Antietam Turning Point

The battles of Antietam and Gettysburg were two turning points of the American Civil War that redefined the objectives for both North and South. According to historians the North with its vast resources would have won the war. But the North had to definitively defeat the South to bring the back into the Union. If the Civil War would have ended in a draw the South would have won its independence. The battles of Antietam and Gettysburg were two examples of turning points that helped direct the course of history.
The battle of Antietam was not considered a victory by either the North (Union) or the South (Confederacy) and was not considered a turning point from a military prospective. The battle was considered a tactical draw by most military historians because neither side took the battle field and drove their opponents into retreat. Two key events that occurred off the battlefield

But General Lee was forced to retreat back leaving the battle as a tactical draw that did not equate to a victory. Britain did not see their interest protected and moved away from supplying the South.
The second event was the Emancipation Proclamation issued by President Lincoln on January 1, 1863, five days following the battle of Antietam. Since General Lee had retreated back into Virginia, President Lincoln used the battle of Antietam as a stepping stone to move forward in freeing the slaves that were under Confederate control in the territory. Lincoln believed since the Confederates believed that slaves were considered to be property, they could be seized during time of war. The result of the Emancipation Proclamation redefined goals for sides.
The battle Antietam demonstrated that the South was not able to sustain an offensive on Union land. In addition the causalities were so great; the south could not sustain the losses in