Category Archives: 1860s

Virginia becomes eighth Southern slave state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1861)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Virginia in the Civil War'

(Wednesday, April 17, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Delegates to the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861 voted 88-55 to secede from the Union today in Richmond, becoming the eighth southern state to secede to preserve the enslavement of black people and the first since the Battle of Fort Sumter and President Abraham Lincoln’s call up of militia to retake federal property.
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U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declares state of insurrection, calls for 75,000 volunteer troops 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1861)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Civil War - 1 - Savasin Sebebi (1861)' (Apr. 15, 1861, at 52:54)

(Monday, April 15, 1861; during the American Civil War) — Three days after the Confederate attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declared a state of insurrection today and called on the states to provide 75,000 militiamen to retake federal property and to suppress the rebellion by seven Southern slave states.
Continue reading U.S. President Abraham Lincoln declares state of insurrection, calls for 75,000 volunteer troops 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1861) →

American Civil War begins as Confederate troops fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1861)

1860s, American Civil War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Fort Sumter: Animated Battle Map'

(Friday, April 12, 1861, 4:30 a.m. local time; during the Battle of Fort Sumter, part of the American Civil War) — The American Civil War, a civil war fought between northern states loyal to the Union and southern states that had seceded to preserve the enslavement of black people, began early today when secessionist forces attacked Fort Sumter in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.
Continue reading American Civil War begins as Confederate troops fire on Fort Sumter in South Carolina’s Charleston Harbor 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1861) →

Abraham Lincoln inaugurated as 16th president of the United States, Hannibal Hamlin as 15th VP 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1861)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President Abraham Lincoln 1st Inaugural Address - Hear and Read the Full Text'

(Monday, March 4, 1861, shortly after 1:00 p.m. local time) — Former Representative Abraham Lincoln, 52, of Illinois was inaugurated today as the 16th president of the United States at the East Portico of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., with Chief Justice Roger B. Taney administering the oath of office.
Continue reading Abraham Lincoln inaugurated as 16th president of the United States, Hannibal Hamlin as 15th VP 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 4 1861) →

President-elect Lincoln secretly arrives in Washington following word of possible assassination plot 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1861)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Secret Plot to Kill Abraham Lincoln Before the Civil War'

(Saturday, February 23, 1861, 6:00 a.m. local time, during the Baltimore Plot) — With the nation on the brink of civil war over slavery, President-elect Abraham Lincoln arrived safely in Washington, D.C., in disguise early this morning after learning of a plot to assassinate him as he passed through Baltimore, Maryland.
Continue reading President-elect Lincoln secretly arrives in Washington following word of possible assassination plot 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1861) →

Jefferson Davis sworn in as provisional president of the Confederate States of America 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 18 1861)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Ken Burns’ Civil War, ep1 part 2-3' (Feb. 18, 1861, at 29:18)

(Monday, February 18, 1861, approximately 1:00 p.m. local time) — Jefferson Davis was inaugurated as provisional president of the Confederate States of America today on the steps of the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery before an audience estimated at ten thousand people.
Continue reading Jefferson Davis sworn in as provisional president of the Confederate States of America 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 18 1861) →

President-elect Abraham Lincoln bids farewell to adopted hometown of Springfield, Illinois 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 11 1861)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Lincoln's Farewell Address to Springfield'

(Monday, February 11, 1861, 8:00 a.m. local time) — With the country on the brink of civil war over the issue of slavery, U.S. President-elect Abraham Lincoln departed his adopted hometown of Springfield, Illinois, today en route to his inauguration in the nation’s capital on Mar. 4, 1861.
Continue reading President-elect Abraham Lincoln bids farewell to adopted hometown of Springfield, Illinois 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 11 1861) →

Jefferson Davis elected provisional president of the Confederate States of America 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1861)

1860s


Video: 'Jefferson Davis - First President of the Confederacy | Mini Bio | BIO'

(Friday, February 9, 1861) — One day after adopting a provisional constitution forming the Confederate States of America (CSA), the Confederate States Congress, meeting today in the Alabama Capitol at Montgomery, unanimously chose former U.S. Secretary of War and U.S. Senator Jefferson Davis as Provisional President and former U.S. Rep. Alexander H. Stephens as Provisional Vice President.
Continue reading Jefferson Davis elected provisional president of the Confederate States of America 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1861) →

Seven secessionist slave states form Confederate States of America 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1861)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Confederate States of America'

(Friday, February 8, 1861, at around midnight local time) — The Confederate States of America (CSA), an unrecognized breakaway state that fought against the United States of America during the American Civil War, was formed late tonight in the Alabama Capitol at Montgomery when representatives from seven secessionist slave states unanimously ratified a Provisional Constitution.
Continue reading Seven secessionist slave states form Confederate States of America 160 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1861) →

Texas becomes seventh Southern state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 1 1861)

1860s, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Texas in the Civil War'

(Friday, February 1, 1861; 12 weeks after the 1860 United States presidential election) — 87 days after Abraham Lincoln’s victory in the presidential election of 1860 on a platform which opposed the expansion of slavery into the western territories, Texas became the seventh state to leave the Union today when the the Texas Legislature voted 166-7 to secede.
Continue reading Texas becomes seventh Southern state to secede from the Union 160 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 1 1861) →