Lincoln suspends writ of habeas corpus in selected areas: war infringes on civil liberties

Battle of Bull Run: illusion of short war destroyed

Crittenden Resolution: Congress declares that the war is being fought solely to preserve the Union

First Confiscation Act: first move by Union against slavery, freeing slaves used for military purposes

Slavery abolished in the District of Columbia: Congress intensifies drive against slavery

Confederacy institutes draft: growing complaints against interference with individual liberty

Homestead Act: intended to promote rapid settlement of the West

Union Pacific Railroad chartered

Land Grant College Act: sale of specified public lands to be used to promote higher education

Second Confiscation Act: slaves of rebel masters declared free if in Union custody

Union income tax enacted: federal government assumes new powers

McClellan’s Peninsula campaign fails: hopes for decisive victory in east dashed

Battle of Antietam: Lee’s invasion of Maryland turned back

Lincoln suspends writ of habeas corpus throughout Union: more sweeping interference with civil liberties

Battle of Fredricksburg: Union morale reaches lowest point

National Banking Act: Congress brings currency, most banks under a central national system

Union institutes draft: resentment in the Union because of special privileges

Confederacy institutes general tax laws, initiates impressment: produce great popular resentment

Bread riots in the Confederacy: high prices and inflation lead to disorder

Battle of Chancellorsville: new Union offensive in the East fails

West Virginia admitted to the Union: new border state created

Battle of Gettsyburg: Lee’s invasion of the North repulsed, destroying his army’s offensive capability

Vicksburg captured: Union in control of the Mississippi River, dividing the Confederacy

New York City draft riots: resentment against draft sparks a bloody anti-black, anti-Republican riot

Wilderness Campaign: Grant hammers at Lee’s lines with horrendous losses

Fall of Atlanta: Sherman’s victory gives Lincoln a needed boost

Lincoln reelected: makes reunion and emancipation certain

Sherman’s march to the sea: stunning demonstration of psychological warfare against civilians

Lee surrenders: Confederate resistance quickly collapses

Lincoln assassinated: the president is one of the war’s casualties

Thirteenth Amendment ratified: slavery abolished in the United States