November 6, 1860: Abraham Lincoln is elected president, triggering secession from the Union. 

February 4, 1861: The Confederate States of America are formed, with Jefferson Davis as president. 

April 12, 1861: The Civil War begins with the Confederate bombardment of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina. 

July 21, 1861: The First Battle of Bull Run (or First Battle of Manassas) results in a Confederate victory, demonstrating the war's potential for a long conflict. 

March 8-9, 1862: The Battle of Hampton Roads pits the ironclad warships USS Monitor and CSS Virginia, a significant technological advancement in naval warfare. 

September 17, 1862: The Battle of Antietam (or Sharpsburg) is the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, resulting in a Union victory that halts a Confederate invasion of the North. 

September 22, 1862: President Lincoln issues the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring slaves in Confederate territory free. 

July 1-3, 1863: The Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania is a major turning point in the war, with a Union victory that halts Lee's invasion of the North. 

November 19, 1863: President Lincoln delivers the Gettysburg Address, a powerful speech that reframes the war as a struggle for human equality. 

November 1864: President Lincoln is re-elected, demonstrating continued public support for the war effort. 

November-December 1864: Sherman's March to the Sea in Georgia and South Carolina destroys Confederate infrastructure and demoralizes the South.