Slave State Secession
Texas convention votes to secede from the Union
Permanent historical records · Updated 2026-11-03
1861 in United States of America
Explore 56 historical events and records for United States of America in 1861.
Historical records for United States of America in 1861
Sorted by month and day. Records with no month are shown last. Showing 40 of 56 unique records.
56Unique records
1 of 2Page
27Named events on this page
7Named people on this page
16Places on this page
January
March
Morrill Tariff
The Morrill Tariff raises import duties shortly before Lincoln takes office.
Annual Message to Congress
Lincoln sends his first annual message to Congress
April
First Inaugural Address
Lincoln declares that the Union is perpetual and appeals for preservation of the Constitution
Inauguration
Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States
Inauguration
Federal troops protect the capital during Lincolns first inauguration
President of USA
Lincoln begins his first term as President of the United States
Union Preservation
Lincoln states that his constitutional duty is to preserve protect and defend the Union
Special Session of Congress
Lincoln addresses a special session of Congress at the start of his presidency
May
Attorney General
Lincoln appoints Edward Bates as Attorney General
Cabinet Formation
Lincoln forms his first cabinet after taking office
Interior Appointment
Lincoln appoints Caleb B Smith as Secretary of the Interior
Postmaster Appointment
Lincoln appoints Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General
Treasury Appointment
Lincoln appoints Salmon P Chase as Secretary of the Treasury
Federal Income Tax
Revenue Act introduces the first federal income tax in United States history
Revenue Act
Lincoln signs the Revenue Act creating new federal revenue measures
June
Slave State Secession
Arkansas votes to secede from the Union after the outbreak of war
July
Battle of Bull Run, 1st
Unionists under McDowell have to fight a rearguard action. Confederate victory, Jackson earns the name "Stonewall"
Battle of Bull Run, 1st
Confederate victory, Unionists under McDowell stronger fight a rearguard action
Battle of Bull Run, 1st
Stuarts cavalry covers the Confederate left
Battle of Manassas, 1st
Union forces from Washington are stopped from reaching Richmond
August
Slave State Secession
Tennessee voters approve secession from the Union
Slave State Secession
Eleven slave states have seceded while four slave states remain in the Union
September
Secession of Mississippi
Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union
Slave State Secession
Mississippi becomes the second slave state to secede from the Union
October
Secession of Florida
Florida becomes the third state to secede from the Union
Slave State Secession
Florida becomes the third slave state to secede from the Union
November
Secession of Alabama
Alabama becomes the fourth state to secede from the Union
Slave State Secession
Alabama becomes the fourth slave state to secede from the Union
Vice President
Appointed Vice President of the USA
December
Bombardment of Fort Sumter
Confederate artillery opens fire on the Union garrison at Fort Sumter
Siege of Fort Sumter
Confederate forces begin the attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor
Specie Payments Suspended
Civil War financing pressures lead banks and the federal government to suspend specie payments, temporarily breaking ordinary redemption of paper currency in gold.
Other events (month unknown)
Crittenden Compromise
Lincoln opposes compromise measures that would protect slavery in federal territory
Secession of Georgia
Georgia becomes the fifth state to secede from the Union
Slave State Secession
Georgia becomes the fifth slave state to secede from the Union
Slave State Secession
Louisiana becomes the sixth slave state to secede from the Union
Call for Volunteers
Lincoln calls on state governors to provide troops to suppress the rebellion
Call for Volunteers
Lincoln calls for 75000 volunteers after the attack on Fort Sumter
Slave State Secession
Virginia convention votes to secede after the attack on Fort Sumter
How these records were prepared
Generated from the World History Database historical_events table. Identical display records are collapsed; descriptions otherwise retain the stored text. Coverage and source quality vary. Check primary and specialist sources before citing individual historical claims.