the Confederate states knew no other way of life. The South made their economic system by using the cheap slave labor for agriculture. Without the slaves, their entire economy would fall. This created tension between the North and South again. By and by, the North started to gain more Confederate territory. Laws that had restricted black men and women from certain acts or amenities were lifted. The fourteenth amendment stated that any male citizen had his basic rights, regardless of his race. The fifteenth amendment stated that any African-American man could vote. Unfortunately, anti-black groups such as the Ku Klux Klan were created and the white population gained supremacy in the South again.
> The Reconstruction Era was not all flowers and sunshine, in fact it was a war after a war. The radicals in the North wanted to punish the Confederate states for what they had done, sadly, the Confederate states knew no other way of life. The South made their economic system by using the cheap slave labor for agriculture. Without the slaves, their entire economy would fall. This created tension between the North and South again. By and by, the North started to gain more Confederate territory. Laws that had restricted black men and women from certain acts or amenities were lifted. The fourteenth amendment stated that any male citizen had his basic rights, regardless of his race. The fifteenth amendment stated that any African-American man could vote. Unfortunately, anti-black groups such as the Ku Klux Klan were created and the white population gained supremacy in the South again.