GREAT BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR

Discover Civil War's pivotal battles like Antietam, Gettysburg & Vicksburg. Learn why they changed the war!

Turning Points on the Field of Battle There are literally hundreds of battles waged between the North and South during the four long years of the Civil War. While each battle contributed in some way to the overall strategic victory or loss of the Blue or Gray, there are a few battles that are considered KEY turning points. In this lesson, you will examine those battles. The Battle of Antietam Watch the video carefully. Answer the questions that follow. The Battle of Antietam was held on what date? September 17, 1862 January 1, 1863 October 31, 1863 The Battle of Antietam takes place in what state? Virginia Pennsylvania Maryland Who is OVERALL commander of Union forces? Burnside McClellan Jackson What did the Union Army find in Fredericksburg that alerted them to Lee's plan to attack in the North? Confederate marching orders Remains of Confederate encampments A letter written by President Davis to Robert E. Lee The Battle of Antietam was named after the nearby _ where it was mostly fought. creek lake river A major significance of the Battle of Antietam is that it was the _. bloodiest battle of the ENTIRE war bloodiest SINGLE day of battle in the entire war a win for the Confederacy in Northern territory ANOTHER major significance of the Civil War is that Abraham Lincoln saw this "Union win" as a good opportunity to _. give the Gettysburg Address Announce his reelection campaign issue the Emancipation Proclamation THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG Watch the video carefully. Read the paragraphs. Then, answer the questions that follow. The Battle of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (July 1–July 3, 1863), was the largest battle of the American Civil War as well as the largest battle ever fought in North America, involving around 85,000 men in the Union’s Army of the Potomac under Major General George Gordon Meade and approximately 75,000 in the Confederacy’s Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert Edward Lee. Casualties at Gettysburg totaled 23,049 for the Union (3,155 dead, 14,529 wounded, 5,365 missing). Confederate casualties were 28,063 (3,903 dead, 18,735 injured, and 5,425 missing), more than a third of Lee’s army.These largely irreplaceable losses to the South’s largest army, combined with the Confederate surrender of Vicksburg, Mississippi, on July 4, marked what is widely regarded as a turning point—perhaps the turning point—in the Civil War, although the conflict would continue for nearly two more years and witness several more major battles The commander of Union forces at Gettysburg was McClellan Meade Pickett Grant The Battle of Gettysburg took place in PA MD VA The Battle of Gettysburg occurred _. June 1-3, 1862 July 1-3, 1863 August 1-3, 1864 On the last day of the battle, General George _ led a suicidal charge against Union forces at Cemetery Ridge. Pickett Longstreet Meade The Battle of Gettysburg is significant because it was the _ in American history. bloodiest battle shortest battle easiest defeat The Battle of Gettysburg is also significant because it was the _. largest battle in American history last battle of the Civil War battle that resulted in Jackson's death The Battle of Gettysburg was a tragic battle--resulting in just over _ dead and wounded. 30,000 40,000 50,000 60,000 The Battle of Gettysburg is considered the _ of the war. turning point least significant battle Confederate high point Why was the Battle of Gettysburg considered to be the "beginning of the end" for Confederate forces (even though the war would continue for two more years)? The Battle of Vicksburg Watch the video. Answer the questions that follow. Who led the Union assault on Vicksburg? Lee Grant Meade The Union commander ordered _ to be neutralized. Lee Jackson Beauregard Grant _ to the city for over six weeks. lay seige to build trenches around fortified Fill in the missing date. Please put only the month, a single space, and the numerical date. (do not add st, rd or th to make it 1st, 3rd or 7th, for instance--just 1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) The CSA Army guarding the city of Vicksburg finally surrendered to Union forces on July 4 ,1863. CHECK THE THREE CORRECT ANSWERS.The fall of Vicksburg was so significant because... The Mississippi River was now in the hands of the Union Lee's surrender was just days away the Confederacy was now divided. The Confederacy was forced to move their capital The fall of Richmond was inevitable FINISH THIS STATEMENT:Together, these three battles are significant because... OPTIONAL ENRICHMENT: CIVIL WAR REENACATORS Optional... if you get finished early, watch this video. Then, explore some other Civil War videos.