Battle Of Antietam

Journal Entry Two

1. While it clear that the debate of slavery was the major cause to the American Civil War, there are number of pressing secondary causes that helped to accelerate the process of division within the country. Primary to these secondary causes is the effect of territorial expansion and the tension it brought between the North and South. The vast economic differences between the North and South provided a perfect scenario for political and social conflict in the new territories. As the Western territory of the Americas continued to be explored, political debate was sparked over the spread of slavery into these newly created states. The North’s economy was primarily based on industry and factories while the South’s economy continued

The Battle of Antietam is significant to the overall Civil War history as it marks what most historians highlight as the turning point of the war. General Lee would eventually retreat, but many historians still argue that this was a stalemate with no clear victor. The Battle of Antietam is also significant as it sheds light on the weaknesses of General McClellan to President Abraham Lincoln.
e. Battle of Gettysburg
i. The Battle of Gettysburg is the most prominent and widely discussed battle in the Civil War. It is important to understand the significance of this battle on the outcome of the Civil War. After pushing well into the Union territory, all of General Lee’s forces were pushed back to Gettysburg. Both sides would receive a massive number of casualties, but it was the Confederates in the end that would retreat. The North was able to take advantage of several different key military strategies, which would enable them to win the battle.
f. The Siege at Petersburg
i. While the Siege at Petersburg is a series of clashes and battles that lasted over a year, it marks the final battlegrounds of the Civil War. General Grant and General Meade were able to push Confederate forces into a defensive position while continuing to make pushes towards getting surrender. After a year of fighting in Petersburg, the Civil War would eventually end after the surrender of Robert E. Lee to General Grant’s forces at

At the beginning of the Civil War, it was evident that the North would have the upper hand in both an abundance of weapons and their larger population to draw soldiers from. Although this was the case, the South appeared to have the upper hand early on due to several Confederate victories. Although most of the battles in the beginning of the war ended in a stalemate, General Robert E. Lee was able to push his forces into the Virginia in 1861 and 1862. With this newfound confidence following these victories, the Confederate forces would continue to pursue a more offensive role in the war by continuing to advance. This was obviously met by opposition from Union forces and the Confederates would be pushed back to Bull Run. It is also important to highlight the some other advantages that may have played a role in the South’s initial upper hand. The South maintained several geographical advantages that played well into their early defensive strategies. They also were able to garnish morale and widespread support from all Southerners that was deeply rooted in their sense that the North was invading their homes. Finally, another clear advantage early on can be seen with the leadership of the South. Although the leadership in the South would later have problems, having prominent and successful leaders such as General Robert E. Lee, Stonewall Jackson, and Jefferson Davis only accelerated the early efforts of the