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Battle of Fort Sumter
This battle was the beginning of the Civil War. This war had a positive impact on the Confederates, since they started and won the first battle of the war. It showed the Union that the Confederates were a force to be reckoned with. It would then have more of a negative effect on the Union, since they surrendered and lost the first battle of the Civil War. -
Battle of Bull Run
This battle was the second battle of the Civil War, and it was once again a Confederate victory. This battle had a large impact on the war effort, as it was a change in mindset for both sides. The Union began to see that the war would be much longer and harder than they had originally thought. The Confederacy, on the other hand, gained confidence from the battle and grew more passionate, seeing as they were winning battles and had a good shot at winning the war. -
Battle of Shiloh
The Battle of Shiloh was the first Union victory in the war. It gave the North hope of possibly winning the war, even after losing the first few battles. However, the North was upset with General Grant for not being prepared and letting them lose so many men. The battle lowered the South’s self esteem because they had been on a winning streak until then. Both sides were also negatively affected by the realization that they'd have to lose a lot (men, supplies, etc.) to win the war. -
Battle of Antietam
This battle taught us that Lincoln was willing to do anything to reunite the U.S. and win the war. Lincoln lied to his people about this battle by claiming it a victory, when it was really a tie, in order to keep his nation’s trust in him. We also learned of the Confederacy’s superior military leadership after Lee used his smaller numbers wisely by using them all, while McClellan wasted his large numbers by using only 3/4 of them. -
Battle of Fredericksburg
This battle was an overwhelming Confederate victory, with extremely lopsided casualty counts favoring the Confederacy. For this reason, it was beneficial to the South by giving it momentum. This battle again showed Lincoln’s persistence to win the war, as he quickly fired General Burnside to try to help the Union's military. -
The Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation freed all slaves in the seceded Confederate states. However, since they weren't Union states, they did not care. The document did, however, succeed to announce the acceptance of black men in the Union forces, confirm black men on their insistence that this war is for their freedom, politically and militarilly boost the North's morale, and help the Union military gain over 200,000 black men. Still, freedom of the slaves depended on the Union's victory in the war. -
Battle of Vicksburg
This battle was a great victory for the Union, as they were able to capture the Vicksburg, the Mississippi River, and the opposing troops they faced in the battle. It gave the Union great momentum and General Grant received great praise for the win. The Confederates suffered massive losses, which mainly consisted of capture after they surrended. This battle was a turning point in the war, as it gave the Union momentum and hope of winning the war. -
Battle of Gettysburg
This battle was a great Union victory, which gave them confidence and momentum. It also helped that they were able to win the battle on their own territory, and they didn’t give the South the pride of beating them on their homeland. This battle (along with the Battle of Vicksburg) was a turning point in the war, and the end of the war seemed soon for the North. Although it was a great win, both sides had massive losses, and President Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address in its honor. -
Sherman's March
Sherman's March confirmed the Union's superiority over the Confederacy. It helped the Union capture Atlanta, a railroad hub and industrial center for the Confederacy. Atlanta was a symbol of pride for the Cofnederacy, and its fall made even the most loyal Southerners doubt the Confederacy's chance at success in the war. Sherman's March hurt the Southern morale, made it impossible for the Confederacy to fight at full capacity, and helped hasten the war, all of which were positive for the Union -
Battle/Surrender at Appomattox
The Battle/Surrender at Appomattox ultimately led to the Confederacy’s surrender. The Confederacy’s loss was largely based on their low numbers, limited central government, lesser naval forces, lack of industry, and reliance on imports. On the other hand, the Union’s success was based on their greater numbers, stronger navy, larger industry, and more advanced technology. This battle was the end of the Civil War, and it was in favor of the Union. -
Lincoln's Assassination
Lincoln’s Assassination caused grief and uncertainty for many people in the U.S. Many were upset by his death and many, especially Black Americans, were uncertain what would happen next. Lincoln’s death unified everyone in the country, and even those in the South joined in mourning. Lincoln was murdered by John Wilkes Booth, who was the most hunted man after the assassination, and was eventually found and killed.
