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Civil War Timeline
By: Adam Spark
Before the Civil War
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Pennsylvania became the first state to abolish slavery on March 1,
1780
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Massachusetts became the second state to abolish slavery, and
gives the blacks and native Indians the rights to vote
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Debates regarding importation of slaves is debated by delegates at
the 1878 constitutional convention in Philadelphia. Congress
passes the three-fifths clause stating that each slave is counted as
three-fifths of a person for the calculation in representation in the
congress. The act strengthens the power in the House of
Representatives for slave states.
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States have began to expand. Founding of new states
Before the Civil War
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The first fugitive slave act is passed by the congress on February 12,
1793. The act authorized the arrest or seizure of fugitives and
allowed for the recovery of runaway slaves. The fine for those who
aided fugitive was $500
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The cotton gin was Invented in 1793 by Eli
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Whitney, received its patent in March 14,
1794. The machine increased the production
of cleaned cotton, making cotton a profitable
crop. As a result there was an increasing need of slaves
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On August 30 1800, Gabriel Prosser leads group of armed slaves to
rebel against slavery. He and the group are caught later and were
executed
Before the Civil War
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In 1804, A gradual emancipation act was announced by New
Jersey's state legislatures
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On march 2 1807 Law banning the importation of any new slaves
was passed by the congress. The new law was to take effect on
January 1, 1808
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In 1827, New York abolished slavery
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On May 30,1854, Kansas-Nebraska act was
passed. The act provided that the region could be decided into
two new territories, Nebraska and Kansas. Use of slavery within
the new territories was to be decided by popular sovereignty
Before the Civil War
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On March 6, 1857, Dred Scott, a free slave sued
for freedom. But his case was overrules because
according to chief justice Roger Taney, Scott had
no rights to sue in a federal court. The reason: the
chief justice stated that the founders of United
States did not included African Americans as citizens
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John Brown, an American abolitionist had tried to liberate enslaved people.
On October 16, 1859, he seized the federal arsenal at Harpers ferry,
Virginia in order to free and arm enslave people. However, he was captured
by colonial Robert E. Lee and was hanged on December 2
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Lincoln ran against Stephen A. Douglas for Senator In 1858 . Although he
lost the election, when he was debating with with Douglas regarding the
north and the south, he gained a national reputation that won him the
Republican nomination for President in 1860
Start of the War 1861
THE SOUTH SECEDES – JANUARY 1861
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Abraham Lincoln is elected to be the President of
the United States of America
A state convention is called
Delegates voted to remove the state of SOUTH
CAROLINA from the union (The United States of
America)
Six other states followed the secession of South Carolina
from the union
These states included Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana and Texas
Four other states secede: Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee and North Carolina
These states become known as the “Confederate States of America”
THE SOUTH CREATES A GOVERNMENT – FEBRUARY 1861
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The seceding states hold a convention in Alabama
They create the Confederate Constitution
Although similar to the United States Constitution, the Confederate
Constitution posses a greater stress on the autonomy of each state.
Until elections could be held, Jefferson Davis was named President
of the Confederacy.
1861
THE SOUTH SEIZES FEDERAL FORTS – FEBRUARY 1861
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President Buchanan refuses to surrender southern federal forts to the seceding states
Southern state troops seize them
Troops from South Carolina refuse a supply ship at Fort Sumter
The ship was trying to reach federal forces that were based in Fort Sumter
Ship was forced to return to New York
The supplies were never delivered
ATTACK ON FORT SUMTER – APRIL 1861
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Lincoln had forewarned the Southern States of his plan to send supplies to Fort Sumter
He wanted to avoid any possible hostilities
South Carolina feared a trick in Lincoln’s plan
Robert Anderson was asked to surrender
Anderson’s sets up a proposition to surrender only after
his supplies have run out
Proposition is rejected
Shots were fired on the Fort
Civil War began on April 12
Fort Sumter was surrendered to South Carolina
1861
THE BATTLE OF THE BULL RUN – JULY 1861
 Northern troops met a small numbered confederate force near bull run.
 Union army retreated due to confederates well planned battle
1862
THE BATTLE OF SHILOH – APRIL 1862
 On April 6, Confederate forces attacked
Union forces under General Ulysses S.
Grant at Shiloh, Tennessee. - 13,000 out
of 63,000 Union soldiers died, and 11,000
of 40,000 Confederate troops were killed.
THE SEVEN DAYS BATTLE
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The seven days battles consisted of seven major battles over the seven days
It occurred near Richmond, Virginia
The union army, led by Maj.Gen. George B. McClellan was pushed away from
Richmond under the command of Robert E. Lee and was left with no choice but to
retreat down the Virginia Peninsula
1862
ANTIETAM – SEPTEMBER 1862
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Confederate Forces under General
Lee were caught by General McClellan
around Sharpsburg, Maryland
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Bloodiest day of the entire war
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2.108 Union soldiers were killed and
9,549 were wounded
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2,700 Confederates were killed and
9,029 wounded
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No clear winner of the battle
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This was because General Lee
withdrew to Virginia so McClellan was
considered the victor
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Lincoln announced his Preliminary
Emancipation Proclamation
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This would free all slaves in area’s that
rebelled against the US
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It was effective January 1, 1863
1863
EMANCIPATION PROCLAIMATION – JANUARY 1863
 Lincoln redefined the war by proclaiming that the North shall free the slaves
of the South on September 22. Now the war was officially over the issue of
slavery.
VICKSBURG CAMPAIGN NOVEMBER 1862 – JULY 1863
 Led by Maj.Gen. Ulysses S. Grant, the Union
gained control of the Mississippi river by defeating
Lt. Gen. John C. Pembertson’s army. This was
the last confederate controlled section of the
Mississippi river
1863
THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG – JULY 1863
 Was from July 1 – July 3
 Fought around the town of Gettysburg
 It was part of the Gettysburg campaign
 One of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War
 In three days between 46,000 and 51,000 American soldiers were killed
 The victor of this battle was the Union Army
GETTYSBURG ADDRESS – NOVEMBER 1863
 On November 19, 1863, President Lincoln visited this battlefield to dedicate
it, and to honour the deceased soldiers who were buried there. His address
proclaimed to the people that “these dead shall not have died in vain.”
1864
THE BATTLE OF THE COLD HARBOR – JUNE 1864
 General Ulysses S. Grant’s last battle
 One of the most bloody battles in all of American History
 Over thousands of Union Soldiers will killed by the Confederate Troops
 They were under the order of General Robert E. Lee
 About 13,000 soldiers from the Union Army were killed
 About 2,500 soldiers from the Confederate Army were killed
 The Confederate Army were the winners of this battle
1864
RICHMOND
 In mid-June, Lee retreated south of Richmond, to Petersburg. Grant
surrounded and assaulted the city. Lee attempted to sneak out a number of
forces to attack Washington D.C. through the Shenandoah River Valley but
was stopped by Grant’s cavalry men. The valley was turned into a barren
waste-land by the Union, and Grant confirmed his attack on Richmond as
successful.
1865
SURRENDER AT THE APPOTOMAX COURTHOUSE
 After several defeats from the union. Lee was on the verge of surrendering.
However, he had led one more battle in hopes of claiming victory.
Unfortunately they (the confederates) had lacked of supplies and Lee
realized that the union army was gaining on them. So on April 7, 1865, Gen.
Lee surrendered. He and Grant met at the Appomattox courthouse to make
the confederate's surrender official
 The Confederates would be allowed to return home on the basis of never
fighting again, and they would be allowed to keep their guns and horses