Gettysburg: Why Was It a Turning Point?

Gettysburg: Why Was It a Turning Point?

        What determines the turning point of a war? In the late spring of 1863, the Civil War had just entered into its third year. Up until Gettysburg, the battles between the Union and the Confederacy were pretty even. The winner was only determined by who left the field first. General Lee had just defeated a Union force in Chancellorsville, Virginia and was currently trying to put his new plan in action. Meanwhile General Grant was on the verge of the 40-day siege of Vicksburg. Lincoln upset that they had lost in Virginia made a decision to appoint a new General, George Meade. Why was The Battle of Gettysburg a turning point in the Civil War? Gettysburg was a time at which a decisive change in the situation occurs and it benefitted the Union. The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point for three reasons which had to do with General Lee’s decision to invade the North, the casualties on both sides, and Lincoln’s deliverance of the Gettysburg Address.

        The first reason in which Gettysburg was a turning point was because for the first time The Confederacy had taken an offensive approach and decided to invade the Northern territories. After his victory in Virginia Lee had met Pres. Jeff Davis and explained how he was going to invade the North (Background Essay). His plan was to cross the Potomac River and continue marching into the southern part of Pennsylvania (Background Essay). In Document A, the graph shows us that the only time the Confederacy ever invaded the North was at the Battle of Gettysburg. Lee’s new offensive tactic helps explain why this battle was a turning point because if- and I know that’s a big if- the Union would have lost it would have seriously hurt their morale and their desire to fight (Doc A).

        The second reason Gettysburg was a turning point was because even though the casualties were close in number they affected the South’s army a lot more than the North’s. Although the Confederacy had an estimate of  2% less casualties than the Union, it hurt them more because they did not have 918,000 men, on the field or waiting to be enlisted, like the Union did (Doc B). The Union army was almost three times the size of the Confederate’s and had almost five times more eligible men (Doc B). After this huge loss many soldiers were beginning to become discouraged. But Lee even before he went into battle had asked Jeff Davis if he could find a replacement to lead the Confederate army instead of himself. He did not believe in himself and that wavering confidence spread to his men (Doc A). The casualties help explain why Gettysburg was a turning point because the South suffered an enormous loss and they didn’t have an abundance of men to draw upon and they would never be able to recover from those devastating losses.

        The third reason Gettysburg was a turning point was because of the deliverance of the Gettysburg Address by Lincoln had boosted the Union’s Morale, had changed the focus of the war, and had honored the soldiers who had died during the battle. “And that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish the earth.” (Lincoln 1863)  “The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add of detract.” (Lincoln 1863) “… and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.” (Lincoln 1863) Lincoln gave the nation the opportunity to rededicate itself not only to end slavery and preserve the Union but to also prove that mankind can rule itself under a democratic government.