AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
1861 - 1865
 

Also called The War Between the States.

Who fought?
The Federal government of the United Sates, headed by President Abraham Lincoln, with 23 states vs. 11 Southern states.

The Southern states were: South Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

After seceding from the Union in 1860 and 1861, the South formed the Confederate States of America. The president of the Confederacy was Jefferson Davis.

1861-1865 American Civil War: Principal Campaigns (USMA)

What was the core issue?
Slavery, trade, and tariffs.

THE SECESSION
Abraham Lincoln was elected president in late 1860. He was the candidate of the antislavery Republican Party.

All along, the Southern states had threatened to leave the Union if their demands weren't met. Lincoln's election was the straw that broke the camel's back. On December 20, 1860, South Carolina passed their Ordinance of Secession.

In January 1861, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Louisiana seceded.

Texas followed on February 1, 1861.

In April 1861, after the outbreak of the Civil War, Virginia, North Carolina, Arkansas, and Tennessee seceded.

And here is a map of the secession in the United States:

United States Secession
Click map to enlarge

What ignited the American Civil War?
Date: April 12, 1861.

Location: Fort Sumter, in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.

What happened? 85 U.S. soldiers in Fort Sumter were fired upon by 5,500 besieging Confederate soldiers.

The Union soldiers surrendered.

the battles of the American civil war
July 21, 1861 - First Battle of Bull Run (also called: First Manassas)

First Bull Run Campaign

First Battle of Bull Run

August 10, 1861 - Battle of Wilson's Creek

February 6, 1862 - Battle of Fort Henry

Henry and Donelson Campaign - January 1862

February 13-16, 1862 - Battle of Fort Donelson

Henry and Donelson Campaign - February 14, 1862

Henry and Donelson Campaign - February 15-16, 1862

Henry and Donelson Campaign - February 27, 1862

March 9, 1862 - Battle of the Monitor and Merrimack (also called: Battle of Hampton Roads)

April 4 - July1, 1862 - Peninsular Campaign

April 6-7, 1862 - Battle of Shiloh (also called: Battle of Pittsburg Landing)

Shiloh Campaign - March 29, 1862

Battle of Shiloh - April 6, 1862

Battle of Shiloh - April 7, 1862

April 24-25, 1862 - Battle of New Orleans

May 27, 1862 - Battle of Hanover Court House

May 31-June1, 1862 - Battle of Seven Pines (also called: Battle of Fair Oaks)

American Civil War - May 31, 1862

August 29-30, 1862 - Second Battle of Bull Run (also called: Second Manassas)

Second Battle of Bull Run - August 30, 1862

September 13-15, 1862 - Battle of Harpers Ferry

Battle of Harpers Ferry

September 17, 1862 - Battle of Antietam (also called: Battle of Sharpsburg)

October 3 - 4, 1862 - Battle of Corinth

December 31, 1862 - January 2, 1863 - Battle of Stone's River (also called: Battle of Murfreesboro)

January 1, 1863 - Battle of Galveston

May 1-5, 1863 - Battle of Chancellorsville

July 1-3, 1863 - Battle of Gettysburg

September 8, 1863 - Battle of Sabine Pass

September 19-20, 1863 - Battle of Chickamauga Creek

November 23 - 25, 1863 - Battle of Chattanooga

May 5-7, 1864 - Battle of the Wilderness

May 8-19, 1864 - Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

 

MAPS OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR
With this map comes the inset Vicinity of Gettysburg.

1861-1865 United States Civil War
Click map to enlarge

And here is a nifty map of the Civil War locations.

American Civil War 1861

Here's a huge map of all US Battle Sites

United States 1689 - 1945 Battle Sites
Click Map to enlarge

More maps

American Civil War - January-June 1862

TRIVIA
Here is a list of eye witness accounts.

American Civil War Timeline

Check the costs of major US wars in comparison.