History of American Civil War in Timeline

The American Civil War (1861-1865) was fought between the Union and the Confederacy, formed by seceding Southern states. The primary cause was the dispute over the expansion of slavery into western territories. Southern states advocated for expanding slavery while the Union opposed it. Abraham Lincoln's election in 1860 triggered secession. The war ended with the Confederacy's defeat, the preservation of the Union, and the abolition of slavery through the 13th Amendment. It remains a defining event in American history.

1915: Death of Jennie Hodgers

In 1915, Jennie Hodgers, who fought for the Union under the name Albert D. J. Cashier, died at the age of 71 after living as a man in civilian life.

1915: Release of The Birth of a Nation

In 1915, the film "The Birth of a Nation" was released, significantly shaping public memory of the Civil War, despite its controversial content.

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1927: Publication of The Rise of American Civilization

In 1927, Charles A. Beard and Mary R. Beard formalized the Lost Cause myth in their book "The Rise of American Civilization", which downplayed slavery and abolitionism. This spawned "Beardian historiography".

The Rise of American Civilization

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1933: Transfer of Battlefield Parks to National Park Service

In 1933, five Civil War battlefield parks, including Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Antietam National Battlefield, Shiloh National Military Park, Gettysburg National Military Park, and Vicksburg National Military Park, were transferred to the National Park Service.

1934: Publication of Robert E. Lee's Biography

In 1934, historian Douglas S. Freeman published the first volume of his four-volume biography of Robert E. Lee, noting that Lee gave the Army of Northern Virginia its final name on June 1, 1862.

1935: Publication of Robert E. Lee's Biography

In 1935, historian Douglas S. Freeman published an additional volume of his four-volume biography of Robert E. Lee, continuing his study of Lee's life and military career.

1939: Release of Gone with the Wind

In 1939, the film "Gone with the Wind" was released, becoming a classic and influencing public perception of the Civil War era.

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1970: Visitor Count at Battlefield Parks

In 1970, the five major battlefield parks operated by the National Park Service had 10 million visitors.

1990: Premiere of The Civil War

In 1990, Ken Burns's PBS television series "The Civil War" premiered, becoming well-remembered but also criticized for historical inaccuracies.

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2011: Historians' Emphasis on Slavery

In 2011, a panel of historians emphasized that while slavery and its discontents were the primary cause of disunion, it was disunion itself that sparked the American Civil War.

2011: Recalculation of Civil War Death Toll

In 2011, the Civil War death toll was recalculated based on a 1% sample of census data, yielding approximately 750,000 soldier deaths, 20 percent higher than traditionally estimated, and possibly as high as 850,000.

2012: Release of Lincoln

In 2012, the film "Lincoln" was released, contributing to the ongoing commemoration and shaping of public memory surrounding the Civil War.

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2017: Study on Economic Power in the South

In 2017, a study challenged the prevailing view that the southern planter elite retained its powerful position in the South after the Civil War, noting that the turmoil of the 1860s created greater opportunities for economic mobility in the South than in the North.