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Event: Fall of Atlanta

Date: July 22, 1864

Where: Just east of Atlanta, Georgia

Summary (What happened, stick to just the crucial details)

Union forces led by James B. McPherson under William T. Sherman neutralized the city of Atlanta against the forces of John B. Hood.

What makes it a turning point?

The capture of the city of Atlanta was crucial both symbolically and strategically.  The fall of the city meant that the main railroad hub of the Confederacy was now cut off, which meant that transporting people and goods across the Confederacy was made far harder.  Symbolically, it was a major city whose capture led to Lincoln gaining a boost in popularity, which helped him to defeat the Democrat George B. McClellan in the 1864 election by a landslide in the electoral college.

What did it represent that would become crucial to the outcome of the war?

The major victory acquired by the Union forces would ensure Lincoln victory against his Democratic challenger McClellan, who was talking about making a truce with the Confederates.

What subsequent important events did it directly lead to that would not have

happened otherwise?

Sherman’s March to the Sea went straight through northern Georgia to Savannah, and without the capture of Atlanta by the Union forces, it would have been made far more difficult or impossible so long as the major city of Atlanta stood in the way of it.

Did it set a precedent that was important for the war or did it represent the first in a pattern that emerges during the war?

This set a precedent where taking supporting supplies and connections was the key to victory. This lead to many future events including Sherman's march to the sea. Securing the Confederate war supplies really helped signal the beginning of the end. The Confederates were cut in three and diminished in size as time went on.

Counterfactual: if this event DID NOT happen, then how would this have had a dramatic impact on the course of the war?

If the fall of Atlanta had not happened the Confederate troops would still be supplied with war necessities.  With the Union taking over, a great Confederate asset was captured. This squeezed the confederates of war supplies further boosting the Union cause. This take over crippled the confederates resupply and shifted the power to the Union.

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The Union victory at Gettysburg ending on July 3rd of 1863, racked up 28,000 Confederate bodies, ruined the South's hopes to gain foreign recognition, and turned the tides towards the Union. It was considered the bloodiest battle during the civil war. It visibly changed the perception of war and how it is conducted.Counter Factual: The war's happening decreased the size of the confederate army. It aided the Battle of Vicksburg in turning the tide to Northern favor. The war was the bloodiest and most significant in United states history. Had it not happen, the Union would most likely gain the upper-hand regardless due to the results of Vicksburg alone.

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The Union victory at Gettysburg ending on July 3rd of 1863, racked up 28,000 Confederate bodies, ruined the South's hopes to gain foreign recognition, and turned the tides towards the Union. It was considered the bloodiest battle during the civil war. It visibly changed the perception of war and how it is conducted.Counter Factual: The war's happening decreased the size of the confederate army. It aided the Battle of Vicksburg in turning the tide to Northern favor. The war was the bloodiest and most significant in United states history. Had it not happen, the Union would most likely gain the upper-hand regardless due to the results of Vicksburg alone.

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Date: September 17th, 1862

Where: Sharpsburg, Maryland

Summary (What happened, stick to just the crucial details)

McClellan knows Lee’s plan, but waits a day to act on them.  By the time he arrives in Sharpsburg Lee has already dug in and it turns into the bloodiest day of the Civil War where over 5,000 soldiers were killed.  There were approximately 23,000 total deaths and injuries.  It ended in a tie and Lee retreats.  When McClellan does not follow Lee’s army, Lincoln fires him.

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Event: Gettysburg Battle

Date: July 1st-July 3rd, 1863

Where: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Summary:

It was the Union army vs. the Confederate army. Robert E Lee was trying to take the north for his second time. After 3 days of fighting, his forces were blocked and he could not advance. Both sides lots of men (around 51,000 casualties) and the Union won the battle.

Confederates lost 28,000 soldiers.

Before: The Confederacy had never gone into free territory before.

After: The Confederacy lost a lot of men. Proved the Confederacy could not take over the north. Lost a lot of hope especially since Robert E Lee lost.

Events it lead to: Directly when to the Gettysburg address by President Lincoln

Symbolism: The realization of a long and costly war, a turning point for increased union victories.

Precedent/Pattern: This battle did set a pattern. After the Union won the battle, the union continued to press forward at the Confederacy and won many battles after Gettysburg. Coming to the conclusion of the war, the Union ended up winning

Counterfactual: Had the war not have happened, other union victories would have humiliated the Confederacy. The battle racked up bodies and decreased the chances of foreign recognition for the confederacy. Aided with the battle of Vicksburg with Ulysses S. Grant, the tide favored the union.

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What was different BEFORE and AFTER the event?

Before: The war was thought of as a fight to combat the spread of slavery.

Before: General McClellan is in power with his slow moving and cautious tactics.

Before: Britain and France were close to recognizing the independence of the Confederate states.

After: War effort took a new shape and the idea of ending slavery begins to take root.

After: McClellan is removed from his position.

After: European powers backed away and remained neutral.

What did it represent that would become crucial to the outcome of the war?

