Essay On Gettysburg A Turning Point

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There were many controversial battles during the Civil War, but the most being the Battle of Gettysburg. Three main reasons why it was such a major turning point were: what happened during the battle, the artillery, and the events that followed the battle. All factors affected the outcome of the battle. The Battle of Gettysburg was the biggest turning point of the Civil War. One major reason why it was such a huge turning point was what happened during the battle. “The Battle took place over three days. On the first day the armies were still coming together. The Confederates outnumbered the Union the first day and caused them to retreat through the town of Gettysburg to the south side of town. General Lee wanted his men to continue the attack …show more content…

Many events happened following the Battle of Gettysburg but, the biggest being the Gettysburg Address. The Gettysburg Address was a speech by Abraham Lincoln at the dedication of Soldier’s National Cemetery, a cemetery for Union soldiers killed at the Battle Of Gettysburg. “Lincoln honored the Union’s dead and reminded the listeners of the purpose of the soldier’s sacrifice: equality, freedom, and national unity.” (Historynet). President Lincoln told the people of Gettysburg what the Union soldiers were fighting for during the Battle of Gettysburg. Lincoln stated, “the purpose of the Northern war effort: ‘It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us–that from these honored dead we take increased devotion–that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain–that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.’”(History). Lincoln said this to show that the fight isn't over against the South and to rally the Union troops around a noble and just cause. The Gettysburg address was a key to the turning point of the Civil