The US Civil War was a fight between the Southern and Northern states of America. The conflict had been building for many years due to social, economic, and political differences. But the final spark was the election of Abraham Lincoln as the US President.
Lincoln was known for his anti-slavery ideology. But the Southern states relied heavily on enslaved people to keep their economy running. So, they rebelled against President Lincoln and formed the Confederate Army. Over the next four years, the Union and the Confederacy remained locked in a bloody battle that cost thousands of human lives. This and a series of other events sparked a war in the US which we will explain in this US civil war timeline below.
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US Civil War Battles Timeline: A Detailed Overview
The Southern states of the U.S. depended heavily on slave labor to operate their large plantations. So when Abraham Lincoln was elected president, Southerners felt threatened by what his policies might bring.
For wealthy white landowners, it wasn't just about profits; it was about power. Slavery kept them at the top of a rigid social hierarchy. Any laws ending it would mean formerly enslaved people could start rising toward equal status. That was a change they weren't ready to accept.
Here's a complete breakdown of the U.S. Civil War timeline, showing how key events shaped the direction of the conflict and when it finally came to an end.
November 1860: Abraham Lincoln is elected as President
Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th president of the United States. As he was against slavery, seven Southern states refused to obey federal law under his rule. The first state to secede from the Union was South Carolina. More states rallied against Lincoln, including Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, and Texas.
These seven Southern states formed the Confederate States of America.
April 1861: Attack on Fort Sumter
Fort Sumter was a military fort in South Carolina. Once the state left the Union, it ordered federal troops to vacate the fort. President Lincoln refused to cave in, and the Confederates launched an attack on the fort on 12 April.
The Union's forces held their ground for 34 hours, but their ammo and supplies eventually ran out. The Confederacy won this conflict, and the Civil War officially began. Four more states, Virginia, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Tennessee, joined the Confederacy.
July 1861: The Battle of Bull Run in Virginia
The Union and Confederate armies faced off in the first battle of the conflict on 21 July 1861. The Union army marched towards Richmond, the Confederate capital. They expected an easy victory. But the opposing side hit back hard, forcing the Northerners to run back to Washington, D.C.
April 1862: The Battle of Shiloh in Tennessee
Confederate forces suddenly attacked the Union Army near Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee. Although the Union wasn't ready for the massive blow. They fought back aggressively and established control over the Mississippi Valley.
June 1862: The Battle of Seven Pines in Virginia
One part of the Union Army separated from the rest near the Chickahominy River. The Confederates seized the opportunity and launched an attack on the soldiers. Even though they started strong, the Confederates slowed down because of bad weather. The battle remained inconclusive.
August 1862: The Second Battle of Bull Run in Virginia
Led by General Robert Lee, the Confederates attacked the Union Army near Bull Run. The Union Army was outnumbered and had to retreat to Washington. This marked a major victory for the Confederates.
September 1862: President Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln announced the Emancipation Proclamation on 22 September 1862. The proclamation declared all enslaved people in the Confederate states as free. Although the proclamation did not free all enslaved people. It changed the war's tide by allowing African Americans to join the Union Army.
January 1863: President Lincoln signed the executive order to free enslaved people
President Lincoln signed the executive order to free enslaved people in January 1963. More than 180,000 African Americans joined the Union Army and Navy. This significantly strengthened the federal government's military prowess.
June 1863: The epic Battle of Gettysburg
On 1 July, General Lee led the Confederate Army into the North, expecting a monumental win. However, both sides suffered heavy casualties from the clash near Gettysburg. The Southerners lost 28,000 men, while 23,000 Northerners died as a result of the battle. The loss at Gettysburg permanently weakened the Confederacy. However, it boosted the Union's morale.
July 1863: New York Draft Riots killed hundreds of citizens
US citizens in the North took to the streets of New York to fight the Union Draft Law. According to the new law, men between the ages of 20 and 45 must join the army or pay a hefty sum of $300. The lower and middle classes of society rose against this law. They attacked government buildings and draft offices.
June 1864: The Siege of Petersburg begins
The Union Army, led by General Ulysses S. Grant, laid siege to Petersburg. They cut off Richmond from the rest of the Southern states. Their intention was to force the Confederates into surrender. The siege lasted for over nine months and became one of the major reasons the war came to an end.
