72 thoughts on “Blog #44 – Most important turning point”

1. Cooper Peters-Wood December 12, 2012 at 3:48 pm

   The biggest and most important turning point in the Civil War was definitely the battle of Gettysburg. The battle at Gettysburg was the largest and deadliest conflict ever on the continent of North America. The Confederate States of America suffered huge losses and ended up losing over one third of their fighting force. Gettysburg also completely eliminated any chance of foreign interference in the war or foreign aid of the Confederacy. With the combined loss of men and the full lack of recognition from foreign powers, the Confederate States of America were dealt a death blow as a result of this battle. Their army was weakened so much that General Robert E. Lee was never able to go on an offensive campaign against the North ever again. The South also suffered the loss of many extremely valuable and irreplaceable leaders and generals during this battle. The battle of Gettysburg was also a major morale changer for the North. Northerners could now see victory in the distance, even though years of fighting were yet to come. The Confederate States of America started spiraling towards defeat as a direct result of this battle. They could never recover from the loss of so many soldiers, no chance of foreign recognition, and a new Northern moral that changed everything.
2. Kayla Sara Kapen December 12, 2012 at 4:34 pm

   I think that the most important turning point in the Civil War was the Battle of Antietam in 1862 because it stopped what could have been a potential disaster for many people in the north. The north had been going through many defeats on the eastern side so the Battle of Antietam was a major boost for them. There are many reasons why the Battle of Antietam is significant in the history of the Civil War. The first reason is that General George McClellan stopped General Robert E. Lee from entering the northern side of the United States. This had been Lee’s first attempt to enter but McClellan stopped him. Another reason that this was a major turning point in the Civil War was because of the Emancipation Proclamation being issued. When Lincoln issued it, he changed the course of the war from not just keeping the union together but also freeing the slaves. The Emancipation Proclamation was set in place on January 1, 1863. This allowed free blacks to join the Union army to fight for what they believed in. The Battle of Antietam was the most important turning point in the Civil War because it gave the war a new direction to go towards and it brought the north closer to victory.
3. Eleni Kondak December 12, 2012 at 4:53 pm

   Of the three turning points in the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg is the most important. Not only is it one of the most popular (and one of the most easily identifiable battles of the Civil War to the unspecified mind), the Battle of Gettysburg is the big turning of tides from the South to the North. Although the focus point of the war was altered during the battle of Antietam with the release of Emancipation Proclamation, the battle itself was not particularly influential, excepting the proof that McClellan was an incapable leader. Gettysburg, however, was a three day long, accidental, very bloody – but still victorious, nonetheless – feather in the cap of the Union (quite literally, in the case of Dawes’ Iron Brigade). Despite a few out-manned defeats, the Union managed to control, defend, and retain the high ground throughout the battle. Even in spite of disadvantages such as Sterling disregarding orders and, as a result, Meade dispatching reinforcements, the Union army continued to hold off the still empowered Confederates; crushing them back for every presented opportunity. The victory at Gettysburg, and then next to the Vicksburg victory, as well, it empowered the North – citizens and soldiers alike – that maybe they could actually win this war. And it had the opposite effect on the Southerners: they realized that they would have to get good or go home – no lucky lack of leadership in the opposition was going to save them now.
4. Amanda Burcroff December 12, 2012 at 5:06 pm

   The Battle of Gettysburg was the most important turning point of the Civil War because it was Lee’s best chance of winning, and he failed. The Battle of Gettysburg conclusively showed the European nations who previously were interested in helping the cotton-providing South that they had little chance of winning, so foreign aid for the South was out of the picture from then on. The battle also humbled Robert E. Lee enough that he did not go on the offensive again, which let the people of America know that the Union had the upper hand and the South was just fighting for its life. Before the battle, Lee seemed to be succeeding in his invasion of the North, but this battle turned the tables and left Lee fleeing with 2/3 of his army. The Battle of Gettysburg could have even been more successful if Meade had pursued Lee, but his choice not to lead to his dismissal by Lincoln. This battle lead to Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address, and this momentous finale to the victory greatly boosted the morale of the North. Although the Southerners did not consider this victory as decisive and important as the North did, this “setback” isolated them from aid and left them only really going downhill from that point. The Battle of Gettysburg may not have been the end of the war, but in hindsight those three days set a precedent for the rest of the war.
5. Carolyn Dimitry December 12, 2012 at 5:14 pm

   The election of 1864 was the critical turning point in the Civil War. Had Lincoln not won the election the Democrats would have taken peace in whatever form it would taken. Lincoln was set on of both emancipation and war until victory; the democrats were not so set in their ways. It could very well be that they would have taken peace over unification and we would still be two separate countries. There was a certain ambiguity about the democratic candidates, General George McCellan, plans as too ending the war. It is unknown if he would have taken peace, or pushed for war until victory. And the issue of slavery was similarly unclear. Lincoln made sure that the 13th amendment made it through the House and onto ratification, and that our country remained one. Before the civil war, people would say “the United States are”. After the war it became “The United States is”. Lincoln was the drive behind our countries unification and had he not been re-elected he would not have been able to finish that job. McCellan would have undoubtedly taken the war in a different direct than Lincoln, and it’s unknown how that would have affected our country.
6. connor P. December 12, 2012 at 5:17 pm

   I believe that the most important turning point in the civil war was the battle of Gettysburg. The battle of Gettysburg was important to me because it stopped the confederate advance into the north completely preventing them from getting the slip on Washington dc. This battle is known as the bloodiest battle in all of civil war history. The total casualties on both sides exceeded over 50000 soldiers. This was one of the important battles that made sure the confederates would stay on the defensive because this would be the second failure in the north for the confederates. This also completely crushed all remaining confederates morals because of how many people thought general lees army was invincible and the best of the best and here they are losing a major conflict. This battle also raised the union troops moral because before this battle the union was losing battle after battle after battle and the troops were starting to quit. This not only raised their morals but also helped more volunteers join the army because of the thought that they could win. Another reason I believe this is important is because since the confederacy lost one third of their army during the battle, they would soon run out of troops and weapons and start to starve. They would return to the south as an exhausted and hungry army almost making their combat skills null and void. And that is why I believe this battle was the most important turning point.
7. Alex.V December 12, 2012 at 5:19 pm

   Why are wars started? Land? Power? To crush you enemies with cannon balls? Wars lead up to the main battle that decides who will win the war. I believe that this was the battle of Gettysburg. It was what the north needed to get the confidence to destroy the confederacy. This battle was started by the Confederacy which was not a smart move on their part. They were out numbered and out gunned, but General Lee had superior battle strategy, but when the war was over the south ended up on the losing end of this war. They lost a ton of their men, wasted supplies (because they didn’t win), and they lost their courage”(They never attacked the North again). The North knew that this was a sign that they were nearing the end of the war. With the south on the retreat, they could push them back as far as they wanted, because their supplies were crippled, and their troops were tired, meaning that the north had no boundary on what they could take. I believe that this was the norths realization that the south could not beat them, but because of Meade’s stupidity on not attacking them soon after the battle of Gettysburg, it mad it a lot longer war.
8. Aaron Walt December 12, 2012 at 5:22 pm

