TimeLine 1858 to 1861

June 16 - Abraham Lincoln was nominated for the United States Senate by the Republican Party at a state convention.

July 24 - Lincoln challenged Stephen Douglas to joint debates. Historic debate with Douglas.

In the election, Lincoln won the popular vote for the Republicans but lost the majority of the legislative districts.

Lincoln was defeated for Senate by Stephen Douglas before the Illinois legislature.

That fall Abraham Lincoln gave notable speeches in Ohio, and in Kansas in December.

Lincoln delivered a notable speech at the Cooper Institute, New York on the issue of whether the US Congress had the power to regulate slavery in the new territories. The success of this speech helped propel Lincoln to national prominence. Later that year Lincoln also spoke in New England.

On May 9, Lincoln was nominated the Republican candidate for President at the Illinois convention. On May 16, he was nominated for President by the Republicans in Chicago.

In November of 1860, Lincoln was reelected president for the first time.

February 11, Abraham Lincoln left Springfield for Washington. On his way to Washington, he survived an assassination attempt even before being sworn in.

March 4, Abraham Lincoln was sworn in as President of the United States.

The election of the antislavery Lincoln triggered secessionist movements in the Southern slave holding states, led by South Carolina, though not all slave holding states or territories seceded. The seceded states formed the Confederacy, and on February 4, 1861 Jefferson Davis of Mississippi was elected President and Alexander H. Stephens of Georgia was Vice President of the Confederate States. The Confederates demanded the removal of all federal troops and installations from its territory. The federal military base of Fort Sumter located at the mouth of the harbor in Charleston, South Carolina, was attacked by the Confederates, signalling the start of the Civil War. Fort Sumter fell on April 13.

Lincoln issued an urgent call for volunteers and called Congress to an emergency session on July 4.

July 21 - the Battle of Bull Run takes place.

July 25 - appointed George McLellan to command the army of the Potomac, in defense of Washington.

On November 1, he promoted McLellan to the rank of commander in chief of all the armies, subject to the President.

December 2, Lincoln delivered a message to Congress.

December 25, Lincoln ordered the release of captured Commissioners of the Confederacy, thus avoiding war with England.

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