Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
President-elect Abraham Lincoln travels to New York City, where he receives a lukewarm reception amid rising tensions over secession. Lincoln then continues on to New Jersey and Philadelphia.
New Confederate President Jefferson Davis works to build the executive department from scratch, emphasizing moderation by selecting some appointees who actually opposed secession. Davis also initiates efforts for national defense, diplomacy, and securing foreign recognition for the Confederacy.
Some 10,000 people attend the inauguration of Jefferson Davis as the first president of the Confederate States of America. The ceremony features a grand procession and an inaugural address emphasizing independence.
President-elect Abraham Lincoln’s journey to Washington includes stops in Cleveland and Buffalo, where he acknowledges enthusiastic crowds. Once in the New York capital of Albany, Lincoln receives the first warning that his trip to Washington may be more dangerous than expected.
As states like Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, and Arkansas grapple with unionist and secessionist sentiments, elections reveal a trend toward union support, despite pressures for secession. The Choctaw Nation also contemplates neutrality amid rising tensions.
President-elect Abraham Lincoln travels through Ohio and curiously refuses to acknowledge that a sectional crisis is taking place. Critics question his integrity in addressing the situation.