September 1864: The Union Army captures Atlanta
Atlanta was a key supply center for the Confederacy. So the Union Army launched a well-planned campaign across Georgia to reclaim Atlanta. The Confederates fought long and hard, but the Union Army eventually took control of the city. Atlanta's fall helped President Lincoln in his reelection.
November 1864: Abraham Lincoln is reelected as President
When Lincoln ran for his second term, the US citizens were tired of the war he'd started. George B. McClellan was the Democrats' candidate, and he wanted to reconcile with the South. Therefore, Lincoln's chances of winning the Presidential election were low. But the victory in Atlanta worked in his favor, and he was reelected as the President.
9 April 1865: Confederate leader surrenders to Union General
The Confederates were tired of fighting a war with no end. They suffered major losses in Gettysburg, Richmond, and Atlanta. Their army was depleted militarily and economically. In addition, the Siege of Petersburg cut off the South's supply, pushing them into a precarious state.
On April 9, 1865, General Lee surrendered to Union General Grant at Appomattox Court House. His surrender marked the end of the Civil War.
14 April 1865: President Lincoln is shot in Washington, DC
Five days after the Civil War ended, President Lincoln was shot at Ford's Theatre in Washington. The murderer was identified as John Wilkes Booth. He was a pro-Confederate who wanted to punish the President for the events he'd caused.
How to Draw Such a Timeline using EdrawMind?
Timelines can help you keep track of historical events like the US Civil War. If you're wondering how you can create a timeline yourself, EdrawMind is the perfect tool for quick diagrams. It has an intuitive interface with simple but varied customization options. Whether you want to create a timeline using a template or make one from scratch, EdrawMind has you covered.
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Step 1: Start with a blank canvas
- Launch the EdrawMind app or go to EdrawMind online.
- Use your Wondershare account to log in. But if you don't have one, use your socials to sign into the app.
- Select Create from the left panel of your home screen.
- Choose Local Mindmap from the Blank Document menu.
Step 2: Change the timeline layout
- This timeline has been created using a different layout. So, click on the Main Idea to reveal timeline options.
- Click Layout for more timeline structures.
- Choose the Down timeline option.
Step 3: Insert image as heading
- Let's use an image for the heading.
- For that, click on Main Idea and remove the text inside the box.
- Navigate to Insert on the top editing panel and select Picture > Picture.
- Upload an image you want to use as the heading.
- Move towards the Style panel on the left.
- Uncheck Fill Color and Shadow to remove the outline around the image.
Step 4: Edit the main topic
- Select the Main Topic and remove the text inside.
- From the right editing panel, change the Shape of the Main Topic as shown in the image below.
- Change the Border Color following the timeline's theme from the same panel.
- Now follow the steps: Insert > Picture > Picture to add an image in the center.
Bonus step: Change the image shape
- If you're not happy with the default square image shape of EdrawMind, you can change it in EdrawMax.
- Simply, upload the image on EdrawMax's blank canvas and click to reveal editing options.
- Select Crop to Shape from the menu and choose another shape.
- Finally, copy the cropped picture from EdrawMax and paste it back into EdrawMind.
Step 5: Change layout structure
- Before adding subtopics, let's change the structure of the timeline.
- Click Main Idea and then locate Layout on the left editing panel.
- Choose the third structure from the options.
Step 6: Add subtopics
- Once you've changed the layout structure, you can start adding subtopics to the Main Idea.
- Press the Tab button twice and position a subtopic on either side of the Main Idea.
- Insert key dates on the left and important events on the right.
- Select each text box and change its Shape as shown in the image below.
Step 7: Export Timeline Image
- Continue adding timeline dates and events to the timeline.
- Once it's complete, you can download it by clicking File in the top-left corner of the toolbar.
- Select Save to download the file in EdrawMind's default format.
- If you want to save the file in other formats like JPEG, Word, PPT, HTML, TXT, PDF, PNG, select Export from the same menu.
Final Words
As the US Civil War came to a close, slavery was officially abolished in America. However, this freedom meant little for African Americans who were still a long way from equality and equal opportunities.
On the other hand, the plantation system in the South collapsed, and many wealthy landowners were ruined forever. The war changed what it meant to be American, as many people had to rebuild their lives from scratch to survive.
Do you want to make a similar timeline like the one above? EdrawMind is a great tool for beginners and pros alike. It's easy to use and allows you to create diagrams within minutes. Try EdrawMind today.
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