   The turning point #2 was the most important turning point of the civil war. The Battle Of Gettysburg, fought July 1-3 1863, is a very famous battle in the United States of America and arguably the most important one of the civil war. Union soldiers managed to hold off tough Confederate attacks as they held their positions at the tops of hills. Despite losing many men, the battle was considered a great success for the Union. This battle was also significant because it showed unsure Northerners and foreign people that there was no need to worry about the old Union. The Union had more support behind its back and because foreign countries abandoned any possibilities of supporting the Confederacy, they were officialy on there own. Its very difficult to fight a country when you are a young, poorly governed country, (Revolutionary War, anybody?) so Confederates quickly felt Northerners breathing down their neck. Finally, the Confederates never went on a major attack again after the Battle of Gettysburg. This allowed Union generals such as William Ticumseh Sherman to go parading around the South, burning and pillaging stuff like the Vikings. This would lead almost directly to the Union victory of the Civil War.
9. Carley Salerno December 12, 2012 at 5:31 pm

   While all of the turning points of the Civil War were crucial to its outcome, I think that the Battle of Antietam was the most crucial turning point. At the time the Confederacy was on a roll; throughout the summer of 1862, the Union had been suffering loss after loss – especially in their attempts to invade and capture Richmond. Morale and spirits were low, and the Union’s victory didn’t seem likely. Due to some dumb luck and the advantage of numbers and fighting defense, the battle ended in a draw. The Union was the decided winner because Lee retreated first. It wasn’t a fantastic Union victory like Gettysburg, but compared to the continuous losses, it boosted the Union morale and weakened the Confederacy. The Confederacy not only lost the battle and its progress into the North, but also lost some support from Britain and France. The most important outcome of the battle, though, was Lincoln finally released the famous Emancipation Proclamation. It put the war into a completely new light, switching the focus from keeping the country unified to getting rid of slavery. If the Union had lost this battle, the Confederates would have kept advancing in the North and captured more major cities, and the Union probably would have lost the war. The Union win and the new objective brought new motivation to the soldiers, pushing them to continue to serve their Union.
10. Zach Van Faussien December 12, 2012 at 5:40 pm

    I think the Battle of Gettysburg was the most important turning point of the war. I think this for two reasons. The first one is that it completely shifted the momentum of the war. Gettysburg was the bloodiest battle on North American soil ever. The confederates lost 1/3 of their best army and it also made the confederacy check themselves after they had been destroying us prior. The Union had only won one other battle before Gettysburg, Battle of Antietam. This battle also proved to the rest of the world that the Union was the real deal and they aren’t to be taken lightly. It also kind of backed up the Emancipation Proclamation, which was viewed by the rest of the world as a joke. The second reason is because of the unimportance of the Battle of Antietam. Even though Antietam was a major turning point, it isn’t as important as Gettysburg because it didn’t finish the job. After Gettysburg, Robert Lee never went on the attack again because his numbers were so small. After Antietam, Lee’s numbers were small again, but McClellan failed to take advantage of that. Instead of chasing after Lee and possibly ending the war, he was satisfied with just a tiny victory. After Gettysburg, the Union started to keep pounding the Confederates on their own soil. Which affected the outcome of the war.
11. Shashank R. December 12, 2012 at 5:59 pm

    I believe that the most important Turning point in the war from these three has to go to Gettysburg. The battle of Gettysburg. I feel as though it is the most important because of the emotional and physical toll it took on The Union and on the Confederates. The amount of blood loss on both sides was a showing on how gruesome the war has gotten. This war showed not only the country but also the world on how serious the issues of government and society in the US were at the time. This was also a staple battle throughout the war and is why I believe is the most important because of the fact that it was that it was the union’s coming out party in the war, with its first win. This battle was on epic proportions because of its causalities and the toll it set on the south was carried into the future. Such as the mindset of the Legend General Lee who just was a flat out winner before this battle. General lees ego or conscious was affected with a constant strain of anxiety of the toll of Gettysburg. Lee’s war strategy was never too offensive again. The physical aspect of what had happened in this battle is the numbers itself. As a significant part of the confederate army was dead, wounded, sick, or severely fatigued, the confederate army had in an emotional and physical sense had depleted. Empirically armies who have taken beating s in a war and morale, composure, and physical status are compromised for the worst… It doesn’t turn out so good for them and who they are fighting for. The battle of Gettysburg is an iconic part of the Civil war, and is remembered as a intricate part to the war especially because of the complications it would have had if the other side had come out victorious…
12. MBR1 December 12, 2012 at 6:00 pm

    I think that Election of 1864 was the most significant of the three turning points. I think that this election was so important because the candidate elected would determine whether we continued on with this war or stopped fighting and went on peacefully. Like Mr. Wickersham said, “If McClellan had won this election, who knew what would have happened? Would there have been peace after four long bitter years with nothing to show for it except the dead and injured? “. We really don’t know what would have happened, but one thing we can say almost for sure is that if McLellan won, much less emphasis would have been out on making sure that the war only ended once slavery was demolished. Lincoln and the other republicans were sure that the end of the war would coincide with the end of slavery. Unlike the democrats (especially the peace democrats), the Republicabs weren’t willing to make treaties or negotiate. This was very important, and this is one reason that Lincoln was such an important president; he was so steadfast toward the issue if slavery. That is why I believe that without Lincoln winning the election of 1864, the end of the civil war could have been a lot different.
13. Becky Simonov December 12, 2012 at 6:27 pm

    The Civil War marked a point in American History that would forever change the fate of the United States. However, there are certain points during this horrific war that, if they had had a different result, would have completely altered the fate of the war. The most significant of these turning points was the Battle of Antietam. With the Confederates invading the north, an opportunity for the rebels to both gain international recognition and support as well as to conquer Maryland. By this point in the war, northern morale was low with the Confederate army appearing invincible with Robert E. Lee at its head. By defeating the Confederate army in the Battle of Antietam, northern morale was boosted and the south was forced to retreat, losing the opportunity to gain Maryland as well as European support, that of which could have greatly helped the underdog south. Arguably the most significant result of the battle, however, was Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, which proclaimed all African Americans in the Confederacy to be free, inciting a chain of slaves freeing themselves and joining the Union army. The Emancipation Proclamation made abolition a central goal of the war and with it, made this a fight not just for unity, but for freedom as well.
14. Sarah F December 12, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    I believe that the Battle of Gettysburg was the most important turning point in the Civil War. If the Confederacy had won this battle, then the south may very well of gone on past the point of no return and crippled the Union immensely. The Union coming out of the battle halted Confederate advance proved to the country that the Union was worth fighting for. With the confederacies defeat, there was no longer any hope of foreign aid for the southern states. A large portion of Lee’s army was crippled in this battle, Lee never went on the offensive again for the rest of the war because of this. The Union soldiers hope rose as they heard of Lee’s surrender on the battlefield, and even though Meade didn’t deliver the final blow that could’ve shortened the years of war, they saw the path that led to the end of the civil war in their favor. The confederates couldn’t afford to go into battles this large again because the lose of 1/3 of their army was a huge blow. They also couldn’t lose as many valuable leaders and generals as they had in the Battle of Gettysburg.
15. Gabe Mann December 12, 2012 at 7:14 pm

