Timeline of the history of the United States (1860–1899)

More than 550,000 Americans died fighting the Civil War, including these men who fell during the bloody Battle of Antietam.

This section of the timeline of United States history concerns events from 1860 to 1899.

1860s

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Presidency of James Buchanan

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U.S. territorial extent in 1860
  • April 3, 1860 – Pony Express begins.
  • November 6 – 1860 United States presidential election: Abraham Lincoln elected president and Hannibal Hamlin vice president with only 39% of the vote in a four-man race.
  • December 18 – Crittenden Compromise fails.
  • December 20 – President Buchanan fires his cabinet.
  • December 20 – South Carolina secedes from the Union
  • January 9, 1861 – Secessionist forces in South Carolina fire at the USS Star of the West, forcing it to withdraw.
  • January 9 – Mississippi secedes from the Union
  • January 10 – Florida secedes from the Union
  • January 11 – Alabama secedes from the Union
  • January 19 – Georgia secedes from the Union
  • January 26 – Louisiana secedes from the Union
  • February 1 – Texas secedes from the Union
  • February 4 – Secessionist states establish the Confederate States of America
  • February 9 – Jefferson Davis elected provisional president of the Confederacy. Alexander H. Stephens elected provisional vice president of the Confederacy.
  • February 11 – Stephens becomes provisional vice president of the Confederate States.
  • February 18 – Davis becomes provisional president of the Confederate States.
  • March 2 – The Corwin Amendment to enshrine slavery forever is passed by Congress. It is not ratified.

Presidency of Abraham Lincoln

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Presidency of Andrew Johnson

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Presidency of Ulysses S. Grant

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1870s

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U.S. territorial extent in 1870

Presidency of Rutherford B. Hayes

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1880s

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U.S. territorial extent in 1880

Presidency of James A. Garfield

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  • March 4, 1881 – Garfield becomes the 20th president; Arthur becomes the 20th vice president.
  • July 2, 1881 – President Garfield is shot by a deranged gunman on a train platform.

Presidency of Chester A. Arthur

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First presidency of Grover Cleveland

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Presidency of Benjamin Harrison

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  • March 4, 1889 – Harrison becomes the 23rd president and Morton becomes the 22nd vice president
  • 1889 – Oklahoma Land Rush (April 22, 1889)
  • 1889 – Centennial of the Constitution celebrated.
  • 1889 – North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and Washington become states
  • 1889 – Johnstown Flood in Pennsylvania
  • 1889 – Jane Addams founds Hull House
  • December 6, 1889 – Former Confederate president Jefferson Davis dies.
  • 1889 - During a speech given by Benjamin Harrison, he becomes the first U.S. president in history to have a voice recording.

1890s

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Second presidency of Grover Cleveland

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Presidency of William McKinley

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  • March 4, 1897 – McKinley becomes the 25th president; and Hobart becomes the 24th vice president
Wreckage of the USS Maine

See also

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References

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