The Battle of Gettysburg: The Turning Point in The Civil War

The bloodiest battle of them all, the battle to end all United States Civil War battles, and the three days of warfare that would affect United States history forever. The Battle of Gettysburg restored the people’s hope in the Union government, forced Confederate troops to retreat from battle, and put an end to one of the most well-known civil wars in history. The south’s rebellion and desire for secession from the United Sates to create the Confederate States of America is blamed as one of the major causes for the war to begin. The Union, in theory, had the odds on their side by having more supplies and soldiers, but the Confederacy had the majority of the victories up until The Battle of Gettysburg. The Union had reason for distress and had much to lose if The Civil War turned to be a Confederate victory. For the first two years of the war the Union Military battled in the states taking hard hits but the Battle of Gettysburg created a turning point in the Civil War because it transferred the upper hand from the Confederates ultimately sealing the Union’s victory.

Before civil war broke out, several parts of history foreshadowed the growing divide between the northern and southern areas of the United States. One being, differences in culture and lifestyle. The south’s economy predominately based itself off of agriculture; specifically the growing of tobacco, corn, and cotton. The big southern plantations, owned by several white elitist men, used slavery to operate, another major cause for civil war. The northern economy thrived off of manufacturing and big industrial business. Northern politicians and elite class members supported tariffs and the use of training large armies. As the divide grew, tempers and attitudes flared, as d...

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... Civil War because it transferred the upper hand from the Confederates ultimately sealing the Union’s victory. After the Battle of Gettysburg, the tides turned. Lee’s army no longer poses a threat in northern territory and the north could then take over southern cities, beginning its efforts towards restoration of the Union. After the Confederacy lost, southern people began to reconsider the reasons behind the war and fighting. Also, the fact of this war being the highest casualty number ever at this point in history, people no longer wanted to enlist or support the battling. If the Union had lost the Battle of Gettysburg, the history of the United States and even the world, could have changed completely as it is known today. Without Union victory, The United States would not exist, but a Confederate States of America and a Union of the North American States would.