The 13th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, officially abolishing slavery throughout the United States. This amendment marked a significant legal and social milestone in American history, as it formally ended the institution of slavery and laid the groundwork for future civil rights advancements.

President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth, a Confederate sympathizer, while attending a play at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln's death came just days after the end of the Civil War, plunging the nation into mourning and complicating the Reconstruction process that sought to reunite the country.

Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War. The terms of surrender were generous, allowing Confederate soldiers to return home with their personal possessions and horses, which helped to begin the process of national reconciliation.

Union General William Tecumseh Sherman began his infamous March to the Sea, a military campaign that involved marching 60,000 Union troops from Atlanta to Savannah, Georgia. The campaign aimed to cripple the Confederate war effort by destroying military targets, infrastructure, and civilian property, thereby demoralizing the Southern populace.

President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In his brief but profound speech, Lincoln emphasized the principles of human equality and the importance of preserving the Union, redefining the Civil War as a struggle not just for the Union, but for the principle of human equality.

The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the American Civil War. Fought over three days, it resulted in a significant Union victory, halting Confederate General Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North. The battle is often considered the war's turning point due to the heavy casualties and the strategic advantage gained by the Union.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all slaves in Confederate-held territory were to be set free. This executive order shifted the focus of the Civil War to include the abolition of slavery as a Union war aim, garnering support from abolitionists and discouraging foreign intervention on behalf of the Confederacy.

The Battle of Antietam, also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg, was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with over 22,000 casualties. It ended in a tactical draw, but it provided President Lincoln the opportunity to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, which shifted the war aims towards the abolition of slavery.

The Battle of Fort Sumter was the opening engagement of the American Civil War. Confederate forces fired upon the Union garrison at Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina. The bombardment lasted for 34 hours, leading to the Union's surrender of the fort. This marked the official start of the Civil War.

Abraham Lincoln was elected as the 16th President of the United States, marking a pivotal moment in American history. His election was a catalyst for the secession of Southern states, as his anti-slavery stance was seen as a threat to the institution of slavery, leading to the eventual outbreak of the Civil War.