The Battle of Gettysburg: Why was it a turning point?
The Battle of Gettysburg was a major turning point because of geography. Gettysburg was the confederacy’s northern attack. The Union campaign was a solid line while the Confederacy was a broken line (Document A). The map would show where and how the Union and Confederate forces moved (Document A). If a victory from General Robert E. Lee would have happened, it have broken the will to fight.
Gettysburg was a also a turning point because of all the casualties that occurred. The Union, Confederate, and the total men of age make up the total casualty numbers. The Confederacy had a smaller army, therefore, The Confederacy had suffered and had been hurt more by Gettysburg loses. The total casualty estimate for the North was twenty-three thousand and forty soldiers whereas the South had lost twenty thousand six hundred and fifty to about twenty-five thousand soldiers (Document B).The North had three times troops on the battlefield and five times military aged
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Robert E. Lee wrote to Confederate President Jefferson Davis to ask to be replaced. Lee was unable to have a military victory, therefore, his confidence crumbled. General Lee is admitting that he is unable to meet expectations and because of it, Lee lost all his Confidence in his abilities to beat the North. Secondly, Lincoln gives The Gettysburg Address. According to Lincoln the brave men, both living and dead who struggled to be at Gettysburg. Soldiers have given their lives to preserve and show devotion to our Nation. Lincoln would like to make it known that the troops that have died are not in vain (Document D). This supports the idea that Gettysburg is a turning point because this gave the nation an opportunity to end the causes of slavery and preserving the union. This also explains that mankind can rule itself in a democratic form which gives Lincoln a morale