Gettysburg Dbq Essay

On July 3rd of 1863, the biggest battle of the American Civil War ended, and became an extremely important event in American history. Before the Battle of Gettysburg, the siege of Vicksburg occurred which shut down the Mississippi River to Southern Transport which was conducted by Ulysses S. Grant. In the North Robert E. Lee’s army was marching into southern Pennsylvania while another Confederate cavalry was entering Pennsylvania from the east, an invasion was clearly taking place in the month of July in the year of 1863. The Union and Confederate army both had around an army of 75,000. The commander of the Union was a new commander appointed by President Lincoln named George Meade, and the leader of the Confederate army was General Robert E. Lee. The people in the North and South both were very calm the days leading up to the battle. Women in the North smiled and laughed as the Confederate soldiers passed them and Confederate soldiers

On the higher ground, both armies were near each other because the advantage of higher ground could lead to a victory on either side. In the map the Confederate army at Gettysburg moved up north and turned back, as the Union moved up towards the north soon they turned back. ( Document A ) Showing that the Confederate army moved from two opposite directions, then went towards Gettysburg at once. Causing the Union troops to move back on the map from their position. The reason why General Robert E. Lee wanted to march his troops into the North was because before the Battle of Gettysburg no battle had been fought in the North which could allow the Confederate troops to take over the North. The land that the Battle of Gettysburg was fought on was the North, hence having the knowledge of the land helped the Union win the battle and changed the perspective of the war and who was going to