    Gettysburg is the important turning event hands down and for good reason. Without the crucial victory the Union received and enormous boost of morale. The Union if they had lost would have probably suffered a lot especially with the huge loss of soldiers plus more if they had actually lost. This would have crippled the North and give a huge boost too Southern morale where they would have taken the next course of action which would have probably been too continuing their invasion of the north its hard too see Robert E Lee losing another battle if he had one at Gettysburg the Union would have had too reinforce their troops which probably meant taking some from D.C., with lees amazing battle tactics, a Southern victory at Gettysburg could have broken off into two paths making the war longer or a southern victory of the Union and which is highly unlikely with the unions huge of amount of manufacturing capacity and the huge number of troops at their disposable. So really the battle of Gettysburg was the most important turning point the south defeat ended invasions of the north which pretty much meant a Union victory. But if the South won the effects could have been disastrous for the north. Even some border states could have seen the Southern victory as a chance to aid the Confederates which could have decided the victor of the war.
16. Michael Shi December 12, 2012 at 7:21 pm

    The most important turning point in the civil war was the Battle of Gettysburg. The Union seemed to be behind in the months leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg and the Confederacy had decided to go on the offensive for the first time, meeting the Union in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Union had low morale after their previous two defeats and if the Confederacy had won the Battle of Gettysburg, they would be in a position to win the war. The Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg crushed the morale of Confederate troops and crippled the Confederacy’s army so much that it would never go on the offensive again. More importantly, this guaranteed that the South would not receive foreign aid, which would have almost secured a Confederacy victory. The first time the Confederacy went on the offensive, they were crushed in the largest battle on the North American continent. The Confederacy now looked weak in comparison to the Union and would receive no outside help even though it was withholding cotton from the rest of the world. Union morale increased greatly and the momentum of the war shifted towards the north for the remainder of the war. The Battle at Gettysburg essentially secured the eventual Union victory.
17. Tamia Waller December 12, 2012 at 7:43 pm

    The Battle of Gettysburg
    The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the most prominent battles that led to the result of the civil war. The battle took place in Pennsylvania and the Union was declared the winner. There were hundreds of wounded and dead soldiers in the Battle of Gettysburg. It is considered as one of the most bloodied battles in the history of the United States. Northerners were growing more and more impatient with the war and wanted to end it. It had dragged on for years and most Northerners didn’t care about the South. Lincoln was in danger of losing the 1864 election. Winning the battle bought Lincoln reelection and killed many Southern soldiers that were irreplaceable. Lee was considered unconquerable by most Southerners, but when the North shattered him his Southern optimism was destroyed and lines all across the south began to collapse. Lee risked a lot by penetrating the Army of Virginia further north than he had ever pressed before. He extended his supply lines from Virginia into Pennsylvania and had not tasted defeat so he felt the time was right to attempt to split the Union in half and perhaps drive all the way to New York. After Gettysburg, the South never won another major battle (except some other battle, but that’s not important because I can’t remember the name and I need more words so I’m just gonna talk about random stuff). Also, the South never again was able to mount a major invasion of the North. Perhaps most importantly, the Southern defeat at Gettysburg, and the loss of Vicksburg the next day, doomed all Southern efforts to secure recognition from European governments. This insured eventual defeat. The casualties were so great that never again did the Confederate Army possess the moral and physical strength to invade the Union. Gettysburg was Lee’s first major battlefield defeat and shattered the legend of indestructibility that had built up around himself and his Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. As President Abraham Lincoln has said in his speech, the battle changed the meaning of why wars should be embarked on. That’s it. I’m too tired. I can’t type 5,000 words that’s not fair!
18. Sofia Capito December 12, 2012 at 7:47 pm

    The battle of Gettysburg was the most important turning point of the war. The south was planning this battle to be the last of the civil war. Lee was expecting to win the whole war in this battle, and the outcome of it could have been very different. It was the last time that Lee was close to winning the war. This battle strongly shifted the course of the war to being in favor of the north. The battle of Gettysburg was very important because it was a major victory for the north and saved the north from losing the war. If the south had won, the civil war would have been over, and America would be very different today. Slavery would have continued, and the reconstruction would not have been the same. Other things would have happened, changing the future of the country. How we live today may be very different if the Battle of Gettysburg had ended differently. The election was a major turning point also, but it was not as important as Gettysburg. I think this because it did not change the course of the war as much. Since Lincoln won, the war did not change. Everything continued the same way as it have been going. Maybe if another candidate had won, the turning point would have been much more important. Therefore, I think the Battle of Gettysburg was the most important, especially because it could have been the end of the war.
19. Daniel Oleynik December 12, 2012 at 7:55 pm

    The Election of 1864 was a major turning point deciding the civil war. Even though it was the last one, and seems like it would create the least effect, the opposite happened. If it wasn’t for Lincoln winning the election, we would have never won the Civil War, and the South would still be a separate nation, regardless of the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg.
    The Election of 1864 outweighs both battles for a few reasons. First, the candidate running against Lincoln was former General McClellan, who lost almost every battle he went into. McClellan was very inexperienced and had the wrong strategy to win the civil war. Even though, the Battle of Antietam and Gettysburg were huge, there were still more battles to come for about 2 years, and the US couldn’t lose every one of them.
    Second, if McClellan had won the election of 1864, because of his faulty military strategy, we would have lost all later battles the US fought in. Even with our major victories at the Battle of Antietam and Gettysburg, if we had lost almost all, if not all our battles from 1864 on, the chances of winning for the South would increase. I presume that there would be more deaths too, because the war would be prolonged as the South gained favor in the war, and more innocent men would be killed in battle.
    Compared to the election of 1864, neither the Battle of Antietam nor the Battle of Gettysburg were huge turning points. If McClellan had won the election, we would have lost the war, lost more innocent lives and kept slavery in the nation (considering McClellan was pro-slavery). The election of 1864 far outweighed both battles and was the most important turning point and historical moment of that decade.
20. Isabelle Molnar December 12, 2012 at 8:01 pm

