Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War This timeline of events leading up to the American Civil War describes and links to narrative articles and references about many of the events and issues which historians recognize as origins and causes of the Civil War. The pre-Civil War events can be roughly divided into a period encompassing the long-term build-up over many decades and a period encompassing the five-month build-up to war immediately after the election of Abraham Lincoln as President in the Election of 1860, which culminated in the Fall of Fort Sumter (April 1861). Since the early
Conclusion of the American Civil War the American Civil War. "Shenandoah" had so far captured and burned eleven ships of the American whaling fleet while in Arctic waters. Waddell finally learned of Lee's surrender on June 27 when the captain of the prize "Susan & Abigail" produced a newspaper from San Francisco. The same paper contained Confederate President Jefferson Davis's proclamation that the "war would be carried on with re-newed vigor". "Shenandoah" proceeded to capture a further ten whalers in the following seven hours. Wadell then steered "Shenandoah" south, intending to raid the port of San Francisco which he believed to be poorly defended. En route