November 6th, 1860 - Voted President
December 20th, 1860 - South Carolina Secedes from union
South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union. The leaders of the secession made a document called, "Declaration of the Immediate Causes Which Induce and Justify the Secession of South Carolina from the Federal Union". The Declaration said that the Northern states had combined in league that violated the Constitution - the document specifically said that:
- "the Northern states were failing to return fugitive slaves, in violation of their obligations under Article Four of the Constitution.
- the Northern states tolerated abolitionists and insurrectionists (such as John Brown) who incited slaves in the South to rebel.
- misguided political and religious beliefs in the North made future sectional unity impossible.
- some states were elevating persons "incapable of becoming citizens" (i.e. free blacks) and using their votes to support anti-slavery policies.
- the Republican Party was planning to wage a war against slavery upon taking office in March 1861." (The Great)
March 4th, 1861 - Inauguration Ceremony
An inauguration is a formal ceremony to mark the beginning of a presidents or other major public leaders term of office. The inaugural address is a speech given during this ceremony which informs the people of his/her intentions as a presidents or leader.
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Abraham Lincoln Made a Crucial Decision
April 12th, 1861 - Beginning of Civil War
In April 12, 1861, General P.G.T. Beauregard, in command of the Confederate forces around Charleston Harbor, opened fire on the Union garrison holding Fort Sumter. At 2:30pm on April 13 Major Robert Anderson, garrison commander, surrendered the fort and was evacuated the next day. This marked the beginning of the Civil War.
During the Civil War, Lincoln prevented other countries from intervening
A great part of Abraham Lincoln's strategy during the Civil War was preventing trade at many ports in the South and blocking their shorelines. This also ended up blocking the trade of cotton which was a vital resource in Europe and made some question the effectiveness of the blockade. both England and France almost intervened at some points during the Civil War so that they could get their resources however, they never officially did.
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April 17th, 1861 - Virginia Secedes from Union
After South Carolina Succession Virginia seceded for very similar reasons. Within five weeks of Virginia's secession North Carolina, Tennessee, and Arkansas, seceded from the union as well.
April 27th, 1861 - Suspension of Habeas Corpus
Habeas Corpus is a writ requiring a person under arrest to be brought before a judge or into court, especially to secure the person's release unless lawful grounds are shown for their detention. In hopes of reducing tensions in Maryland in April 1861, Lincoln resisted military advice to arrest Maryland legislators before they met, but on April 25 he instructed Winfield Scott to watch the state proceedings carefully and to prepare to counteract any effort to arm Maryland citizens against federal troops. Two days later, Northern troops traveled through Maryland to defend the capital, Lincoln authorized the military to suspend habeas corpus along a transportation route chosen to avoid Baltimore and the mobs that had already attacked troops traveling through the city.
July 1st, 1862 - Signed the Pacific Railway Act
This act provided the Federal Government support to build the first transcontinental railway. The railroad was finished on May 10th, 1869.
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September 22nd, 1862 - Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln issued the preliminary emancipation proclamation during the civil war. The proclamation announced that if the rebels did not end the fighting and rejoin the union by January 1st, 1863, all slaves in rebellious states would be free.
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March 4th, 1865 - Second Inauguration Speech
After being elected president for his second term Abraham Lincoln gave one of his most memorable speeches.
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April 11th, 1865 - Lincolns Last Public Speech
Two days after Robert E. Lee surrendered President Lincoln made a speech to inform the public of his plans to rebuild America. Many white southerners still disagreed with freeing the slaves and Lincoln hoped to switch some of their views with this speech. Lincoln was attempting to set up the possibility of African-American citizenship throughout America.
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