    I believe that the most important turning point of the Civil War was the Battle of Gettysburg. It was the first impactful victory for the Union and lowered the confidence of the Confederacy, who vowed not to fight on the offensive side as he had done before. The entire war was switched around. The past three years had won battle after battle for the Confederacy, but just this one battle made all the difference for the next two years of the war. It gave the North more faith in their army and earned much support from the citizens, including those of the border-states. This battle primarily determined who would have the upper hand in this war. It also marked the bloodiest war ever to have occurred. The Confederacy lost 1/3 of their army, making them be slightly more careful in the battles to come. On top of the Union outnumbering the Confederate Army greatly, their high confidence they had taken away from the battle of Gettysburg helped them in future battles. The victory won by the Union also gave Lincoln the confidence to shine more light on the issue of slavery. Before he was hesitant because he thought it would make the border- states side with the victorious Confederates, but now that the Union was winning he felt safe to act. The Battle of Gettysburg was a huge turning point, and turned the Civil War in a completely different direction.
21. Kelsey Nowak December 12, 2012 at 8:02 pm

    In my opinion, the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, was the turning point of the Civil War in which the favor turned over to the Union’s side. Even though this was the bloodiest battle of the war, it also gave some of the results that the Union needed in order to win. McClellan stepped up and he stopped the invasion of Lee’s army into Maryland. This was extremely important because if Lee had managed to get ahold of Maryland, then the capitol, Washington D.C, would be surrounded by Confederate forces. Also, since the Confederates lost this battle, they lost recognition from both Britain and France, subsequently losing their aid in this war. In addition, the north had succeeded in stopping the Confederates from invading any farther. Another important point about the Union winning this battle was that this win gave Abraham Lincoln the right time to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. If this battle had not been won, then that Proclamation may not have been issued. By announcing this, Lincoln changed the scope of the war into one that was not only about keeping the whole Union together, but also about the abolition of slavery. That’s what that document really did. It didn’t really help to free the slaves that much. It only freed those who were in rebel territories that the Union controlled. However, the EP gave other slaves hope, and those who were free now supported Lincoln even more by enlisting to join the war because they were now fighting for something that meant something to them. Free blacks didn’t want to fight a war that just meant slavery would exist afterwards no matter what; they needed the word of Lincoln that slavery would not exist after the war if the Union won. So, the battle of Antietam was a turning point because it made Britain and France back off from helping the Confederates, it kept the Confederates from invading the north anymore, and it gave Lincoln the perfect time to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.
22. Jenna Weed December 12, 2012 at 8:05 pm

    I consider the most important turning point of the Civil War to be the Election of 1864. This was the final turning point of the war and confirmed the North’s advantages and looming victory. Republicans started internal party conflicts because some didn’t fully trust Lincoln’s abilities as commander in chief and wanted him out of office. Other Republicans began accusing Democrats of treason on conspiracy theories of supporting the Confederacy. Also, a few tried making peace negotiations with Confederate officials, but Lincoln did not support this cause. Lincoln’s terms for peace, complete restoration of peace and the abandonment of slavery, were very clear. Republicans and Congress also did not approve of Lincoln’s plans for reconstruction of the Union. The complication of his “Proclamation of Amnesty and Reconstruction” was tangled up in the pre-election drama. It was also very clear that the President of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis, would refuse these terms. The Democrats nominated former General George Meade who opposed emancipation but wanted peace. Things weren’t looking brightly for the Lincoln administration, but General William Sherman’s victory in Atlanta and General Philip Sheridan’s victory in the Shenandoah Valley turned the hope for a victorious Union around. Lincoln ended up winning the election with the backing of all but three Northern states and a 212 to 21 Electoral College votes and fifty-eight percent of the popular vote in his favor. This reelection sealed the fate of the slavery and the Confederate States of America. On January 31, 1865, the House passed the 13th Amendment, the abolishment of slavery and involuntary servitude. On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the war conflict. I believe this is the most important turning point because it solidified the outcome of the war. Lincoln had momentum going in ending the war, and a change in the presidential office may have upset this momentum and changed the course and outcome of the war. It was the final key turning point of the Civil War, and wouldn’t have been successful without Lincoln. I think it is more important than other key turning points, like the Battles of Antietam and Gettysburg, because they did not seal finality of the North’s victory like the Election of 1864 did. They both turned the tide toward the North’s side, however, the tides eventually turned back to favor the South throughout the war. The Election of 1864 was the most important turning point in the Civil War, and would not have possible without the great Abraham Lincoln.
23. Cameron_S. December 12, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    I think the most important turning point of the war is the battle of Gettysburg; it was a hugely important and well needed victory on behalf of the union. Gettysburg being the largest also created the largest change, by crippling the confederacy’s best soldiers and ending Lee’s offensive attacks on the north, the war seemed to be at its climax. The Battle of Gettysburg could not have come at a better time for the north, with their poor moral and lack of a decisive victory. Another reason to why Gettysburg was the climax to the Civil War is how much resources the confederacy lost, their foreign helpers and a staggering 1/3 of their best soldiers the confederacy was definitely losing ground , literally and metaphorically. Dealt a huge blow as the confederacy did on their momentum, the ball was now in the union’s court, with their new found momentum they temporarily had a huge advantage over the rebels. Now you could debate that Antietam or Lincoln’s reelection could be the turning point but I disagree I believe that these events arranged much like the plot of a story with the rising action(Antietam) the climax (Gettysburg) and the falling action ( Lincoln’s reelection). Gettysburg was the turning point for union success and I think was the most important turning point of the war
24. Monique Hakam December 12, 2012 at 8:20 pm

    I think the most important turning point was the Battle of Gettysburg. This is because this is the point where the Union started being victorious, and so many people in the North started to feel more hopeful for the future.
    Without in, Southerner “rebels” might have thought they were going to win the war, and so they would continue the war with high morals. And with high morals, it’s hard to be defeated.
    It’s especially important that General Meade beat General Lee, because I think Lee was probably the most important Southern leader to beat; almost like the leader. With his army half gone, and sick, it was going to be hard for the Confederates to win, especially because some considered Lee’s army to be the best of them all. So this also demoralized people about the Southern rebels winning the war.
    This battle was also important because of the many casualties. Before this battle, many people didn’t understand the full importance of this war, and how it had truly divided the nation. In fact, they probably didn’t even realize war could be that bad. But once they saw how many soldiers died in battle, they realized how necessary it was for them to fight for their beliefs. This could be another reason as the why the soldiers decided to vote for Lincoln in the second election.
    So all in all, the Battle of Gettysburg was the most important turning point because it was the point in the war where the Union felt more hopeful as to the outcome of the war. If they had continued to get beaten by the Confederates, not only would their armies have suffered, but so would have their morals, and they might have even lost the entire war altogether.
25. Amber Abboud December 12, 2012 at 8:29 pm

    The major turning point of the Civil War was the battle of Antietam. This devastating battle to both sides was incredibly important to the war between north and south. The north’s victory in this battle was critical for their victory of the Civil War. They were defending Maryland from the confederate’s attack. This was crucial because if the South had seized the state, the Union would have lost their capital. Let’s take a step back and think about this for a second. Imagine that you are in a Civil War within your own country. There had been more than twenty three thousand casualties in this one battle alone. And if the enemy wins, he’ll take over your capital. How would you react? I’d imagine one would feel a sense of hopelessness. The capture of a capital was one of the universal signs of defeat. Had the southern general Robert E. Lee been able successfully carry out their plans, the north couldn’t have been able to win the Civil War. The defeat at Antietam had caused European powers back out of defending the Confederate Sates of America, because they did not want to loose. That extra bit of support was a big help in the financial aid of their war, and now bam it’s gone.
26. Maggie Hammond December 12, 2012 at 8:31 pm

