civil war turning points
CIVIL WAR (A discussion of the turning points and major events) In this paper I shall discuss four points concerning the civil war in detail. The first issue addressed will be Professor McPherson’s arguments in the text Ordeal by Fire and whether Antietam and Emancipation, Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga, represent the three critical turning points in the Civil War. Second, I will rank the three points from greatest to least in terms of their importance on the Civil War. Third, I will add a fourth event I feel was significant to the turning of the war. Antietam and Emancipation The Union and Confederate Armies met at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland, on September 17, 1862, in the bloodiest single day of the war: more than 4,000 died on both sides and 18,000 were wounded. McClellan failed to break Lee's lines or press the attack, and Lee was able to retreat across the Potomac with his army intact. The professor suggests that this may have been the major turning point in the Civil War. I would have to agree, had the confederates been successful in this battle it is quite possible the European nation would have become involved in the war. The European nations had a special interest in the war from a financial
Lee’s inability to take Antietam may have been the actual defeat of the Confederate army. While every moment in history is important to the coming moments, none were more important than the moments discussed supra. Had McClellan been elected to the presidency, there is a high degree of likelihood that the fighting would have decreased in its intensity, prolonging the war. Lee had suffered his first defeat, this would not have been so important if it where not for the numbers of casualties the South suffered in this battle. The Confederates where hoping for financial or military support, but I do not think that Great Britain was willing to come back to North America and fight another war. First, let us start with the obvious. I believe that I have discussed them in the order of importance, however, I am sure that many historians would challenge my stance and denote the Gettysburg, Vicksburg, and Chattanooga battles as the main turning point in the war. I believe that they are significant only in their magnitude of destruction of the Confederate Army. History has shown us that psychological warfare is an invaluable tool, Sherman knew this as a key to victory. Not only were they now unable to get supplies across the Mississippi river, but they where now fighting the war on two fronts. The demoralization of the Southern citizen, and the effect on the rebel solder as he tried to fight, knowing his family to be in peril, was more of a killing machine than Grants entire Army of the Potomac. The people needed a will to fight, they had previously been given a reason. There are several reasons why these three battles are so significant to the Civil War. One thing which made the Confederate so tough in battle, was the fight for their new country and their willingness to endure.
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