Civil War People

Robert E. Lee

Abraham Lincoln asked Robert E. Lee to lead the Union Army. Even though Lee did not particularly like slavery, he felt that he had to be loyal to his home state of Virginia, which was seceding. Lee became the head of the Confederate Army and a key advisor to Jefferson Davis. Lee surrendered to U.S. Grant on April 9, 1865, ending the Civil War. I have linked a site with basic information about Lee and a more advanced website.

Ullysses S. Grant

Grant became the leader of the Union Army part way through the Civil War and was important to the Union victory. Following the Civil War he became the 18th president of the United States. For more info about Grant, click here.

Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln was elected as president in 1860. This upset the south because Lincoln was anti-slavery, and they did not want a president who openly opposed slavery. This became one of the final events that led to the southern states seceding from the USA.
In 1863 Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves. This event helped prevent the French or British from helping the south. The south refused to free their slaves and the French and British, who had been supportive of the south in trying to gain their independence, were completely opposed to slavery.
Lincoln, was assassinated on April 15, 1865, only 6 days after the war ended.
Click here for a website with everything you could ever want to know about Lincoln. Beware, it is very overwhelming.
To learn about Lincoln's assassination at the hands of John Wilkes Booth click here.

Jefferson Davis

Davis was elected president of the Confederate States of America in 1861 and remained the president throughout the Civil War. Click here, for additional info about Davis.

Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson

Stonewall Jackson was one of the key confederate Generals who was remembered for his bravery, as his nickname indicates. Jackson died of a wound he received at the Battle of Chancellorsville in 1864. When he died General Lee said, "I know not how to replace him." For additional info about Stonewall, click here.