    Three days of battle in a small town in Pennsylvania led to the most casualties in the war, with a possible total of 48,000 casualties between both the Union and Confederate sides. This battle was a main turning point in the war, and can be described as the “climax”. When the battle of Gettysburg occurred and news was heard that the Union had victory, the South was very quiet the same. It did not have the same confidence and assurance of victory as before, and the generals of the Confederate army never were as risky or pursuing. If the Confederates had succeeded in the battle of Gettysburg, their army would have pursued to the Union capitol, Washington D.C, and would have captured the head quarters of the Union. Meade, the general in charge of the Union troops in the battle of Gettysburg, knew that this was an all-or-nothing battle, and had to perform their best, or all of the Union would fall. Once the battle of Gettysburg occurred, too many Confederate troops were hurt to have a successful troop. Although this battle did not end the war, it did create the Union to have the ultimate victory overall. Ending on Independence Day, 1863, this day was known all around America, and helped pursue freedom to slaves and equal rights for all.
27. Zach Resnick December 12, 2012 at 8:34 pm

    In my opinion, turning point number one had the biggest impact and was the most important out of the the three turning points for various reasons. These reasons are mainly based on the Emancipation Proclamation and all of the casualties. Given the fact that there were twenty-three thousand casualties and at the point was more than all the wars they had combined is pretty important. There’s a reason some say it was the bloodiest war in American history and that is a good reasoning. The Emancipation Proclamation had a huge impact on not just the war but American history as a whole. The fact that freed slaves at the time could fight with the union was very impactful and helped the Union. These freed slaves had the drive to fight for the freedom which gave the Union a slight advantage. With the memories of the grueling labor in the minds of the freed slaves, the Union had troops that were wiling to go through hell and back for their freedom. With the Emancipation Proclamation and all of the casualties, it is hard to give a strong reasoning on why turning point number one wouldn’t be the most important. With turning point number one the Union had all of the momentum and no matter how long it lasted, it gave them a good boost.
28. Ethan Carrick December 12, 2012 at 8:34 pm

    All three of the turning points listed did change the mood of the country, but I think that the most important one was the Battle of Antietam. Before this battle took place the Union had already lost many battles trying to invade Richmond. After many unsuccessful attacks, the Army of the Potomac (led by General George McClellan) retreated back to D.C. while Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia (ANV) brought the fight to Maryland and Pennsylvania with the hopes of taking Baltimore, Philadelphia, or D.C. By a mere chance of luck some Union soldiers, in Maryland, came upon a paper filled with Lee’s battle plans. Unfortunately General McClellan waited too long to act against these plans so Lee was able to regroup in Sharpsburg, MD. McClellan’s plan was to attack simultaneously from 3 sides, but because of a lack of communication, the groups attacked at 3 different times: 6 am, 10 am, and 1 pm. After long and brutal fighting Lee and McClellan were at a draw, but McClellan was finally declared the winner because Lee’s ANV retreated from the battlefield. The ANV barely escapes, but McClellan doesn’t follow them. Despite McClellan and Lee being at a draw both sides had a huge # difference, the A of P had 70,000 men while the ANV had 45,000 men. At the end of the fighting over 6,000 men were killed along with the 23,000 men “lost in battle”. I think that this is the most important turning point because one, after it Lincoln releases the Emancipation Proclamation which changes the purpose of the war, two, it stopped the Confederate invasion of the North, and three, it drastically slowed down the foreign help that the Confederacy was getting from Britain and France.
29. alayna brasch December 12, 2012 at 8:38 pm

    I think the most important turning point in the civil war was the third turning point. I think this because there were many events that took place during this time that were very crucial to the civil war. Obviously Lincoln winning the election of 1864 was the most important because there were other nominees in the running that could have changed the total outcome of the war (and America’s future) if they had won the election. Like George McClellan. If he won, the would have ended without ending slavery. But the major thing that caused Lincoln to win was the capture of the confederate city Atlanta by Union general William T. Sherman in September. Northerners were becoming very weary of their chances in the war. So the capturing of Atlanta made them much more confident with their army and their chances of winning the civil war, which all resulted in Abraham Lincoln winning the election of 1864. These events eventually all lead to three things: the end of the war, the South surrendering, and the end of slavery.
30. Wiliam Schwartz December 12, 2012 at 8:49 pm

    I think Gettysburg was the most important turning point in the war. It finally ended Lee’s reign of military supremacy and it stopped the Confederates in their tracks. Unlike Antietam, this Union victory crippled the ANV so much that they could never start another offensive in the North. Probably the biggest implication of this battle was not physical, but the huge moral boost in the North. Without this battle the peace-seekers might’ve got their way and the whole history of our country could be shattered. Also, the battle showed that the North had the capability to defend itself well and had able leaders, although General Meade didn’t deliver the killing blow to Lee’s army in the weeks after the battle. The battle also sealed the door to any foreign powers that were thinking of providing aid to the Confederacy. To understand fully how much this battle changed the tide of the war, you need to know what was happening in the war up to this point. Before the battle there were terrible union losses in December, 1862 and March, 1863 and the Peace Democrats were ready to bail on the war and make peace with the Confederate States. Also, the Republicans were even starting to lose their vigor with the war and many wanted cabinet resignations. After this battle the fate of the Confederacy was sealed, their chance of foreign aid was put out, their main army was crippled, and the union morale was booming. This battle united the north and set the Confederate forces into disarray.
31. Sam Weed December 12, 2012 at 8:58 pm

    For me the most important turning point was the third and final one that we covered in class. This final turning point was by far the most important because it sent a strong and clear message to the south: we will win and we will take away your slaves. The previous two turning points dealt with war victories, however this was the only one that was relevant to the political side of the war. Yet, it is very important to remember why the war began in the first place: slavery (according to the north) and states rights (according to the south). The controversy in this election centered on whether or not to continue to the fight with the confederacy, because of the extensive amount of lives lost. However, the Union was nowhere near a clear consensus on what path it should venture down. The outcome of this particular election would determine whether or not to continue the fight as well as keep on track to full and complete emancipation. By the reelection of President Abraham Lincoln this showed the south that the Union was not going to give up without of fight, and in addition take away all that the south was built on. This turning point was the most significant because the election of 1864, which set the north on track for a complete southern destruction in both war and economy.
32. Elizabeth Lohr December 12, 2012 at 9:16 pm

