Markey+Civil+War+Timeline


 * Early Civil War Timeline**

toc The beginning of the Civil War was a hard time for Americans. The United States was split in half over the issue of slavery and how it was allowed to be regulated. The Republicans, who believed in free-labor and mostly lived in the North, thought that slavery should either be abolish or should be contained to the existing slave states. The Democrats, who believed in slavery and mostly lived in the South, thought that slavery should be contained to the existing slave states or be allowed everywhere without restrictions. Both parties held firm to their beliefs, causing many conflicts between the two. The Democrats had such strong beliefs that they split themselves into two parties. The election of Abraham Lincoln, a Republican, was the tipping point for many Southern states, who felt controlled by the Federal Government and the North. Soon after Lincoln's 1860 election eleven Southern states seceded from the United States of America to form the Confederate States of America (CSA). Abraham Lincoln refused to acknowledge the Confederacy as a separate country and the soon Confederate forces started the Civil War by bombarding Fort Sumter, a Federal fort in South Carolina. At Lincoln's inauguration he called for seventy-five thousand three month volunteers. The North saw the Confederates as only a small threat and the public opinion was to end the war quickly by sending Federal troops to take their capital at Richmond, Virginia. Lincoln decided to send General Irvin McDowell and thirty-five thousand troops to fight Confederate General Beauregard's twenty thousand troops in Manassas, Virginia. The plan was to defeat Beauregard's army in order to open the path to Richmond but, the Union ended up losing when Confederate reinforcements were brought in by General Johnston. The Anaconda Plan, created by Union General Winfield Scott, was naval blockade of Confederate ports and harbors with the intention of choking them off from any naval trade.

**Civil War Causes**
With the South's plantation economy and the growing abolitionist movement in the North, both the North and the South knew that conflict between the two was inevitable. As the Confederate Vice President, Alexander Stephens said in his March, 1861 Cornerstone Speech, "African slavery as it exists amongst us [is] the proper status of the negro in our form of civilization. This was the immediate cause of the late rupture and present revolution." Republican Senator William Seward stated, "The two systems [slave and free-labor] are... incompatible. They have never permanently existed together in one country, and they never can." Eli Whitney's cotton gin was the one of the first in a long line of events that helped lead to the eventual climax. The cotton gin was able to separate the cotton from the seed faster than before causing for a rise in slave demand. This made the South more reliant on a slave based plantation economy, while the North's industrial economy also benefited by turning raw cotton into finished goods. Even though there was an economic benefit the North still did not approve of the increase in slave demand. Growing conflict about slavery led to necessary compromises, such as the Missouri Compromise of 1820 and later the Compromise of 1850. The debate over slavery and freedom escalated over time with events such as Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion, Uncle Tom's Cabin , and John Brown's attack at Harper's Ferry. One of the most controversial events was the Supreme Court's Decision on the Dred Scott case, which stated that all blacks were not citizen of the United States of America. Chief Justice Roger Taney played a major role in the slavery discussion with the Dred Scott case decision that read,"so far inferior that [blacks] had no rights which the white man was bound to respect" and the overturning of the Missouri Compromise. The bitter debate over slavery was the major factor in causing the Civil War.

**Election of 1860**
The election of 1860 was a large contributer to the start of the Civil War. The question of slavery was an important topic and people felt very strongly about their opinions. The topic was so important to the Democratic Party that they separated to become the Northern and Southern Democrats because of their differences in opinion. The Southern Democrats believed that slavery should be legal across the United States, while Northern Democrats were against the spread of slavery into territories. Abraham Lincoln, representing the Republican Party, believed that the federal government could not prohibit slavery where it already existed but, could prevent it from spreading into different territories. Stephen Douglas, a former opponent of Abraham Lincoln in the 1858 Illinois Senate election, was the nominee of the Northern Democrat Party, while John Breckinridge was the nominee of the Southern Democrat Party. [|John Bell] represented the Constitutional Union Party, which was a group of former Whigs and Know-Nothings who wanted “to recognize no political principle other than the Constitution.” The Republicans campaigned only in the North and boarder states, while Douglas campaigned the whole country, becoming the first candidate to go on a national speaking tour. On November 6, the election day, Abraham Lincoln became the President-elect with one hundred eighty electoral votes and about forty percent of the popular vote. Douglas had the next highest popular vote, with about thirty percent, yet he carried only twelve electoral votes. Beckinridge carried seventy-two electoral votes and Bell carried thirty-nine. Lincoln's election was the last straw for many slave states. In just over a month after Lincoln’s election southern states began to secede.

