Timeline of Important Events
September 1850
Compromise of 1850
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of five bills which defused a four year confrontation between slave states in the South and free states in the North. Disputed the territories acquired through the Mexican-American War. Held off confrontation between the North and South for four years.
The Compromise of 1850 was a series of five bills which defused a four year confrontation between slave states in the South and free states in the North. Disputed the territories acquired through the Mexican-American War. Held off confrontation between the North and South for four years.
May 1854
Kansas-Nebraska Act
The Kansas-Nebraska Act created the territories of Nebraska and Kansas, repealed the Missouri Compromise, and made Kansas and Nebraska a sovereign state. Designed to open up new land to settle and allow for each state to be sovereign and caused widespread violence in Kansas.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act created the territories of Nebraska and Kansas, repealed the Missouri Compromise, and made Kansas and Nebraska a sovereign state. Designed to open up new land to settle and allow for each state to be sovereign and caused widespread violence in Kansas.
1854-1861
Bleeding Kansas
Bleeding Kansas was series of violent political confrontations between pro and anti slavery supporters, over whether Kansas would be a slave or free state. Bleeding Kansas was caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act by making Kansas a Sovereign state, and masses of people flooding in to Kansas to decide whether or not it would be a free or slave state.
Bleeding Kansas was series of violent political confrontations between pro and anti slavery supporters, over whether Kansas would be a slave or free state. Bleeding Kansas was caused by the Kansas-Nebraska Act by making Kansas a Sovereign state, and masses of people flooding in to Kansas to decide whether or not it would be a free or slave state.
March 6, 1857
The Dred Scott Decision
The Dred Scott Decision was a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in which African Americans were not to be seen as American citizens whether free or slave. It was brought to the Supreme Court by an African American slave who sue for his freedom after his owners brought him to a free state. The court ruled that the federal government had no regulation in states that were acquired after the creation of the United States.
The Dred Scott Decision was a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in which African Americans were not to be seen as American citizens whether free or slave. It was brought to the Supreme Court by an African American slave who sue for his freedom after his owners brought him to a free state. The court ruled that the federal government had no regulation in states that were acquired after the creation of the United States.
August-October 1858
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The lincoln-Douglas Debates were a series of seven debates between Republican Abraham Lincoln, and the Democratic candidate Stephan Douglas. The debates were mainly focused on slavery and trying to win over the Illinois legislature.
The lincoln-Douglas Debates were a series of seven debates between Republican Abraham Lincoln, and the Democratic candidate Stephan Douglas. The debates were mainly focused on slavery and trying to win over the Illinois legislature.
September 12-15, 1859
Harpers Ferry
The raid on Harpers Ferry was lead by John Brown, a white abolitionist, who planned to take an arsenal of weapons in order to start an armed slave revolt. The raid failed after a detachment of U.S. marines defended against Browns group of twenty of his men. John had originally planned to get support from Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas, but Tubman was prevented by an illness and Douglas declined believing the raid would be unsuccessful.
The raid on Harpers Ferry was lead by John Brown, a white abolitionist, who planned to take an arsenal of weapons in order to start an armed slave revolt. The raid failed after a detachment of U.S. marines defended against Browns group of twenty of his men. John had originally planned to get support from Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglas, but Tubman was prevented by an illness and Douglas declined believing the raid would be unsuccessful.
March 4, 1860
Lincoln's Election
Lincoln's Election pushed the already dividing states even further and caused many states to secede from the United States and become the Confederacy. Lincoln won the election much due to the divided democratic party that favored both Stephan Douglas and John C. Breckinridge.
Lincoln's Election pushed the already dividing states even further and caused many states to secede from the United States and become the Confederacy. Lincoln won the election much due to the divided democratic party that favored both Stephan Douglas and John C. Breckinridge.
April 12-14, 1861
Fort Sumter
The Battle of Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the civil war, and fallowed the succession of seven southern states. The battle was fought after South Carolina demanded that the U.S. army abandon Charleston harbor. Instead of abandoning Charleston Harbor President James Buchanan moved his forces to the more defensible position of Fort Sumter.
The Battle of Fort Sumter marked the beginning of the civil war, and fallowed the succession of seven southern states. The battle was fought after South Carolina demanded that the U.S. army abandon Charleston harbor. Instead of abandoning Charleston Harbor President James Buchanan moved his forces to the more defensible position of Fort Sumter.
July 21, 1861 and August 28-30, 1862
Bull Run
The first battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle of the Civil War. The Union had anticipated the war to be short and without much opposition and planned to march into the confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia, and end the war. Both the Union and Confederate forces were unseasoned in battle and experienced great casualties.
