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The four candidates for the Election of 1860

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This event, the election of 1860, was the final event that led to the Civil War. There were four candidates, with the most notable being known as Abraham Lincoln, who won the election and became the president of the United States. Immediately following his election, south Carolina announced their official secession from the United States, triggering a debate over secession, ultimately leading to the Civil War.

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Following the debate of secession and the official secession of several states, forming the confederacy, the first shots were fired of the Civil War on April 12, 1861, at 4:30 am, by Confederate soldiers. Fort Sumter was a South Carolina military fort occupied by the Union's army. SC began demanding that they abandon their fort, but the union did not listen. Immediately following this, SC began their bombarding attacks on the fort, sparking a battle that lasted for 34 whole hours. This was the first major battle of the Civil War.

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The Emancipation Proclamation - September 22, 1862

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The Emancipation Proclamation - September 22, 1862

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On September 22, 1862, then president, Abraham Lincoln wrote the Emancipation Proclamation. The E.P stated that all slaves in only confederate states would be freed on January 1, 1863. The purpose of the document was to help end slavery by the end of the civil war, and to support ending the war itself. Little known fact was that the document stated that if the south surrendered before January 1, 1863, they would be able to keep their slaves, which they ultimately did not end up doing.

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The deadly battle of Chickamauga - September 18-20, 1863

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The deadly battle of Chickamauga - September 18-20, 1863

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The battle of Chickamauga was the second bloodiest battle of the Civil War. The bloody battle resulted in an unfortunate sum of over 34,000 casualties. The battle was the largest battle ever fought in the state of Georgia. The battle was part of a larger northern objective which was to capture Chattanooga, and the main reason behind the battle was the presence of many railroads. The attack on Chattanooga was a Southern defeat and was used as the starting point for General William T. Sherman's Atlanta Campaign.

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Sherman's March to the Sea - November 15-December 21, 1864

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Sherman's March to the Sea - November 15-December 21, 1864

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After capturing Chattanooga, the union army eventually captured Atlanta, following Sherman's Atlanta campaign. After this event, General William T. Sherman began his brutal "march to the sea". Sherman was not satisfied with destroying Atlanta, so he decided to destroy the rest of GA. He called the policy total war, and did it to get rid of any fighting chance or spirit the south still had. Sherman began the march on November 15, 1864, finding his way to Savannah which he eventually captured, on December 21, 1865. On this march to the sea, Sherman and his army destroyed everything in their path, including buildings, stables, and all structures, also eating every animal they could find.

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Following the majorly destructive events of the civil war, reconstruction was needed to restore the United States of America. The events of the reconstruction began sometime soon after the civil war in the year 1865, lasting until 1877.

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The formation and establishment of the Freedman's Bureau - early 1868

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The formation and establishment of the Freedman's Bureau - early 1868

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During Reconstruction, the U.S. Congress established the Freedmen’s Bureau in 1865. This Bureau was established to help former slaves transition into society and out of slavery. The goals and actions of this Bureau later became a huge stepping stone for the future of African Americans in the United States. One of these actions included the constructions of schools and certain colleges now called HBCU's.

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Following the march to the sea, there were the horrific events of Andersonville prison. After that time came the ultimate end of the civil war, on April 9, 1865. On that day, Robert E. Lee surrendered the Confederate Army to General Ulysses Grant in Appomattox Courthouse, Virginia.

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In 1865 the KKK was established by former Confederate Veterans in Tennessee. By 1870, they had spread and were terrorizing the Freedmen’s Bureau and attempting to stop the Bureau’s efforts to help former slaves. Their horrific efforts led to the tragic deaths of many, and are unluckily still around today.

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The signing of the 14th and 15th amendments - July 8, 1868-February 26, 1869

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The signing of the 14th and 15th amendments - July 8, 1868-February 26, 1869

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Following the 13th amendent which was the freeing of slaves and the end of the civil war, there was the fact that the freed slaves would need rights, and that's where the 14th amendment comes in. The 14th amendment, adopted on July 8, 1868, gave rights to all freed slaves. Along with this was later the 15th amendment, ratified on February 26, 1869, gave the right to vote to all male citizens, including freed slaves.

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Black Legislators in the GA General Assembly - sometime around 1872

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Black Legislators in the GA General Assembly - sometime around 1872

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During Reconstruction, former slaves participated in GA politics for the first time. By 1872, 96 African Americans had served in the Georgia State Legislature. Georgia even had a black congressman during Reconstruction.