Some Northerners traveled to Southern states with hopes to gain more money or work on behalf of newly freed slaves. Southerners believed the Northerners had traveled to take advantage of the region but supported the Republican Party and called them, "Carpetbaggers." Most of the Republican parties support came from white Southerners who believed they'd have more of an advantage in supporting Reconstruction policies and were called, "Scalawags."
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought from July 1st through July 3rd 1863 and inspired President Lincoln's "Gettysburg Address." The Confederate Army led by General Robert E. Lee had attacked the Union Army, the Federals, and enemies at Cemetery Ridge. The Union was able to stop the invasion of the North and won.
Emancipation Proclamation
Charles I in Three Positions, also known as the Triple portrait of Charles I, is an oil painting of Charles I of England by Flemish artist Sir Anthony Van Dyck, showing the King from three viewpoints: left full profile, face on, and right three quarter profile. [more]
Sherman's March to Sea
President Abraham Lincoln put out an Emancipation Proclamation that was considered prelim on September 16, 1863. All slaves in the state who fought for the Rebellion against the Union were to be set free. It was later discovered that this only applied to slaves in the Confederacy and not those in loyal border states. This was discovered when Lincoln signed the official Emancipation Proclamation in January.
Battle of Appomattox Courthouse
General William T. Sherman of the Union led his soldiers on a 285 mile march in Georgia from Atlanta to Savannah. This march lasted from November 15th to December 21st, 1864 and was meant to scare Georgia's population so they would get rid of the Confederate cause. The Union stole from towns they entered and got rid of the property of those who tried to fight back.
Gettysburg Address
Fought on April 9th, 1865 in Virginia, the Battle of Appomattox Court house caused General Robert E. lee to surrender to Ulysses S. Grant, Union General. The battle only lasted a few hours and caused the Civil War to end. Lee originally planned to gather troops with Confederates then travel to North Carolina and fight.
Lincolns Assassination
The Gettysburg Address was one of the most important speeches in American History given on November 19th, 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln. The Address was given to bring awareness to principles of human equality, connect Civil War to "a new birth of freedom," and Union preservation. It happened at the National Cemetery of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania.
Reconstruction
Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865 by famous actor, John Wilkes Booth. John had originally planned to kidnap President Lincoln and take him to the Confederate Capital to save the Confederacy. John grew anxious and decided to shoot President Lincoln during a play at Ford's Theatre which resulted in John breaking his leg. On April 15, President Lincoln was pronounced dead with many people mourning across the nation.
Black Leaders During Reconstruction
Reconstruction era lasted from 1865-1877 to bring newly freed slaves and Southern states of the Confederacy to the U.S.. Southern state legislatures passed, "black codes" to control treatment of African Americans under President Andrew Johnson. The North became upset with these codes and began a more intense Republican party. African Americans had finally gained a voice in America winning against the Southern legislatures and U.S. Congress later resulting in the formation of the Ku Klux Klan by angered Southerners.
Carpetbaggers & Scalawags
African American participation during Reconstruction was huge and defined by their hope of establishing equal rights. Two of the most important leaders consisted of Hiram Revels and Blanche K. Bruce. Both were elected into the U.S. Senate but Hiram Revels worked in the Union Army and was a preacher. In all 16 African Americans served in the U.S. Congress, over 600 were elected in state legislatures, and many more were in office across the South. Many black leaders were killed by the Ku Klux Klan's feelings of intimidation.