The battle epitomizes the horrific nature of battle and is symbolic of the bloodshed that took place during war, as it was the bloodiest day in United States battle history.

What subsequent important events did it directly lead to that would not have

happened otherwise?

Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation after the Battle of Antietam, which was seen as a victory by the north.  This was important because is set the idea that the war was not about thwarting the expansion of slavery but rather an engagement to end the institution of slavery as a whole.

Did it set a precedent that was important for the war or did it represent the first in a

pattern that emerges during the war?

The first pictures of the battlefield helped the north gain support.  It depicted the war as dangerous and not ‘remote’ or ‘romantic’.

Counterfactual: if this event DID NOT happen, then how would this have had a dramatic impact on the course of the war?

If this event did not happen, McClellan might have not been fired, at least not this quickly. Public favor surely would have dropped in the subsequent battles, but Antietam greatly speed up the process.

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Event: Death of Thomas “Stonewall” JacksonDate: May 10, 1863Where: Guinea VirginiaSummary (What happened, stick to just the crucial details)During the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia, General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson of the South was accidentally fired by his own troops. He was hit three times and a Southern Bullet shatter his left arm. One week later, he died of pneumonia.What makes it a turning point?The death of Jackson marked the Confederates losing an intelligent leader and military presence. Throughout the war, Jackson had helped the south win battles and his death was devastating in their future attempts at success. Following Jackson’s death, the south would go on to lose war starting with the turning point of Gettysburg, in which the lack of military strategy led to a Northern victory. 

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Event: Death of Thomas “Stonewall” JacksonDate: May 10, 1863Where: Guinea VirginiaSummary (What happened, stick to just the crucial details)During the Battle of Chancellorsville in Virginia, General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson of the South was accidentally fired by his own troops. He was hit three times and a Southern Bullet shatter his left arm. One week later, he died of pneumonia.What makes it a turning point?The death of Jackson marked the Confederates losing an intelligent leader and military presence. Throughout the war, Jackson had helped the south win battles and his death was devastating in their future attempts at success. Following Jackson’s death, the south would go on to lose war starting with the turning point of Gettysburg, in which the lack of military strategy led to a Northern victory. 

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Before: The South had Jackson as a strong leader, which was an excelling benefit for them in the war.

After: Setback for Confederacy, strong negative effect on the South through military prospects, the morale of its army, and of the general public at large

What subsequent important events did it directly lead to that would not have happened otherwise?

The subsequent event after Jackson’s death was the battle of Gettysburg. The teamwork between Lee and his new second in command, Longstreet, was very weak and the south lost the battle. Had Jackson not died, they may have had better communication and the south may have won the battle. The North gained momentum that may have gone to the south had they been able to win the battle.

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Event: Lincoln’s re-electionDate: November 8, 1864Where: Chicago, IllinoisWhat Makes this a turning point? - This is a turning point because the Union decided to continue fighting for their cause instead of simply making peace with the Confederates. What was different BEFORE and AFTER the event? - Many people were convinced that Lincoln would not win and the Democratic Party's nominee, George McClellan, was likely to negotiate a peace treaty with the Confederacy if elected. Some Democrats did not want to vote for Lincoln because they did not favor the Emancipation Proclamation.After less than 2 months later in office, Lincoln was assassinated, peace negotiations were shut down,What did it represent that would become crucial to the outcome of the war? - A peace treaty would not be signed if Lincoln was elected

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Event: Lincoln’s re-electionDate: November 8, 1864Where: Chicago, IllinoisWhat Makes this a turning point? - This is a turning point because the Union decided to continue fighting for their cause instead of simply making peace with the Confederates. What was different BEFORE and AFTER the event? - Many people were convinced that Lincoln would not win and the Democratic Party's nominee, George McClellan, was likely to negotiate a peace treaty with the Confederacy if elected. Some Democrats did not want to vote for Lincoln because they did not favor the Emancipation Proclamation.After less than 2 months later in office, Lincoln was assassinated, peace negotiations were shut down,What did it represent that would become crucial to the outcome of the war? - A peace treaty would not be signed if Lincoln was elected

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Event: Trent Affair

Date: November 8th, 1861

Where: The Trent Mail Ship/Great Britain and the United States

Summary (What happened, stick to just the crucial details): The US had captured two Confederate diplomats, illegally, off a British ship.

What makes it a turning point? The British were planning an attack on America and banned the export of war materials to America. They were planning to destroy the ships around America which would, in turn, ruin the Anaconda plan to contain the south.

What was different BEFORE and AFTER the event?
Before

No British involvement in the war

No European support for either side

After

British War preparation

Banned exporting war supplies to America

Planned blockage of northern ports

What did it represent that would become crucial to the outcome of the war?

It represented what could have happened if the Confederate diplomats made a deal with Britain to fight the Union. It also could have ensured a war between America and Britain during the Civil war

What subsequent important events did it directly lead to that would not have
happened otherwise?

William Seward had met with a British Diplomat to avert war

The Confederate diplomats were released

Ultimately failed to convince Europe to aid the Confederate cause

Did it set a precedent that was important for the war or did it represent the first in a
pattern that emerges during the war?