    “My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that.” –Abraham Lincoln. This was Lincoln’s reply to Horace Greeley’s emancipation editorial in the New York Tribute. This was written before the Battle of Antietam, before Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln, if fact, had been working on the Emancipation Proclamation, he was just waiting for the right time to present it. In the meantime, he was making sure his ideas of fighting for Union were acknowledged. When the battle of Antietam came, it was Lincoln’s perfect opportunity to start preparations for his proclamation. Which would also change the issue each side was fighting for. When some of McClellan’s (Union) soldiers found Lee’s (Confederate) battle plans, McClellan stopped Lee at Antietam. Lee and his troops left the battlefield first, making seemingly a draw a “victory” for McClellan. With that “victory” Lincoln decided it was time for his Emancipation Proclamation. The proclamation stated that slaves in Confederate states still in rebellion would be free. Lincoln did not have the power to free the slaves in the Confederate states; however, he did have the power to do it in the Border States, where he refused to. When slaves in the Confederate states heard of this proclamation, they escaped to fight with the Union. The proclamation also changed the war because it ended all hope of negotiation. Therefore, the battle would proceed until one side came out victorious.
33. Bridget LePine December 12, 2012 at 9:19 pm

    In my opinion the election of 1864 was the major turning point of the Civil War. This was the major/ and final turning point of the war because slavery and the Confederacy came to an end short after this election. The election was between Republican nominee Abraham Lincoln (V.P Andrew Jackson) and Democratic nominee George McClellan. The peace democrats wanted to end the war and keep slavery, McClellan wanted to keep slavery too but he wanted to do so by winning the war. Abraham Lincoln on the other side was losing hope from the other union members; they weren’t doing to well in the war. Union general William T. Sherman captured the pivotal Confederate city of Atlanta in September; this gave the Union hope and momentum. Having this hope gained voters for Lincoln, and ultimately he won the election. He won the electoral vote 212 to 12. This is why I think this election was so influential to the civil war; it was what ultimately determined the outcome of the Civil War.
34. Kate Voigt December 12, 2012 at 9:20 pm

    The most important turning point in the civil war was the battle of Gettysburg on both a psychological and strategic level. For the Union, previous horrific losses in December of 1862 caused the government to persuade Lincoln to fire both of his generals. The confederacy, lead by General Lee, invaded the north going into Pennsylvania with 75,000 men, and were chased by union General George, which lead Lee to never go on the defensive strategy again. The ANV ended up loosing a third of its men, which leads to the psychological aspect of the battle. On the first day of battle, General Dos lost ten of his men who carried the flag. That in itself would scare a soldier and make him regret joining the iron brigade that the banner stood for. The women in the Civil War were the strongest and the most changed mentally during the war. The Civil War was the beginning of female nurses being used directly on site. These women saw things that are indescribable. The doctors as well were changed mentally, some even leaving with the earliest cases of PTSD. The evolutions of weapons lead to these wounds, physical and mental. The most shaking effect was the number of casualties. Eighteen thousand confederate deaths, and only eight thousand for the union. That amount of people, multiplied by the number of families without fathers, husbands, and sons.
35. Julia Berthel December 12, 2012 at 9:24 pm

    The most important turning point in the Civil War was the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Although all three of the turning points could have completely altered the outcome of the Civil War if they had not occurred, Gettysburg seemed to have the biggest influence on the defeat of the Confederacy. First of all, Gettysburg ended the looming threat of foreign intervention. If the Confederacy had received aide from Britain or France, the Union might have been defeated. However, since the Union and the Confederacy did not face foreign intervention and therefore were in a war that was one-on-one, the Union was able to use its economic and population advantages to have the edge needed to win the war. Next, Confederate General Lee never went on the offense again because his army was so crippled from this battle. Lee lost such a large percentage of his army that he was no longer in a position to take any risks, causing him to be on defense for the remainder of the war. As we know from playing or watching sports, one team can only be on defense for so long before the other team scores. Gettysburg made the Civil War a game where the odds were heavily against the South, where the South could only hold on for so long.
36. Safia Sayed December 12, 2012 at 9:27 pm

    In my opinion, the Battle of Antietam was the most important turning point in the Civil War. Prior to the Battle of Antietam, the North and the South were fighting over states’ rights. While many people were fighting in the war to either protect or destroy slavery, slavery had no official role in the war until after the Battle of Antietam, when Lincoln issued his Emancipation Proclamation. Lincoln needed a Union victory in order to pass the Emancipation Proclamation, and the Battle of Antietam provided that victory. By using his war powers to free slaves in rebelling slaves, Lincoln changed the entire purpose of the war. This changed the war drastically. Although critics complained that Lincoln only interfered with slavery where he could not interfere with it, states were gradually emancipated as they were taken over by Union soldiers. The war received even more support from abolitionists and other anti-slavery Americans. African-Americans, free men and slaves, actively joined the war effort. Slaves continued fleeing their Southern plantations for freedom in the North. After the Emancipation Proclamation, a greater effort was made to enlist African-Americans to the Union army. The Bureau of Colored Troops was established to recruit African-American soldiers. African-American soldiers made up a significant percentage of the Union army. Their help was needed to win the Civil War, and their incentive for fighting was slavery. Without the Emancipation Proclamation, approximately 179,000 black soldiers would have no reason to risk their lives in the Civil War. The Battle of Antietam paved the way for the Emancipation Proclamation, African-Americans in the army, a Union victory, and the Thirteenth Amendment. The battle also prevented a Confederate invasion of Maryland and foreign aid to the Confederacy- critical things for a Union victory.
37. Marie Suehrer December 12, 2012 at 9:28 pm

    Three days. Three days that would change the course of the war and the nation. Three days that were spent fighting. Fighting in a battlefield. A battlefield near Gettysburg. The first three days of July in the year 1862 in humid condition would cost countless lives of soldiers. The Battle of Gettysburg, as it is known in the North, was a major turning point. IN my opinion the most influential and most important turning point in the civil war. So far, the Confederates had only had one big loss against the Union at Antietam. The Army of the Potomac had just undergone two significant losses against the Confederate army. No one thought, that the Union had any chances of catching up with the South. The Union was not in to aggressive fighting, but preferred the defensive. In this battle their defenses played a major role. Settling on two hills and acquiring a fish hook setup, the Union had clear advantages. So it came that throughout three days of the bloodiest and deadliest battle ever fought in this continent would end in favor of…the UNION. Depressed from their “embarrassing” loss, the Confederate army of Lee changed their way of fighting. Never again they went on a offensive and never again did they have any foreign recognition. This meant major advantages to the Union, advantages that you can’t get every day. They were much easier able to now attack not just Lee’s army and link foreign nations to their side.
38. NOAH M. TURNER December 12, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    I believe the most important turning point in the Civil War was the first turning point, the Battle of Antietam. It was the Union’s first real significant victory, even though McClellan failed to go after Lee and possible end the war it was still considered a win for the North. They stopped the invasion and turned Lee back. Due to McClellan timid behaviors and failure to progress and go after Lee during this battle, lead Lincoln to realizing he needed a new General. However the victory that was accomplished was enough to be a turning point in the war, and gave the Union some momentum that it highly needed, rising the patriotic spirits of Northerners. This battle also diminished the South’s hope of receiving help from European powers such Britain and France, help that could of completely changed the tides of the war and make it possibly for the Confederacy to overwhelm their opponent. Part of Britain and Frances delay to aid is also due to the Emancipation Proclamation that Lincoln released a few days after the victory because he had been waiting for a big Union win. The proclamation might just be the most significant point in result to this battle. It completely changed the aspect of the war, providing the Union with a new edge it didn’t have before. For these reasons the most important point in the Civil War has to be the Battle of Antietam.
39. Antonio Delgado December 12, 2012 at 9:49 pm

