Request a brochure
Civil War Encyclopedia
Blue and Gray Trail
Civil War in Georgia
On the Blue and Gray Trail
Civil War by state
Today in the Civil War
Battles
Images
Places
Feature Stories
Links
Search
Who we are
<<Previous year Next year>>
| Century | 1700's | 1800's | 1900's | 2000's | ||||||||
| Decade | 1800's | 1810's | 1820's | 1830's | 1840's | 1850's | 1860's | 1870's | 1880's | 1890's | ||
| Year | 1850 | 1851 | 1852 | 1853 | 1854 | 1855 | 1856 | 1857 | 1858 | 1859 | ||
| February 15, 1855 | Congress approves the rank of Lieutenant General by brevet. It is immediately conferred on Winfield Scott | |
| Winfield Scott | ||
| March 3, 1855 | The United States Army creates the First (Edwin Vose Sumner, Joseph E. Johnston) and Second Cavalry (Albert Sidney Johnston, Robert E. Lee). | |
| Robert E. Lee | ||
| Joseph E. Johnston | ||
| Albert Sidney Johnston | ||
| Edwin Vose Sumner | ||
| Earl Van Dorn | ||
| George Thomas | ||
| William Hardee | ||
| March 3, 1855 | Franklin Pierce removes Andrew Reeder as territorial governor of Kansas | Kansas |
| March 4, 1855 | With the state legislature divided (the northern part of the state was abolitionist while the southern half was pro-slavery) Indiana begins an almost 2 year period without a U. S. Sentator | Indiana |
| March 30, 1855 | Kansas elects its first territorial legislature. Pro-slavery Missourians cross the border into Kansas to vote against Freestate candidates | Kansas |
| Kansas becomes a state | ||
| May 22, 1855 | Kansas hold a supplimentary election for districts where voting on March 30, 1855 was disputed. In the 6 districts, 10 Freesoilers and 3 pro-slavery men were elected | Kansas |
| June 26, 1855 | U. S. Army Ordinance Board recommends the adoption of the .58 caliber 1855 Springfield Rifle and the hollow base Minié Ball (or bullet) to Secretary of War Jefferson Davis. This would be the most common firearm during the Civil War | |
| 1855 Springfield Rifle | ||
| July 2, 1855 | The Kansas legislature, meeting in Pawnee and controlled by pro-slave forces, expels all "Free-staters" and moves the legislature to Shawnee Mission, near the Missouri state line | Kansas |
| Kansas becomes a state | ||
| August 14, 1855 | In response to their explusion by the pro-slavery forces in the Kansas legislature, free-soilers hold a convention in Lawrence. | Kansas |
| September 5, 1855 | Free-staters meet in Big Springs, Kansas to elect representatives to a constitutional convention in Topeka | Kansas |
| Kansas becomes a state | ||
| October 23, 1855 | Topeka Convention convened | Kansas |
| November 2, 1855 | Topeka Constitution adopted by the Free Staters | Kansas |
| Kansas becomes a state | ||
| November 21, 1855 December 4, 1855 |
Wakarusa War between the Freestaters in Lawrence and proslavery forces surrounding the town | |
| Bleeding Kansas | ||
| December 15, 1855 | "Topeka Constitution" is ratified | |
| Kansas becomes a state |
| Century | 1700's | 1800's | 1900's | 2000's | ||||||||
| Decade | 1800's | 1810's | 1820's | 1830's | 1840's | 1850's | 1860's | 1870's | 1880's | 1890's | ||
| Year | 1850 | 1851 | 1852 | 1853 | 1854 | 1855 | 1856 | 1857 | 1858 | 1859 | ||
Battles | Places | Events by year | Events by date | Feature Stories |
Bookstore | Links | Who We Are |