This event showed that European nations wanted to remain neutral in the civil war unless they were provoked by either one of the sides. This event showed the precedent that the European nations were going to remain neutral if possible.

Counterfactual: if this event DID NOT happen, then how would this have had a dramatic impact on the course of the war?
If this event did not happen the United States may have continued to go against British neutrality or committed an action that upset the British even more, leading to the British allying with the Confederates. This event told the United States not to provoke England because they would be willing to go to war if they were provoked.

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Event: Appointment of Ulysses Grant as General-in-Chief

Date: March 9, 1864

Where: Washington D.C

Summary (What happened, stick to just the crucial details)

Grant was appointed General of the Union army after the underwhelming stints of previous generals like McClellan. Abraham Lincoln had become irate with the cautiousness of the previous Generals. They always hesitated to attack, and it was apparent that a new General was needed. Grant had given little thought to the abolitionist cause before the war, but as it progressed, he became a supporter of the cause.

What makes it a turning point?

Before Grant was the General-in-chief, the current General-in-Chief was named McClellan and he was incredibly indecisive and slow to make a decision. The other generals had not been much better, like Robert Anderson, who famously gave up Fort Sumter in the first engagement of the Civil War. By putting Grant in charge, he was able to make more decisive choices in a more timely manner, leading to them effectively beating the Confederates. If Grant hadn’t been put in charge of the army, many of his amazing tactical and military decisions wouldn’t have been made. Unlike previous generals, he embraced the more aggressive approach, committing mass casualties that were often criticized by the media.

The appointment of Grant did not really set a precedent, because the appointment of new generals was something that had done many times before. Grant just happened to be a great fit for the job that he was assigned, and he was able to have more success than others.

Counterfactual: if this event DID NOT happen, then how would this have had a dramatic impact on the course of the war?

The Union would most likely not have won the war without this development. In order to combat Robert E. Lee, the army had to be aggressive and offensive, not defensive like previous generals had been. Without Grant, the Union army would most likely have remained disorganized and meek in the eyes of the Confederates and history.

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First Bull Run

Date: July 21, 186

Where: Prince William County, Virginia

Summary (What happened, stick to just the crucial details)

This was the first major land battle of the armies in Virginia.

Gen. Irvin McDowell marched from Washington against the Confederate army, which was drawn up behind Bull Run beyond Centreville.

McDowell crossed at Sudley Ford and attacked the Confederate left flank on Matthews Hill.

Confederate forces were driven back to Henry Hill.

Confederate reinforcements (one brigade arriving by rail from the Shenandoah Valley) extended and broke the Union right flank.

Confederate Gen. Bee and Col. Bartow were killed. Thomas J. Jackson earned the nom de guerre “Stonewall.” By July 22, the shattered Union army reached the safety of Washington.

McDowell was relieved of command of the Union army and replaced by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan

Confederate victory

What makes it a turning point?

This battle convinced the Lincoln administration that the war would be a long and costly affair

Set precedents

Union and confederate troops met for the first time

Troops on both sides were untested in battle

Precedent of confusion; the north and the south referred to the battle by different names Bull Run in the north and Manassas

What was different BEFORE and AFTER the event?
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Before

Lincoln (Union) and the Confederacy thought the war wouldn’t take longer than 6 months as they were confident that their seperate sides were going to win.

After

War was going to be long and costly

3,000 union casualties compared with 1,750 confederate casualties

What subsequent important events did it directly lead to that would not have
happened otherwise?

Second Battle of Bull Run/Manassas

Did it set a precedent that was important for the war or did it represent the first in a
pattern that emerges during the war?

**See turning points above**

Counterfactual: if this event DID NOT happen, then how would this have had a dramatic impact on the course of the war?

The first battle would be delayed, maybe even a naval battle instead

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What makes it a turning point?:It symbolizes the purpose for fighting from uniting the nation to the real reason it was fought, slavery. Without this the total abolition of slavery may have never happened, this changed the purpose of fighting and if this never happened there could have been just another compromise to slavery. 

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What makes it a turning point?:It symbolizes the purpose for fighting from uniting the nation to the real reason it was fought, slavery. Without this the total abolition of slavery may have never happened, this changed the purpose of fighting and if this never happened there could have been just another compromise to slavery. 

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All slaves that were held in rebellious states were declared free and will remain free.

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Washington D.C

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January 1, 1863

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Event- Vicksburg

Grants armies converged on Vicksburg and trapped a Confederate army

Date- May 18th, 1863 to July 4, 1863

Where- Warren County, Mississippi  (Vicksburg)

Why is it a turning point?

After

Union forces had complete control of the Mississippi River

Split the Confederate army in half

Precedent/Pattern

Union improving (loss of the Mississippi plug loss at Gettysburg for Confederacy)

Counterfactual

If the Union did not win this battle, the Union army would have not been able to take control of the Mississippi River, which was important because it cut the south off from gaining necessary supplies - the South could have won more of the following battles