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Great American History Outline of the Civil War with Links
The outline that follows covers the American Civil War's major political and military events. I have recently updated it, deleting outdated links.
For those educators interested in providing their students a test in which this outline can be used to find answers, go to Civil War Quizzes page.
For those educators interested in our lesson plans on the study of Abraham Lincoln and his speeches/writings, go to Lincoln Lesson Plans page.
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Go to Recommended Reading on The Civil War
Go to Table of Contents for Great American History
I. Background and Causes of the War
A. Economic developments in the U.S.
Causes of the Civil War
Selected Quotations from 1850-1860
B. Slavery
Causes of the Civil War: A Balanced Answer
Cooper Union Address
The History Place: Abraham Lincoln
MSN Encarta: The American Civil War
C. States Rights vs. Strong Federal Government
Causes of the Civil War: N. Georgia Perspective
Cornerstone Speech
II. Political and Social Catalysts for the War
A. Missouri Compromise
Missouri Compromise Crosstab Map
B. Kansas-Nebraska Act
The History Place: Kansas-Nebraska Act
C. Dred Scott Decision
The History Place: Dred Scott
D. John Brown’s Raid
Gerrit Smith: Harper’s Ferry and the Aftermath
John Brown's Raid
E. Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Wikipedia: Uncle Tom's Cabin
F. Lincoln Douglas Debates
Lincoln-Douglas Debates of 1858
Lincoln-Douglas Debates
G. Presidential Election of 1860
Lincoln Wins the Republican Nomination in 1860
Wikipedia: US Presidential Election in 1860
Vshadow: Lincoln’s Election
III. Major Political and Military Leaders
1. Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis
Jefferson Davis Biography
Jefferson Davis Bio
2. Alexander Stephens
Speech of Alexander H. Stephens, Nov. 14, 1860
Alexander Stephens Biography
3. Robert B. Rhett, Louis T. Wigfall, William L. Yancey, Robert Toombs
Causes of the Civil War: The Fire-Eaters
1. Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Online
Abraham Lincoln Research Site
The History Place Presents Abraham Lincoln (Timeline)
Lincoln’s War Cabinet
Lincoln's Faith in God
2. William H. Seward
William H. Seward
Wikipedia: William H. Seward
3. Stephen A. Douglas, Charles Summer, Salmon P. Chase
Stephen A. Douglas Image
Wikipedia: Stephen A. Douglas
Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861)
Wikipedia: Charles Sumner
Wikipedia: Salmon P. Chase
1. Robert E. Lee
R. E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee Image
Wikipedia: R. E. Lee
2. Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson and James Longstreet
“Stonewall” Jackson
Wikipedia: Stonewall Jackson Papers
Wikipedia: James Longstreet
The Longstreet Chronicles
3. Albert Sidney Johnston and Joseph E. Johnston
Wikipedia: Albert Sidney Johnston
Joseph Johnston Biography
4. Various Others
U.S. Civil War Generals
Wikipedia: Nathan Bedford Forrest
1. Ulysses S. Grant
U. S. Grant Home Page
Wikipedia: Ulysses S. Grant ociation
The White House: Ulysses S. Grant
2. William Tecumseh Sherman and George B. McClellan
William Tecumseh Sherman
Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
Wikipedia: W. T. Sherman
George B. McClellan Image
Wikipedia: G. B. McClellan
3. Phil Sheridan, George G. Meade, Joshua L. Chamberlain
Wikipedia: Philip Henry Sheridan
Wikipedia: George Meade
George Gordon Meade
Joshua L. Chamberlain Area
Wikipedia: Joshua L. Chamberlain
4. George H. Thomas, William Rosecrans, Robert Anderson, and Various Others
George H. Thomas, William Rosecrans, Don Carlos Buell, Robert Anderson
Wikipedia: George H. Thomas
Wikipedia: William Rosecrans
Wikipedia: Maj. Robert Anderson
U.S. Civil War Generals
IV. Events & Battles of 1861-1862
1. Secession of the Confederate States
Wikipedia: The Confederate States of America
Documents and Speeches Related to Georgia's Secession
2. Fort Sumter
Crisis at Fort Sumter
Wikipedia: Fort Sumter
3. Mobilization of the North and South
The History Place: Abraham Lincoln (Proclamation for Volunteers)
4. European Intervention and the Trent Affair
Wikipedia: The Trent Affair
Wikipedia: John Slidell
1. First Manassas (Bull Run)
First Manassas
First Manassas
Wikipedia: First Bull Run
