1. Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg, MD)
Date:
September 17, 1862
Battle:
Union General McClellan v. Confederate General Lee
McClellan forces Confederacy to retreat, but doesn’t pursue them
Lincoln fires McClellan
Significance:
Bloodiest single day battle in U.S. history

2. The Union’s victory inspired Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

3. Emancipation Proclamation
Date:
January 1, 1863
Significance:
Freed the slaves in the “rebelling states” ONLY
Did not free slaves in border states that had not seceded
Changed the goal of the war to abolishing slavery

5. Lincoln Suspends Habeas Corpus
Date
April 27, 1863
Significance
Allowed states to imprison people without giving them a trial first

6. On both sides, the rich were exempt
Conscription
1863
Heavy casualties and desertion led to a need for troops
Significance
Draft that forced certain members of the population to serve in the army
On both sides, the rich were exempt

7. Battle of Gettysburg (Gettysburg, PA)
Date:
July 1-3, 1863
Significance:
Crushing defeat for Lee’s troops; Confederacy forced to retreat back to Virginia
THE turning point of the war- the Confederacy never won a major battle after this defeat

8. More than 50,000 casualties over 3 days.

9. Gettysburg Address Date: Significance: November 19, 1863
Lincoln’s speech at the commemoration of the nation’s first national cemetery
Said that the war was a struggle to preserve the Union and our liberties
Boosted morale in the North and encouraged troops to keep fighting

10. Battle of Vicksburg (Vicksburg, MS)
Date:
March 22 through July 4, 1863
Battle:
General Grant placed Vicksburg under a brutal siege
Significance:
Cut Confederacy in half
Union took control of the Mississippi River