    I believe that while The battle of Antietam and the 1864 Election were major turning points in the civil war, The Battle of Gettysburg was the largest of the three. My rationale against the Battle of Antietam is that it ended in a draw. had the Union gained any ground on the Confederacy, a case could be made for it. I also believe the Election of 1864 was less signifigant in the sense that the election took place close to the time of the end of the war. I believe that the Union felt that they were very close to winning the war at the time and re-elected Lincoln to simply deal the death-blow to the Confederacy’s hopes of successful secession, and that the only other option, McClellan, was proven a weak and passive leader. I believe the Battle of Gettysburg marks in facts and in blood where the Union really got their act together and began to fulfill their supporters expectations by defeating Robert E. Lee. This basically set the Union tone for the rest of the war, and led to their victory over the Confederacy.
40. Isabella Gutierrez December 12, 2012 at 9:58 pm

    I personally believe that the most important turning point in the war was the Battle of Gettysburg. The battle lasted 3 days and had the largest amount of casualties in the American Civil War. The battle was finally won after a series of many attacks. The army of the Potomac led by General Meade defeated General Lee’s confederate troops on the Gettysburg battlefield on the third day. I believe this was a major turning turning point because every move had to be planned out according to the best attack that would defeat the other side. It was a large battle and the leading Generals had to be tactful and make careful decisions as to where they should lead their troops. However we did have many harsh defeats throughout the 3 day fight. As I remember from the video one example was the Battle of Pickett’s Charge. However thanks to the Union we returned with a large attack of artillery fire that ranged over 3 miles. This ended up pushing the confederate soldiers farther back. The many battles in-between including the battle of Culp’s and Cemetery hill also pushed us closer toward victory. I also believe the battle of Gettysburg was even more interesting in that it was fought on a large variety of geography including the hills, the forests, the rivers, and mostly on the large open field. Overall however I believe the battle was won because we had strong armies and even stronger generals. With their smart decisions as to how to attack, this overall helped us to win Gettysburg. Although both sides lost many men, the Union Army was able to defeat the confederacy and it helped us overall win the war.
41. J'Laan Pittman December 12, 2012 at 10:10 pm

    I believe that the battle of Gettysburg was the major turning point in the war. It displayed for everyone that the North could hold its own. The passing of the Emancipation Proclamation had a good effect and a bad one. It allowed for black soldiers, but there were those who did not like the slaves being freed. The election of 1864 was not necessarily a turning point in my opinion. It was an important event but it didn’t signal the Union’s success. It only insured that the Republicans stayed in control of the Union. At the battle of Gettysburg both sides put up a big fight. In the beginning it looked as though the North would lose. Luckily they had the geographical advantage of the hill’s that surrounded Gettysburg. With a new General and well hidden fresh troops, the Union turned the battle to their favor. It rang in the hearts of the Union soldiers that victory was possible. Though bloody and gruesome, the battle was a sign the Lee’s army could be defeated. It boosted the Northerners Morale and their trust in Lincoln. This was very important because the people, sensing that the Union was not doing very well in the war, had started to lose faith in Lincoln. The battle had many good results that all shined on the Union.
42. Aliyah McIlwain December 12, 2012 at 10:11 pm

    I think turning point number 3 is most important. If McClellan had won the presidential election it could have changed the course of the war and maybe the country itself. The Democratic Party wanted an end to war without emancipation. Their nominee, McClellan, wanted a victory for the war still with no emancipation for slaves, going against what they wished for. In terms of the reuniting of the Union this may sound good if McClellan was a man for following through with his grand plan. Although, the people would have to put up with a longer, and because there would be no freeing of slaves- purposeless, war the Union might reunite; and that was good enough. Obviously the people didn’t agree because they elected Lincoln with an electoral vote of 212 to 21. Wining a purposeless war was not in the peoples wished; however, reuniting their nation and knowing that their sons, husbands, and brothers died for a reason was.
    Because of McClellan’s track record of abandoning brilliant plans in the mist of pressure on the battlefield, I doubt the people felt he would have been very different in the White House. If McClellan had won the election the nation may have fallen apart and this blog wouldn’t even be relevant; we could be living in Canada and studying Canadian history instead. Without Lincoln’s reelection in 1864 the battle of Gettysburg and Antietam could have been for nothing.
43. Ryan Jezierski December 12, 2012 at 10:20 pm

    Personally, I think that the biggest turning point in the Civil War was the the second turning point, The Battle at Gettysberg during July 1-3, 1863. I think this because it had done so much for the war. After the Army of the Potomac defeated General Lee’s army and the Confederacy in Pennsylvania, it’s almost as if the Army of the Potomac had gained confidence and it gave them the extra push to do better in the battle. Because the Army of the Potomac had won this battle, the Union Army was able to defend their positions from ferocious Confederate assaults and turn the tide of the war.

    The Union had went to battle which is known as one of the deadliest battles of the North American continent because of it’s large amount of casualties (53,000 people were considered casual deaths due to battle.) Because of this win for the Union, they had “slammed the door shut” on a chance for foreign recognition that the Confederacy had left.

    Robert E. Lee had never went on a major offensive again afterwards because of all the failure in his war. Coupled with the victory at Vicksburg, MIssissippi, Gettysberg he had dealt with the chances of the Confederacy of winning the war, going down the drain. They couldn’t continue to lose their men in war (1/3) so they had a special meaning on July 4, 1863 as the union headed towards victory.
44. Jalen December 12, 2012 at 10:21 pm

    All of the turning points discussed were all essential to Northern victory and the Southern demise. But to decide which one of the three is the most important, you need to establish what the civil war was being fought for. If you believe that it was to reconstruct the Union, it would be the battle of Gettysburg. The battle of Gettysburg crippled General Lee’s army so much that he was never able to launch another offensive. This “sealed” the fate of southern victory. With northern armies closing their grasp through the deep south, a southern victory could provide a gateway into the north. But if you think the war was fought on the grounds of slavery, then the election of 1864 was the most important. Assuming that McClellan would push Grant and Meade to finish off Lee like they did, the north would still have won the war. But McClellan being a democrat, he would not have passed the 13th amendment. So even though the war was over, slavery would exist in the south and the war would have been fought for no reason. But the reelection of Lincoln closed the south’s chances of compromise for peace in exchange for their right of slavery. Lincoln’s strong stance on only allowing the states back into the Union that ratified the amendment sent a message to the south that you have to win the war to have slavery. But even though the 3 “turning points” of the war were extremely crucial to the northern triumph, every other battle, political and military, was necessary to achieve victory.
45. Matt Gallo December 12, 2012 at 10:22 pm

