The Day Freedom Triumphed: The Abolition of Slavery in the United States
On December 6, 1865, the United States reached a pivotal moment in its history. The ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution formally abolished slavery, forever changing the course of the nation. This monumental achievement marked the culmination of decades of struggle by abolitionists and the end of a brutal institution that had defined […]
Down the Rabbit Hole: The Day Lewis Carroll Submitted ‘Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland’
On November 26, 1865, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, better known by his pen name Lewis Carroll, submitted the manuscript of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland for publication. The whimsical tale, inspired by a storytelling session with the Liddell sisters, especially Alice Liddell, would go on to become one of the most cherished works in English literature. This […]
Mary Surratt Executed
On July 7, 1865, Mary Surratt became the first woman executed by the U.S. federal government. She was convicted of taking part in the conspiracy to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. Surratt’s execution remains controversial, with debates about the extent of her involvement and the fairness of her trial. Her death marks a notable moment in […]
Salvation Army Founded
On July 5, 1865, the Salvation Army was founded by William Booth in London, England. Initially called the Christian Mission, the organization was renamed in 1878 to reflect its structured, military-style approach to providing aid. The Salvation Army began as a movement dedicated to bringing salvation to the poor, destitute, and hungry by meeting both […]
Juneteenth – Abolition of Slavery Announced in Texas
On June 19, 1865, the abolition of slavery was announced in Texas, the last state in the Confederacy where emancipation was proclaimed, two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. This day, now celebrated as Juneteenth, has become an annual holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States, symbolizing freedom […]
End of the American Civil War
On June 2, 1865, the American Civil War effectively came to an end when Confederate General Edmund Kirby Smith, commander of Confederate forces west of the Mississippi, signed the surrender terms offered by Union negotiators. While President Jefferson Davis was captured and the better-known General Robert E. Lee had surrendered his army in April, Smith’s […]
Lincoln Assassin John Wilkes Booth Dies
John Wilkes Booth, the actor who assassinated President Abraham Lincoln, met his own end on April 26, 1865, 12 days after the tragic event that shocked the nation. Cornered in a barn in Virginia, Booth’s dramatic demise brought closure to one of the most tumultuous chapters in American history. This moment not only marked the […]
Abraham Lincoln is Shot by John Wilkes Booth
On April 14, 1865, tragedy strikes as actor and Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth shoots President Abraham Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Lincoln, beloved for his leadership during the Civil War and efforts to abolish slavery, succumbs to his injuries the following day, plunging the nation into mourning and altering the course of […]
Robert E. Lee Surrenders to Union General Ulysses S. Grant
Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrenders to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, effectively ending the American Civil War. Lee’s surrender symbolizes the collapse of the Confederacy and paves the way for the reunification of the United States after years of conflict and division.
The United States Congress Passes the 13th Amendment, Abolishing Slavery
A monumental moment in American history occurred on January 31st, 1865, as the United States Congress passed the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, officially abolishing slavery.