Download Causes and Beginning of the Civil War

The American Civil War
Topic 10
1860 South Carolina secedes from the Union
1861 Six more Deep South states secede (Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Texas)
New federal government, the Confederate States of America, is formed on February 4, 186.
Its officers take control of federal forts and property without reaction from outgoing president
Buchanan.
Confederacy is established at Montgomery, Alabama (Jefferson Davies ius chosen president;
Richmond in Virginia becomes capital). New colors are flown over the new frederal state,
which is ready to pay its way out of USA.
Attack on Fort Sumter on April 12-13 on the order of Jefferson Davies begins the Civil War
(War of the Secession). Fort Sumter is forced to surrender.
Lincoln calls for 75000 soldiers and next additional 42000.
Four states of Upper South join the Confederacy (Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee,
Arkansas). Virginia is rewarded with capital in Richmond in July.
Border states (Maryland, Delaware, Missouri, Kentucky and later West Virginia), being slave
states, remain in the Union.
21 JulyFirst Battle of Bull Run lost by Union.
McClellan organises the Union Army in fall and winter (quarter of a million soldiers).
Beginning of the blockade of the south by the Union.
August – US Congress passes first confiscation act – confiscation of all property used for
„insurrectionary purposes” (e.g. slaves).
1862
February - Union army (Ulysses Grant) captures Fort Henry and Fort Donelson in northern
Tennessee.
April 1862 – Union ships crash through log blockade on Mississippi and take New Orleans.
Battle of Shiloh – no victor, yet North lost 13000 out of 63000, South 11000 out of 40000.
Confederacy enacts conscription - April.
McClellan fails to take Richmond attacking from the east.
July – second confiscation act – confiscation of property of everyone who helps the south,
even only when doing it through paying taxes.
Confederacy offensive in Maryland and Kentucky eventually fails.
Battle of Antietam on 17th September made the South turn back. This was to be the bloodiest
day in the war (probably 25000 on both sides killed, and lost).
22 September – presidential proclamation emancipating slaves in those states, which „are in
rebellion against the United States”. This was to go into effect on 1st January 1863.
1863
1st January – emancipation Proclamation takes effect.
Union enacts conscription
Spring - African American soldiers join Union Army in large numbers.
2-3 May – battle of Chancellorsville (Confederate victory; death of Jackson). Remarcable
victory with loss of soldiers and skilled general.
4th July – Union victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg. At Gettysburg South lost 4000 killed
and 24000 missing and wounded. North lost about 23000.
November – Battle of Chattanooga won by the North by George Thomas.
Sherman’s advance towards Georgia with some 100000 men deserting a path 50-60 miles
wide and 200 miles long.
1864
Battles of Wilderness and Spotsylvania in Virginia – huge death toll of the South.
Battle of Cold Harbor for the North (Grant).
Sherman captures Atlanta.
Confederacy begins to collapse on the home front.
Lincoln’s re-election.
1865
Sherman marches through Carolinas.
US Congress approves Thirteenth Amendment.
Lee abandons Richmond and Peterburg.
Lee surrenders at Appomattox Court House.
Lincoln assassinated.
WAR DEATH TOLL – 620,000.
Huge financial toll.
Amendment XIII
Section 1 Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or
any place subject to their jurisdiction.
Section 2 Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.