    In my mind, there was no major turning point. It was the combined wins that crushed the Confederacy. Even though each battle was very significant, none of the could be dubbed the “turning point”. But the two that made the biggest impact had to of been the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg. The both suffered tens-of-thousands of lives from both sides combined. Having a combined 76,000 casualties. That’s like having 700,000 people today die in around five combined days. The Americans especially for the Union the lost their lives fishes to either stop or push through Robert E. Lee’s lines at these battles also show the bravery and trust needed to turn-the-tide of the war. Antietam was very significant because it was the first time anyone had stopped Lee’s army, and it delayed Britain and France’s intervening with the war. Which is a win win because they would’ve been on the Confederates side. Gettysburg was another major turning point because it was the last offensive Lee would take in the Civil War. It also completly obliterated any chance of forgein support for the Confederates. The Confederate army lost one-third of their entire army in this battle. That is one reason why it is called the bloodies battle of the Western hemisphere.
46. Anna Daugherty December 12, 2012 at 10:35 pm

    I believe that the battle of Antietam was the biggest turning point in the civil war. This battle was the first turning point in the war, and it may have changed the course of the civil war. The battle of Antietam stopped the confederate from invading the north. Before this, the north had been suffering many defeats, but McClellan was able to stop Lee’s army from invading Maryland. When you think about it, if McClellan hadn’t been able to stop Lee from invading Maryland, then the Union capital Washington D.C. would be completely surrounded by the Confederacy. A very important aspect of this battle was that, because the Confederates lost, they also lost their aid from Britain and France. If this battle had not been won by the Union then President Abraham Lincoln’s emancipation proclamation may not have been issued. The emancipation proclamation changed the whole scope of the war. It connected the Union, and helped pave the road even more to the abolition of slavery. The emancipation proclamation, only freed slaves in rebel territories that the Union controlled, but it gave other slaves hope that maybe one day they too could be freed. The battle of Antietam September 17, 1862 was a major turning point because it kept the confederates out of the north, and it gave Abraham Lincoln the change to issue the emancipation proclamation.
47. Courtney Wilkie December 12, 2012 at 10:38 pm

    Out of the three main turning points, i would say that the Battle of Antietam and what happened after was the most important turning point of the civil war. Not only did it kill so many people, but it made many changes to the country. So many men were out there fighting and dying for our country, but the fact that it was as many men as 3 major battles combined is a really big part that had an effect on people. One of the other big things that made this the main/most important turning point is everything that changed about slavery and the laws regarding it. The emancipation proclamation that Lincoln issued shortly after this battle basically changed the reason for the war. Not only were they trying to keep the union together, but now a large part of it was about ending slavery as well. Now slaves were able to join and fight for their own freedom. This made many people upset because their slaves got the choice to fight and be free if they survived and they wouldn’t have control over them forever like they had wanted and planned on. I believe that this was the biggest and most important turning point towards the civil war because its outcome added a new reason for the war (ending slavery) and it motivated slaves to serve for the country if they wanted freedom and this was a big step.
48. Meredith Hawkins December 12, 2012 at 10:51 pm

    I think that the election of 1864 was the most important turning point of the Civil War. Many battles were significant but mostly it just swayed back and forth between the Confederacy and the Union. But what’s weird to think about is what if Lincoln hadn’t been voted on for his second term? Obviously since almost 80% of Civil War soldiers voted for Lincoln they wanted to carry out the war and finish what they had started. If Mclellan had become el presidente and ended the war all the deaths and sacrifice everyone was making would have been for nothing. Though the soldiers wanted to finish out the war a lot of citizens didn’t. Instead many people proposed ideas to end the war without ending slavery such as supporting peace plans with Jefferson Davis and nominating Mclellan for the presidency because they thought he would end the war. This solution would have done nothing. Essentially there would have been this big gruesome war for no reason and a problem (slavery) that brought tension between the North and the South would still exist. The states that seceded might have come back to the Union through this option but we wouldn’t really be a united nation, more so a bunch of states combined with very different views of how the country should be run. Also with the problem of slavery still lingering who knows what would have happened… we might still have it today. As Lincoln once said the nation couldn’t go on being half slave and half free it had to be or the other. If Mclellan had won we would have really achieved nothing as a country.
49. Darab Khan December 12, 2012 at 11:03 pm

    While all three reasons are essential turning points in the Civil War, I believe the Battle of Gettysburg is the most important. It was a huge turning point when Meade and the Potomac soldiers were able to beat Lee and the North Virginian army. The victory didn’t come easily however, the sum of casualties from both sides totaled over 50,000. The number of casualties on both sides were pretty even, but since the Confederacy had many fewer men then the Union, they took the harder blow. So the battle wasn’t as big of a victory for the North as it was for the South. After the turnout of the battle they had killed any idea of foreign recognition. The Confederacy’s plan for the battle was to take the fight into the north, which they did. However their goal was to defeat the Union on their own turf, so that even the North couldn’t deny the South’s supremacy. This of course didn’t work out for them since they lost the battle and had to retreat. The north once again had a reason to believe in Lincoln’s plan. They were very skeptical up till then, but this victory lessened their worries greatly. And it was a huge victory for the North. The Confederacy had lost 1/3 of their army, skilled leaders on the battlefield, and most importantly the soldiers had almost given up hope. I mean after the way Pickett’s Charge went down I don’t think any soldier had faith in their leader’s decisions. Had Meade and his army pursued Lee the war would most likely have been over, as Lincoln and many historians have said. Sadly though Meade like most of Lincolns commanding officers failed to recognize the opportunity and let them get away. That’s why the Battle of Gettysburg was the most important turning point in the Civil War.
50. Alexa R December 12, 2012 at 11:15 pm

    I believe the battle of Antietam was the turning point of the war because a lot of things were at stake for both the Confederate Army and the Union Army. Maryland being a border state made it extremely important to win the battle if the confederates would have taken over Maryland than the Washington D.C the capital could have been surrounded and possibly taken it. The confederate army getting D.C would have ended the war in favor of the Confederates. It was also an important battle because it was a loss for General Robert E Lee. Since Lee was such a good general and didn’t lose a lot it probably gave the Union Army some much needed confidence. The confederates trying to take Union land with world recognition on the line probably made this battle one of the most important if the tide had not swung in the North’s favor who knows what European country would have jumped in to help the Confederates. Another reason which made it such an important time was because the proclamation that was pass with the loss and the proclamation it made so other countries would not get involved. If the Confederates would have gotten the aid (money maybe some European soldiers) that they needed then I’m sure the war would have been 10 times more hard for the Union to win.