Battle of Antietam & Emancipation Proclamation

Learn about the Battle of Antietam and Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation!

Here is the link to listen to the text below Battle of AntietamThe Battle of Antietam by Kurz AllisonThe Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862 between the Union and the Confederacy during the Civil War. It took place near Sharpsburg, Maryland. The Southern forces were led by General Robert E. Lee and the Northern forces were led by General George B. McClellan.General Robert E. Lee Goes on the OffensiveUp until the Battle of Antietam the Confederate army had been primarily on the defensive. All the major battles had been fought on Southern soil. However, after the success of the Second Battle of Bull Run, General Lee decided that it was time to go on the offensive.On September 3, 1862 the Confederate army, led by General Robert E. Lee, entered the state of Maryland. They hoped to invade the north all the way to Pennsylvania. Both General Lee and Confederate President Jefferson Davis thought that a successful invasion would convince France and Great Britain to officially recognize the Confederacy as a nation.The BattleThe battle began on the morning of September 17, 1862 when the Union army, under General Joseph Hooker, attacked the Confederate army on the left flank. Throughout the day the battle would continue. First the Union would attack then the Confederates would counterattack. The fighting was fierce and the day would be one of the bloodiest in American history.Despite being heavily outnumbered, the Confederate army continued to hold their ground throughout the day. General McClellan was cautious and never committed his entire force, while Robert E. Lee had his entire army engaged in battle in order to hold off the Union soldiers.The fighting throughout the day can be described in three major phases:The Morning Phase - The first part of the battle took place on the cornfields north of town as a group of Union soldiers known as the Iron Brigade attacked the Confederates.The Midday Phase - As the battle continued, the fiercest fighting through the middle of the day was on a sunken road. So many men died here that the road earned the nickname "Bloody Lane."The Afternoon Phase - In the afternoon, the fighting shifted to the south. Union General Ambrose Burnside and his men charged across a bridge that would become known to history as "Burnside's Bridge."Lee RetreatsThe next day, Lee continued to skirmish with McClellan's forces. However, he also began to retreat and by nightfall of the 18th, the Confederate army was leaving Maryland, retreating back to Virginia.ResultsFrom a military standpoint, neither side was a winner in the Battle of Antietam. The North, however, claimed victory as Lee's army was forced to retreat from Maryland and Union soil. Also, Great Britain and France continued to not recognize the Confederacy as a legal nation. At the same time, Abraham Lincoln was disappointed that General McClellan did not pursue the Confederate army when they were wounded and retreating. More decisive action from McClellan may have ended the Civil War much earlier.Emancipation ProclamationOne of the most important results of the battle was that Abraham Lincoln decided to use the victory as an opportunity to announce the Emancipation Proclamation. This document promised freedom for slaves in the South once the Union took back control.Facts About the Battle of AntietamThe Union had around 87,000 soldiers, while the Confederates had only 38,000. Around 3,500 soldiers were killed and 17,000 wounded.The battle was named by the Union after the nearby creek called Antietam. It was called the Battle of Sharpsburg by the South.Two Union soldiers had found a copy of Lee's battle plans before the battle. However, General McClellan moved slowly on the news and never really took advantage of the knowledge.President William McKinleyfought for the Union at the Battle of Antietam. He was a sergeant at the time.Famous nurse Clara Barton was present at the battle taking care of wounded soldiers. 1. During what war did the Battle of Antietam take place? (this is not a trick question) World War I World War II Mexican-American War War of 1812 American Civil War 2. In what state did the Battle of Antietam take place? Virginia Tennessee Maryland North Carolina Alabama 3. In what year did the Battle of Antietam take place? 1860 1861 1862 1863 1865 4. What general was the leader of the Union forces during the Battle of Antietam? George B. McClellan Robert E. Lee Ulysses S. Grant William Sherman Stonewall Jackson 5. Which side had more soldiers? Confederacy Union They had about the same No one knows 6. What was the battle called by the southern forces? Battle of Maryland Battle of Virginia Battle of the North Battle of Sharpsburg Battle of Gettysburg 7. What did Abraham Lincoln do as a result of the Union victory? Ordered an all out attack on the South Announced the Emancipation Proclamation Ordered the beginning of the Union Blockade Threw a big party at the White House Asked Mary Todd to marry him 8. Around how many soldiers were killed in the battle? 600 1,200 3,500 8,000 17,000 9. True or False: Great Britain officially recognized the Confederate States of America as a country after the Battle of Antietam. True False 10. Who was the lead general commanding the Confederate forces? George Custer George B. McClellan Ulysses S. Grant William Sherman Robert E. Lee Antietam Virtual Tour Please open this link below to see what the Battlefield at Antietam looks like today while learning about its past through this interactive website. Simply click on the "i" icons on the page to open the information you will need to answer the questions below. 11. Clara Barton arrived on the Battlefield at Antietam from what US city? Baltimore Boston Washington DC Charleston 12. What location was a headquarters, artillery target, hospital, and temporary cemetery during the Battle of Antietam? The Pineland House Poffenberger Farm Mumma Farm The East Woods 13. What were the East Woods full of according to the text in the slides of the East Woods? dead and wounded soldiers runaway slaves waited to serve as soldiers for the Union cannons and muskets racoons and rabbits 14. What location did the Confederate artillery open the battle? Mumma Farm Nicodemus Heights Poffenberger Farm Old McDonald's farm 15. How far are the South Mountains from the location this battlefield? 17 miles 70 miles 7 miles 1 mile 16. _ soldiers of the First and Twelfth Corps crossed Antietam Creek at both the Upper Bridge and a nearby ford Confederate Union 17. Which group of people can now join the Union Army with the Militia Act of 1862? German Americans African Americans Irish Americans property owning whites 18. Under the Second Confiscation Act, what can President Lincoln now confiscate as "property"? Slaves Trains Ships Weapons 19. How many days did Abraham Lincoln give the South to return to the Union? 1000 100 50 2 20. Who outlined the two arguments for the slaves to be freed? Robert E. Lee Kenneth Perkins George B. McClellan Frederick Douglass 21. What did Abraham Lincoln describe the Emancipation Proclamation as? War Measure Civil Rights something God told him to do The best writing he had even done 22. What types of states did the Emancipation Proclamation apply to? States in the Union States in the West States in Confederacy the ones next to the Atlantic Ocean 23. Who stated that the Emancipation Proclamation was a sign that the North could not win the war on the battlefield? Scotty Thompson Abraham Lincoln Jefferson Davis Robert E. Lee 24. Who stated that the Emancipation Proclamation added a powerful war ally to the effort? Ryan Krull George B. McClellan Ulysses S. Grant Joe Biden 25. How did the Emancipation Proclamation impact Southern African Americans? It motivated some of them to fight with the Union It made them stick with their masters It did not impact them at all