Exploring the most important 55 months in American history
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.
Alexander H. Stephens is sworn in as the first vice president of the new Confederate States of America. The Provisional Congress assembles at Montgomery, Alabama, and approves measures establishing peaceful relations with the United States.
Abraham Lincoln bids farewell to the people of Springfield as he and his family begin their trip to Washington. Lincoln’s journey through Illinois and into Indiana is marked by enthusiastic receptions and multiple speeches emphasizing unity and the importance of preserving the Union.
Jefferson Davis leaves for the Confederate capital at Montgomery, Alabama, to become the first president of the new Confederate States of America.
Delegates to the Montgomery convention adopt a constitution, a Congress, and a chief executive. Moderates are generally chosen as officeholders rather than the extremists who worked hardest for secession. The formation of a new southern government takes just five days.
The Lincolns host their final reception in their Springfield home as they prepare for their move to Washington. President-elect Lincoln expresses ambivalence about leaving his home and reflects on the daunting challenges that lay ahead.