2 January 1861Slave State SecessionAbraham Lincoln
Texas convention votes to secede from the Union
Historical records for United States of America in 1861, rendered directly from the World History Database and ordered by month, day and event.
Texas convention votes to secede from the Union
The Morrill Tariff raises import duties shortly before Lincoln takes office.
Lincoln sends his first annual message to Congress
Lincoln declares that the Union is perpetual and appeals for preservation of the Constitution
Lincoln is inaugurated as the 16th President of the United States
Federal troops protect the capital during Lincolns first inauguration
Lincoln begins his first term as President of the United States
Lincoln states that his constitutional duty is to preserve protect and defend the Union
Lincoln addresses a special session of Congress at the start of his presidency
Lincoln appoints Edward Bates as Attorney General
Lincoln forms his first cabinet after taking office
Lincoln appoints Caleb B Smith as Secretary of the Interior
Lincoln appoints Montgomery Blair as Postmaster General
Lincoln appoints Salmon P Chase as Secretary of the Treasury
Revenue Act introduces the first federal income tax in United States history
Lincoln signs the Revenue Act creating new federal revenue measures
Arkansas votes to secede from the Union after the outbreak of war
Unionists under McDowell have to fight a rearguard action. Confederate victory, Jackson earns the name "Stonewall"
Confederate victory, Unionists under McDowell stronger fight a rearguard action
Stuarts cavalry covers the Confederate left
Union forces from Washington are stopped from reaching Richmond
Tennessee voters approve secession from the Union
Eleven slave states have seceded while four slave states remain in the Union
Mississippi becomes the second state to secede from the Union
Mississippi becomes the second slave state to secede from the Union
Florida becomes the third state to secede from the Union
Florida becomes the third slave state to secede from the Union
Alabama becomes the fourth state to secede from the Union
Alabama becomes the fourth slave state to secede from the Union
Appointed Vice President of the USA
Confederate artillery opens fire on the Union garrison at Fort Sumter
Confederate forces begin the attack on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor
Union forces agree to surrender Fort Sumter after the bombardment
Appointed Brigadier General
Appointed Brigadier General
Appointed Captain in the Confederate Army
Appointed Captain in the Confederate Army
Appointed Captain in the 1st Virginia Cavalry
Appointed Captain in the 1st Virginia Cavalry
Appointed Commander in Chief
Appointed Commander in Chief
Chairs the House Committee on Elections during the Civil War Congresses.
Appointed President of the 7 Confederate States of America
Resigns from the US Army after Virginia cedes from the Union
Lincolns election intensifies the secession crisis before his inauguration
Lincoln calls on state governors to provide troops to suppress the rebellion
Lincoln calls for 75000 volunteers after the attack on Fort Sumter
Lincoln opposes compromise measures that would protect slavery in federal territory
Virginia convention votes to secede after the attack on Fort Sumter
Lincoln signs legislation authorizing federal borrowing and treasury notes
Georgia becomes the fifth state to secede from the Union
Georgia becomes the fifth slave state to secede from the Union
North Carolina convention votes to secede from the Union
Louisiana becomes the sixth slave state to secede from the Union
This page is generated from stored World History Database records matching the exact country and year shown above. Exact duplicate display records are collapsed. Records without a month are listed after the monthly sections. Source provenance varies by record; formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.