1861    

1862

1863

1864

1865

1868

1870

BEGINNING OF CIVIL WAR WHEN SOUTH CAROLINA FIRES ON FORT SUMTER

MAJOR-GENERAL BENJAMIN B. BUTLER REBUFFS SLAVEHOLDERS AND DECLARES RUNAWAYS AT FORTRESS MONROE, VIRGINIA, TO BE CONTRABANDS OF WAR

FIRST CONFISCATION ACT DECLARES FLEEING AFRICAN AMERICANS TO BE CONTRABANDS OF WAR

CAMP NELSON BECOMES USCT RECRUITMENT CENTER AND REFUGE FOR FLEEING CONTRABANDS

HARRIET JACOBS PUBLISHES INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF A SLAVE GIRL IN BOSTON

PRESIDENT LINCOLN SIGNED THE COMPENSATED EMANCIPATION ACT, WHICH FREED ALL SLAVES IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

SECOND CONFISCATION ACT DECLARES CONTRABAND REACHING UNION ARMY LINES TO BE FREE

FIRST KANSAS VOLUNTEERS RECRUITED

WILLIAM GOULD ESCAPES DOWN THE CAPE FEAR RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA, TO THE UNION NAVY

TO GAIN HIS FREEDOM ROBERT SMALLS SURRENDERS THE PLANTER TO UNION FORCES IN CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA

WEST VIRGINIA ADMITTED TO UNION AS FREE STATE

MILITIA ACT WHICH AUTHORIZES FREEDOM IN RETURN FOR MILITARY SERVICE FOR ENEMY-OWNED BONDSMEN

EMANCIPATION PROCLAMATION

FREEDMAN'S VILLAGE ESTABLISHED ON ROBERT E LEE'S ESTATE, ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, TO HOUSE REFUGEES FROM SLAVERY

FIFTY-FOURTH USCT FROM MASSACHUSETTS SHOWS BRAVERY DURING ATTACK ON FORT WAGNER

ARMY ESTABLISHES FREEDOM COLONY AT FORT RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA

NEW YORK DRAFT RIOTS

LINCOLN PUTS FORTH RECONSTRUCTION PLAN FOR SOUTH

LINCOLN SIGNS REPEAL OF 1850 FUGITIVE SLAVE ACT

BUREAU OF REFUGEES, FREEDMEN, AND ABANDONED LANDS ESTABLISHED

SURRENDER AT APPOMATOX COURTHOUSE, VA

ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT LINCOLN

MISSISSIPPI ENACTS A BLACK CODE

RATIFICATION OF THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT

FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT

FIFTEENTH AMENDMENT