**South secedes**
The election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 was the tipping point for many southern states. Southerners, who were mostly conservative, believed that the government had too much power and was taking away the "rightful" powers of the states. On December 17th, 1860 the South Carolina Secessionist Convention voted unanimously to write an ordinance of secession and leave the Union. Three days after the convention, on December 20th, the South Carolina Ordinance of Secession was created and South Carolina secedes. The document read, "the union now subsisting between South Carolina and other States, under the name of the "United States of America," is hereby dissolved." Before the Constitution of the Confederate States of America was adopted South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas had created similar Ordinances of Secession and seceded. The last four states, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, joined the Confederacy after the attack on Fort Sumter on April 12 ,1861.

**Confederate Constitution**
On March 11th, the CSA adopted the Constitution of the Confederate States of America after living in a government set up by the Provisional Constitution of the Confederate States of America. The preamble of the Confederate Constitution destroyed the idea of any collective national interests created in the U.S. Constitution by replacing the promise of a "perfect Union" with a statement that "each State [is] acting in its sovereign and independent character" and removing the promise of "common defense" and the promotion of "general welfare." The document hardly changed the federal system of government that was created by the U.S. Constitution but, it did add and remove many states rights and insured that no anti-slave law could be passed without being considered unconstitutional. The document took away the rights of a state to grant voting rights to non-citizens, to outlaw slavery, and to trade freely with each other. The CSA Constitution added the rights of a state to enter treaties with other states, to tax all ships that use their waterways, to impeach federal officials, and to issue “bills of credit,” which could be used to pay off debt or taxes to the state. As for slavery, the Confederate States Constitution states that "No bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law denying or impairing the right of property in negro slaves shall be passed." This clause clearly states that slavery may never be abolished or regulated in the Confederate States of America. Article 4, Section 2, clause 1. states that, "The citizens of each State shall... have the right of transit and sojourn in any State of this Confederacy, with their slaves and other property." To the Confederate it was very important to be able to have complete control over their slaves. Another clause goes on to support the last one by saying that all Confederate States were slave states, which would prevent cases like the Dred Scott Case. The Confederates also instituted innovations in their constitution such as, the presidential line-item veto and a clause allowing a president only one, six year, term. The Bill of Rights was left as it was written in the CSA Constitution. The Confederate States Constitution was very similar to the U.S. Constitution but, it did remove and add many states rights, add some interesting innovations to the U.S. Constitution, and ensured that slavery could not be abolished or regulated in the Confederate States of America. The Battle of Fort Sumter

On April 12 in South Carolina, Confederates started the Civil War by attacking Fort Sumter, a Federal fort located in South Carolina. Fort Sumter was one of four Federal forts within Confederate boundaries that had not been seized and was in the control of General Robert Anderson. The event started on April 10, when Confederate General Beauregard demanded the surrender of Fort Sumter from Anderson. At 4:30 on April 12 batteries fired on the fort and the two sides fought thirty-four hours until Anderson finally surrendered. Anderson later reported a telegram to the Secretary of War Simon Cameron : "Having defended Fort Sumter for thirty-four hours, until the quarters were entirely burned, the main gates destroyed by fire, the gorge walls seriously injured, the magazine surrounded by flames, and its door closed from the effects of heat, fourmedia type="file" key="Johnny Horton- Battle of Bull Run.mp3" width="240" height="20" align="right" barrels and three cartridges of powder only being available, and no provisions remaining but pork, I accepted terms of evacuation offered by General Beauregard, being the same offered by him on the 11th instant, prior to the commencement of hostilities, and marched out of the fort Sunday afternoon, the 14th instant, with colors flying and drums beating, bringing away company and private property, and saluting my flag with fifty guns."

