June 1862 - Congress bans slavery in the territories, no compensation citing cost.

July 1862 - Congress authorizes the President to enlist black military recruits

President Lincoln plans to issue an emancipation proclamation. Secretaryof State Seward

convinces him to wait until aftera major Union victory.

September 1862 - Union forces repel Confederate General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the

North at Antietam, Maryland. Lee retreats to Virgina. Lincoln announces the Preliminary

Emancipation Proclamation with an offer. If the Confederacy does not surrender by January

1, 1863, the president will free all the slaves in Confederate territory. If the

Confederate states do surrender, their slaves will not be freed.

January 1, 1863 - The Emancipation Proclamation goes into effect. All the slaves in

Confederate territory are declared free. The policy does not apply to the border states or

to Southern territory held by the Union before January 1.The Emancipation Proclamation

also reaffirms the president's authority to enlist black servicemen, and initiates an

effort to organize all-black regiments. Nearly 200,000 serve.

March 1863 - Congress passes the Enrollment Act, creating a military draft. (The

Confederacy had resorted to a draft in April 1862.)

March 1863 - Congress passes the Enrollment Act, creating a military draft. (The

Confederacy began drafting in April 1862.)

Summer 1863 - In response to the military draft, bloody riots erupt in the North. The

worst in New York City, where mobs demolish draft offices, lynched several blacks, and

destroy sections of the city.

July 3-5, 1863 Confederate General Lee's second invasion of the North stopped by Union

troops at Gettysburg Lee retreats to Virginia. Confederate forces surrender to Union

General Grant at Vicksburg.The Mississippi River, geographically divided the Confederacy

is now controlled by Union sea, land and riverine forces.

December 1863 - Lincoln announces his reconstruction plan. Offers general amnesty to white

Southerners who take an oath of future loyalty and accept wartime measures abolishing

slavery. Whenever 10% of the number of 1860 voters take the oath in any state, those loyal

citizens can then establish a state government. In 1864 the governments of Louisiana,

Arkansas, and Tennessee are reconstructed under the"Ten Percent Plan." Congress refuses to

recognize the governments or seat the delegates.

June 1864 - Congress repeals the Fugitive Slave Law

July 1864 - Wade-Davis bill. Requires a majority of 1860 voters to take a loyalty oath,

but only those who swear an "ironclad" oath of never having fought against the Union can

participate in reconstructing their state's government. Requires the state constitutions

to include bans on slavery, disfranchise of Confederate leaders, and repudiate Confederate

state debts. After Congress adjourns, Lincoln uses "pocket-veto" The plan fails.

November 1864 - Lincoln wins reelection against the Democratic presidential nominee.

January 1865 - 13th Amendment banning slavery in the entire United States passes.

April 1865 - Lincoln assassinated, Southern Democrat VP Andrew Johnson becomes President.

Lee's surrender to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox, Virginia. Six battles late on June 2nd

the final Confederate Army was defeated marking the end of the war.

Summer 1865 - President Johnson's reconstruction plan offers general amnesty to those

taking an oath of future loyalty, high-ranking Confederate officials and wealthy

Confederates must petition the President for individual pardons. Requires states to ratify

the 13th Amendment prohibiting slavery repudiate Confederate debts.

Fall/Winter 1865 - Congress refuses to recognize state governments reconstructed under

Johnson's plan. Republicans cite reluctance to ratify the 13th Amendment, refusal to grant

voting rights, enactment of black codes which limit the rights and liberties of blacks,

election of former Confederates to state and national offices.

December 1865 - The requisite number of states ratify the 13th Amendment, and it becomes

part of the Constitution. [Issues of civil rights supplant slavery.]

February 1866 - Congress passes the Freedmen's Bureau Act, and gives the military the

responsibility of protecting civil rights of black Americans in the former Confederate

states. President Johnson vetoes the bill.

April 1866 - Civil Rights Act of 1866. Grants citizenship to all persons born or

naturalized in the US, guarantees equal rights under law. Federal crime to deprive any

person of civil rights. Judicial authority assigned to federal courts. Johnson vetoes.

Congress re-passes again; Johnson vetoes again; Congress overrides

June 1866 - Congress approves 14th Amendment. It attempts to give the citizenship clause

of the Civil Rights Act of 1866 more legitimacy and permanency by incorporating it into

the Constitution. Denies states the authority to deprive citizens of their privileges and

immunities, the due process of law, or the equal protection of the law.

July 1866 - Congress passes the Freedmen's Bureau Act a second time. Johnson vetoes it

again,Congress overrides.Congress votes to readmit representatives from Tennessee after

that state's ratification of the 14th Amendment.

Fall 1866 - The Congressional elections are seen as a national referendum on the proposed

14th Amendment. Republicans score a major victory, gaining seats to give them over a two-

thirds margin in the next Congress, more than enough to override any presidential vetoes.

[If you haven't figured it out Johnson went with the Southern Democrats when they split

with the Northern Democrats. This when the second largest vote getter regardless of party

took the VP spot. With Lincoln dead it put the South in the White House.]