The Civil War: Key Battles & Turning Points

1. The Civil War: Key Battles & Turning Points Summarize significant key battles, strategies, and turning points of the Civil War – including the battles of Fort Sumter and Gettysburg, the Emancipation Proclamation, the significance of the Gettysburg Address, and the surrender at Appomattox – and the role of African Americans in the war.

2. Remember • South Carolina seceded from the Union. • After, the states of AL, FL, MS, GA, LA, and TX seceded. • These states formed their own government – Confederate States of America (Confederacy), which supported states’ rights and slavery. • Their president was Jefferson Davis.

3. Significant Events • Fort Sumter – first battle of the Civil War • Gettysburg – important battle for the North • Emancipation Proclamation – end of slavery • Gettysburg Address – inspired Union soldiers • Appomattox Courthouse – end of the Civil War

4. Fort Sumter • The Confederacy began taking over forts in the South. • One fort that was not taken over was Fort Sumter, South Carolina, near Charleston. • Davis wanted to take control of Fort Sumter, but a Union officer commanded the Fort. When he didn’t surrender the Fort, the Confederacy began firing on Fort Sumter.

5. Fort Sumter • The firing lasted for two days. Without food or water, the Union was forced to surrender the Fort to the Confederacy. • Lincoln responded to the attack by asking men in the Union states to become soldiers and create a Union army to fight the Confederacy.

6. Gettysburg • The Confederate army was pushing further north. When they reached Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, the Union army was ready to stop them. • Led by Robert E. Lee, the Confederate army fought the Union army for three days. • As the Confederates continued to fight, more Union soldiers joined the battle against them.

7. Gettysburg • Finally on day 3, as over 150 cannons were shot on each side of the battle, the Confederate troops marched towards the Union troops. This resulted in a disastrous attack with over 5,000 Confederates killed or wounded. • The North won this battle and forced the Confederacy to retreat into Virginia.

8. Emancipation Proclamation • Lincoln’s goal of the war was to absolve slavery in the United States. • He believed “slavery must die so that the nation might live.” • On January 1, 1863, Lincoln gave a statement that freed all slaves in the Confederate states at war with the Union.

9. Emancipation Proclamation • Since Union officers were not in control of the Confederacy, most African-Americans were not released from slavery.

10. Emancipation Proclamation

11. Gettysburg Address • About 4 months after the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln gave a speech during a memorial service for the soldiers. • The Gettysburg Address inspired Union soldiers to continue fighting for their country and the end of slavery. • p.508

12. Appomattox Courthouse • Where the surrender took place • General Robert E. Lee surrendered to General Grant. • The war was over! The North won!

13. African-Americans in the War • Many African-Americans supported Lincoln’s beliefs. One such African-American was Frederick Douglass. He encouraged others to join the war effort as a member of the Union army. “Fly to arms,” he wrote.

14. African-Americans in the War • African-Americans were allowed to join the Union army. Even though they were paid less and had to buy their own uniforms, many joined the army because they supported Lincoln. • The first group of all black troops against the Confederacy in South Carolina was the 54th regiment.

15. African-Americans in the War • Overall, 200,000 African-Americans fought for the Union and over 37,000 died. • Later, in June 1864 Congress passed a bill that stated black and white Union soldiers would receive equal pay.

16. The Civil War: Key Battles & Turning Points Summarize significant key battles, strategies, and turning points of the Civil War – including the battles of Fort Sumter and Gettysburg, the Emancipation Proclamation, the significance of the Gettysburg Address, and the surrender at Appomattox – and the role of African Americans in the war.