The 3 Turning Points essays

The 3 Turning Points essays Did the South have a chance to win the Civil War 1861-1865? In his book entitled Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era, author James M. McPherson believes that there were three major turning points that concluded a Union victory. 1. The Northern Victory at the Battle of Antietam/Sharpsburg in 1862. 2. Northern victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in July 1863. 3. The re-election of President Lincoln, 1864. Why was the Northern victory at Antietam/ Sharpsburg the first major turning point for the Norths victory of the Civil War? The North had struggled through the early part of the war without even coming close to a battle victory. The battle at Antietam/Sharpsburg wasnt actually a total victory, but it was a tactical draw, which neither side was clearly a winner. Yet, this tactical draw held positive consequences for the Union. The failure of Lees army to clearly win on Northern soil, prevented the CSA from gaining the much needed foreign support. This victory also gave President Lincoln the opportunity to present his Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln presented his Proclamation in January 1863, to show that the Northern war objectives were to emancipate the slaves and reunify the Union. The Northern victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg in July of 1863 proved to be another turning point of the war, which again favored the Union. Lees march into Pennsylvania was his second attempt to take parts of Northern soil. Lee was defeated at Gettysburg and turned tail back to Virginia. This was the CSAs last attempt to take Northern lands. After being defeated at Gettysburg and U. S. Grant taking Vicksburg, MS, the south now had a to fight a defensive war. These victories gave the North the much needed hope for winning and it was the beginning of the end for the CSA. With the Election of 1864 approaching the CSA felt that they had one last chance to ...