The Battle of Gettysburg: Why Was It a Turning Point? The Battle of Gettysburg was a major battle of the Civil War that took place between July 1st and July 3rd, 1863. This battle happened in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, after the Confederate troops began invading Union territory. The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point because morale and momentum shifted. According to Document C, General Robert E Lee wrote, “I therefore, in all sincerity, request Your Excellency to take measures to supply my place (replace me). I do this with the most earnestness because no one is more aware than myself of my ability for the duties of my positions (Document C, Lee).” This was written in a letter from the General to Jefferson Davis, the president of the
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In the beginning of the war, the Confederacy was the stronger army, winning most of the battles the happened in that time period. But after Gettysburg, their loss suffered was so great that their General wanted to renounce his position. Meanwhile in the Union, the people rejoiced after the victory. President Abraham Lincoln said in his, now famous, Gettysburg Address, “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us… that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth (Document D, Lincoln).” After the battle that took place in Gettysburg, the land where all of the soldiers died was now being dedicated as a national cemetery. Because this had been the first great Union victory in some time, Lincoln addressed the people, telling them that they now have the task to win the war and reunite a country divided among itself. Our country was born from hard work and is built upon the principles of freedom and democracy, and the Union wanted to keep us that way. With that sense in mind, after the Battle of Gettysburg, morale completely shifted to the Union’s side, leaving them with the upper
In the beginning of the war, the Confederacy was the stronger army, winning most of the battles the happened in that time period. But after Gettysburg, their loss suffered was so great that their General wanted to renounce his position. Meanwhile in the Union, the people rejoiced after the victory. President Abraham Lincoln said in his, now famous, Gettysburg Address, “It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us… that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth (Document D, Lincoln).” After the battle that took place in Gettysburg, the land where all of the soldiers died was now being dedicated as a national cemetery. Because this had been the first great Union victory in some time, Lincoln addressed the people, telling them that they now have the task to win the war and reunite a country divided among itself. Our country was born from hard work and is built upon the principles of freedom and democracy, and the Union wanted to keep us that way. With that sense in mind, after the Battle of Gettysburg, morale completely shifted to the Union’s side, leaving them with the upper