1861 in the United States

← →

Events from the year 1861 in the United States.

This year marked the beginning of the American Civil War.

Map of the secession crisis of 1860 to 1861
Confederate States of America
March 4: Abraham Lincoln becomes the 16th U.S. president
Hannibal Hamlin becomes the 15th U.S. vice president
April 12–14: Battle of Fort Sumter , the beginning of the American Civil War
July 21: Confederate victory at the First Battle of Bull Run
November 6: Jefferson Davis elected President of the CSA