Select two of the following
Battle of Antietam
Gettysburg
Vicksburg
Lee’s surrender at Appomattox courthouse
Explain the significant of the event provide detailed examples. You must explain with detail for both events you select.
Gettysburg and Lee's surrender at Appomattox courthouse were both significant turning points in the American Civil War.
The Battle of Gettysburg, which took place from July 1-3, 1863, was the bloodiest battle of the war with over 50,000 casualties. It was a turning point in the war because it marked the furthest advancement of Confederate forces into Union territory and was a major defeat for General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. The Union victory at Gettysburg also boosted morale for the North and dealt a severe blow to the South's hopes for foreign recognition and support. Additionally, Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered on the battlefield in November 1863, served as a defining moment in American history, emphasizing the principles of equality and liberty for all.
Lee's surrender at Appomattox courthouse on April 9, 1865, effectively ended the Civil War. After a series of defeats at Petersburg and Richmond, Lee realized that his army was surrounded and outnumbered by Union forces led by General Ulysses S. Grant. The surrender at Appomattox marked the end of nearly four years of bloody conflict and symbolized the reunification of the nation. Grant's generous terms of surrender, which allowed Confederate soldiers to return home with their horses and sidearms, helped to facilitate the healing process and set the stage for Reconstruction. The surrender at Appomattox courthouse is considered one of the most significant events in American history, as it brought an end to the bloodshed and paved the way for the reunification of the United States.