2. Forts Henry and Donelson
Fort Henry
Forts Henry and Donelson
Fort Donelson
Fort Donelson Official Records
Fort Donelson
3. Shiloh (Pittsburg’s Landing)
Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report: Shiloh
Battle of Shiloh
Wikipedia: Battle of Shiloh
4. Shenandoah Valley
Kernstown
McDowell
Front Royal
Winchester I
Cross Keys
Port Republic
5. Seven Days
Battle Summaries by Campaign: Main Eastern Theatre
Seven Days Campaign
6. Second Manassas (Bull Run)
Second Battle of Bull Run
Second Manassas
Wikipedia: Second Bull Run
7. Antietam (Sharpsburg)
Antietam
Antietam on the Web
Wikipedia: Battle of Antietam
8. Fredericksburg
The Battle of Fredericksburg, 1862
Wikipedia: The Battle of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg I
9. Murphreesboro (Stone’s River)
Stone's River
Stone's River Official Report
Murfreesboro
1. Blockaders and Blockade Runners
Wikipedia: Union Blockade
Index of C.S.N. Ships
2. Ironclads
The Mariner's Museum--Monitor
Battle Between the Monitor & the Virginia
The CSS Virginia Home Page
1. USS Monitor vs. the CSS Virginia (Merrimack)
Battle Between the Monitor & the Virginia
Wikipedia: Battle of Hampton Roads
Wikipedia: Confederate States Navy
2. New Orleans
New Orleans During the Civil War
New Orleans
3. Charleston Harbor
Charleston Civil War Naval & Maritime Operations
Wikipedia: Hunley Submarine
4. Mobile Bay
Wikipedia: Battle of Mobile Bay
5. The CSS Alabama and the USS Kearsarge
CSS Alabama
6. The Blockade
The History Place: Abraham Lincoln’s Proclamation of Blockade
VI. Events & Battles of 1863
1. Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Thirteenth Amendment
2. The Gettysburg Address
Wikipedia: The Gettysburg Address
Text of The Gettysburg Address
1. Chancellorsville
Chancellorsville
Wikipedia: Battle of Chancellorsville
2. Gettysburg
Wikipedia: Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg
Gettysburg
3. Vicksburg
NPS Vicksburg Page
Wikipedia: The Siege of Vicksburg
4. Chickamauga
Wikipedia: Battle of Chickamauga
Chickamagua- A Civil War Battle
Chickamagua-Battle Summary
5. Chattanooga
Chattanooga- Battle Summary
Wikipedia: Third Battle of Chattanooga
Chattanooga- Civil War
VII. Events & Battles of 1864-1865
1. Presidential Election of 1864
Presidential Election of 1864
Overview of the 1864 Election
2. Copperhead Activities in the North
Clement L. Vallandigham
3. Surrender of Lee
Wikipedia: Battle of Appomattox and Surrender of Lee
Surrender at Appomattox
4. Assasination of Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln Assasination
The Assasination of Abraham Lincoln
Wikipedia: The Assasination of Abraham Lincoln
1. Atlanta
Atlanta
The Atlanta Campaign
Wikipedia: Battle of Atlanta
2. Wilderness
Wikipedia: Battle of the Wilderness
Battle of the Wilderness
3. Spotsylvania Courthouse
Spotsylvania Court House
Spotsylvania Court House: Offical Records
Wikipedia: Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
4. Cold Harbor
Cold Harbor
Battle of North Anna and Cold Harbor: Official Records
5. Sherman’s March
Sherman's March
The History Channel: Sherman's March
Wikipedia: Sherman's March
6. Franklin
Franklin
Wikipedia: The Second Battle of Franklin
7. Petersburg
Wikipedia: The Second Battle of Petersburg
Siege of Petersburg
8. Nashville
Nashville
Wikipedia: The Battle of Nashville
9. Appomattox Campaign
Appomatox Courthouse
NPS' Appomattox Court House Page
Appomatox Courthouse: Official Records
VIII. Civilians and Miscellaneous
A. Women During the Civil War
Women in the Civil War
Wikipedia: Harriet Beecher Stowe
Civil War Women- Internet Sources
Women and the Civil War- Resources at Duke
B. African-Americans in the Civil War
The Life of Frederick Douglass
Wikipedia: Frederick Douglass
Wikipedia: Harriet Tubman
United States Colored Troops: The Civil War
Wikipedia: Fifty-Fourth Massachussetts Infantry
Frederick Douglass
Wikipedia: The Underground Railroad
Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System
C. Native Americans in the Civil War
Native Americans in the American Civil War
Native Americans in the Civil War
D. Religious leaders and events in the Civil War
Religious Revival in Civil War Armies
Civil War and Religion
The Christian Commission
Wikipedia: The United States Christian Commission
Web Author: Gordon Leidner
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