37th United States Congress - Major Events

Major Events

  • March 1861 – July 1861:
    • Jefferson Davis extends martial law from Norfolk to Richmond, calls up 100,000 militia;
    • Rebels fire on Fort Sumter, SC. Lincoln suspends habeas corpus from Washington, D.C., to Philadelphia and calls up 75,000 militia.
    • Four more Southern states saw members withdraw from Congress:
      • Virginia Secession Convention enacts an Ordinance of Secession on April 17; ratified by popular referendum on May 23.
      • Arkansas Secession Convention enacted an Ordinance of Secession on May 6.
      • Tennessee Secession Convention enacted an Ordinance of Secession on May 6; ratified by popular referendum on June 8.
      • North Carolina Secession Convention enacted an Ordinance of Secession on May 20.
    • Partial state delegations remaining:
      • Senators from Virginia (2 replaced) and Tennessee (1)
      • Representatives from Virginia (5 of 12), Tennessee (3 of 10) Louisiana (2 of 4).
    • Union forces lose the First Battle of Bull Run.
  • August 1861 – March 1862:
    • Union blockade of the South begins at Fort Monroe, Va; Davis begins suspending habeas corpus at Norfolk.
    • Union forces win Mississippi River Fort Henry, Tn and Fort Donelson, Tn;
    • Ironclad USS Monitor maintains blockade in the Hampton Roads, Va; Union forces take Port Royal, SC. Davis initiates conscription.
  • April 1862 – August 1862:
    • Union forces capture New Orleans, La; Rebels turned back at Shiloh, Tn.
    • Union blockade closes Savannah, Ga; Union forces occupy upper Mississippi River Island #10, Tn.
    • Union forces lose Peninsular Campaign to capture Richmond; Union forces lose Battle of Second Bull Run.
  • September 1862 – March 1863:
    • Rebel invasion turned back at Antietam, Md; Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation.
    • In midterm elections, Democrats gain 31 House seats to 31%, lose 5 Senate seats to 19%.
    • Union forces lose at Fredericksburg, Va; Rebels lose at Murfreesboro, Tn; Lincoln initiates conscription.

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