**The First Battle of Bull Run**
On July 21 in Manasssas, Virginia, the First Battle of Bull Run took place. It was the first major battle of the Civil War. The public opinion in the North was to end the war early by marching on Richmond, Virginia, the Confederate capital. Lincoln sent thirty-five thousand troop under the command of General Irvin McDowell to fight Confederate General Beauregard’s twenty thousand troops in Manassas in hopes of opening the path to Richmond. Both generals planed on starting the battle with a feint attack on the enemies right side and the real attack on the opposite side. McDowell was more successful in executing this plan and the Confederates were put on the defensive, except for one brigade headed by General Thomas Jackson. Jackson’s ability to hold off the Union earned him the nickname “Stonewall” Jackson. Due to Jackson’s efforts, General Joseph Johnston, commanding twelve thousand men, was able to board trains to Manassas to support Beauregard. These new troops changed the battle dynamic and allowed the Confederates to stabilize their lines and move in on the Union. Once the Confederates had regained control Beauregard ordered an advance on McDowell’s men. The Union’s right flank slowly gave way and the troops became a fast moving rout heading back to Washington D.C. The result of this battle made it clear that this war would not be as short as planned.

The Anaconda Plan
The Anaconda Plan was a battle strategy proposed by Union General Winfield Scott. The idea was to blockade the Southern shore and so cut off the South's trade. Northern troops would then come up from Texas along the Mississippi River. The plan was officially declared in effect on April 19, 1861. The "Anaconda" Plan earned its nickname because the positioning of the troops resembled a giant snake that would, essentially, "choke" the South into surrender. It was decided that the Atlantic blockade would be achieved by steamships and that a harbor would have to be captured in order to serve as a coaling station for the Union. This was rarely successful as it meant that a harbor would have to be captured by the army before the navy blockade could begin. The blockade of Southern harbors along the Gulf of Mexico, however, was considered far less important in comparison to the Atlantic blockade. Today, the effectiveness of the Anaconda Plan remains in debate. Those that argue that the Anaconda Plan was, indeed, the deciding factor in the outcome of the war say that the goal to capture the Mississippi River and cut off the Western territory ultimately led to the Union’s victory. Those that do not believe the plan was effective point out that the blockade was broken more often than it held and the Confederacy’s deficiency of supplies were the result of poor railroad systems.

The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a crushing Confederate defeat, and a turning point in the Civil War. In June, 1863, General Robert E. Lee 's army marched into Maryland and Pennsylvania looking for supplies and to lead General Joseph Hooker 's army away from Virginia. Lee's army began plundering towns and farms on a constant Northern approach. On June 30th, some Confederate infantry encountered the Union cavalry near the town of Gettysburg. The Union retreated after some attacks coming from the North, waiting for reinforcements. Reinforcements arrived, however Lee approached the Union army from their left and right sides, and the Union's defense began to weaken. Fortunately for the Union, the Confederates could not organize their attacks to properly exploit the weaknesses. The Union held out in a strong defensive position in which Lee was unable to break from any side. Lee attempted to attack the Union's center, a battle called "Pickett's Charge," however suffered many casualties. Lee blamed the failure on himself, and when he could not see another opportunity to attack, he retreated on July 4th.

Time Line of The Early Civil War

 * **Time** || **Event** ||
 * November 6,1860 || Lincoln becomes President-elect ||
 * December 20, 1860 || South Carolina secedes ||
 * January 9, 1861 || Mississippi secedes ||
 * January 10, 1861 || Florida secedes ||
 * January 11, 1861 || Alabama secedes ||
 * January 19, 1861 || Georgia secedes ||
 * January 26, 1861 || Louisiana secedes ||
 * February 1, 1861 || Texas secedes ||
 * March 4, 1861 || Lincoln’s Inauguration ||
 * April 12, 1861 || Battle of Fort Sumter ||
 * April 29, 1861 || The Anaconda Plan is declared ||
 * May 6, 1861 || Arkansas secedes ||
 * May 20, 1861 || North Carolina secedes ||
 * May 23, 1861 || Virginia secedes ||
 * June 8, 1861 || Tennessee secedes ||
 * July 21, 1861 || First Battle of Bull Run ||

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<span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 17px; letter-spacing: 0px; line-height: 25px;">**<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 2em;">Purcell, L. Edward, and Sarah J. Purcell. "First Battle of Bull Run." <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 2em;">Encyclopedia of Battles in North America, 1517 to 1916 // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 2em;">. New York: Facts On File, Inc., 2000. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 2em;">American History Online // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 2em;">. Facts On File, Inc. http://www.fofweb.com/activelink2.asp? ItemID=WE52&iPin=bna044&SingleRecord=True (accessed May 12, 2010).

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"File:First Bull Run Campaign.svg." <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 32px;">//<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 2em;">Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia // <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 2em;">. Web. 14 May 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:First_Bull_Run_Campaign.svg>. Research and Notes**