The second Battle of Bull run was fought on the same ground, but on a larger scale. It was put in action by general Robert E. Lee against General John Pope in order to retake territory such as the Union Supply Depot at Manassas Junction.
The first battle of Bull Run was the first major land battle of the Civil War. The Union had anticipated the war to be short and without much opposition and planned to march into the confederate capitol of Richmond, Virginia, and end the war. Both the Union and Confederate forces were unseasoned in battle and experienced great casualties.
The second Battle of Bull run was fought on the same ground, but on a larger scale. It was put in action by general Robert E. Lee against General John Pope in order to retake territory such as the Union Supply Depot at Manassas Junction.
September 17, 1862
Antietam
The battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single day battle in American history with 22,717 dead, wounded, and missing, it was also the first battle to be fought on Union territory. The battle began with General George B. McClellan's forces pursuing General Robert E. Lee's men into Maryland and although McClellan had twice as many men as he was never able to concentrate his forces and Lee was able to retreat back to Virginia.
The battle of Antietam was the bloodiest single day battle in American history with 22,717 dead, wounded, and missing, it was also the first battle to be fought on Union territory. The battle began with General George B. McClellan's forces pursuing General Robert E. Lee's men into Maryland and although McClellan had twice as many men as he was never able to concentrate his forces and Lee was able to retreat back to Virginia.
January 1, 1863
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order given by President Abraham Lincoln, to free all held slaves in ten states that were still trying to secede form the Union. The order also allowed those freed to be able to join the armed forces but did not outlaw slavery nor did it make those freed American citizens.
The Emancipation Proclamation was an executive order given by President Abraham Lincoln, to free all held slaves in ten states that were still trying to secede form the Union. The order also allowed those freed to be able to join the armed forces but did not outlaw slavery nor did it make those freed American citizens.
July 1-3, 1863 and November 19, 1863
Gettysburg and Gettysburg Address
The Battle of Gettysburg involved the most casualties of the entire war and is considered the turning point of the war, by ending General Lee's invasion of the north. The Gettysburg address was four months after the Battle of Gettysburg and helped to renew peoples' belief in the Union and in the Civil War.
The Battle of Gettysburg involved the most casualties of the entire war and is considered the turning point of the war, by ending General Lee's invasion of the north. The Gettysburg address was four months after the Battle of Gettysburg and helped to renew peoples' belief in the Union and in the Civil War.
April 1864
Andersonville Prison
Andersonville Prison or Camp Sumpter was a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp. The conditions were terrible enough that gangs became as much as a problem as the guards were, killing and beating others for food and other accessories such as clothing. Nearly 13,000 prisoners out of the 45,000 being held died due to starvation, malnutrition, diarrhea or communicable diseases.
Andersonville Prison or Camp Sumpter was a Confederate prisoner-of-war camp. The conditions were terrible enough that gangs became as much as a problem as the guards were, killing and beating others for food and other accessories such as clothing. Nearly 13,000 prisoners out of the 45,000 being held died due to starvation, malnutrition, diarrhea or communicable diseases.
April 9, 1865
Surrender at Appomattox Court House
The Battle of Appomattox was the last engagement of the Civil War and lead to General Robert E. Lee's surrender to the Union army, thus concluding armed confrontations between the Confederacy and the Union.
The Battle of Appomattox was the last engagement of the Civil War and lead to General Robert E. Lee's surrender to the Union army, thus concluding armed confrontations between the Confederacy and the Union.
April 15, 1865
Assassination of Abraham Lincoln
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln occurred just as the Civil War was coming to a close and five days after Lee surrendered at Appomattox. The assassination was planned and put in action by a well-known actor who wanted to rekindle the confederate cause.
The Assassination of Abraham Lincoln occurred just as the Civil War was coming to a close and five days after Lee surrendered at Appomattox. The assassination was planned and put in action by a well-known actor who wanted to rekindle the confederate cause.
1865-1877
Reconstruction
The Reconstruction Era is the time period from 1865-1877 when president Abraham Lincoln, and later Andrew Johnson, worked together to rebuild what was once destroyed by the Civil War conflicts, and to put in effect what was fought over such as suffrage for the newly freed African Americans.
The Reconstruction Era is the time period from 1865-1877 when president Abraham Lincoln, and later Andrew Johnson, worked together to rebuild what was once destroyed by the Civil War conflicts, and to put in effect what was fought over such as suffrage for the newly freed African Americans.