Sunday, May 20, 2012
Battle of Gettysburg... altered?
The Battle of Gettyburg is considered the second turning point of the war- ending with an incredible Union victory. However if the Confederacy had won the outcome would have been completely different. Had the Confederacy win, the Union would have been crushed not only from the outer conflict but from within. Northerners would have lost their morale in fighting following already many defaeats from the South. As well as push President Lincoln to question his motives in whether war was really the answer. On the other hand, a Confederate victory at Gettysburg would have fed the South's morale even more. And after his defeat in Antietam, General Robert E. Lee would have pushed his campaign further towards Union territory. However, I don't think that even winning the Battle of Gettysburg could have gotten them foreign allies. With the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation, the war wasn't just about "preserving the Union." It was also about slavery- an issue that Britian & France already banished. It would have hurt their repuatation & be seen hypocritical if they aided the Confederacy. The Battle of Gettysburg is seen to be so significant because had the Confederacy win the tides of the war itself would have completely altered.
I don't think that the southernerners would've won even with a victory in Gettysburg. I understand that a defeat in Gettysburg in the union might have hurt the union but i believe that a defeat in gettysburg would have drove the union citezens to start filling in the army for what they believe in. With a great army increase they would ve increased their chances even more
ReplyDeleteEven though I agree that the outcome of the war would be different if the Confederacy had won the battle of Gettysburg, I don't think the North would necessarily LOSE morale. In fact, if anything, they would GAIN morale, trying to win the next battle (reflecting the Alamo).
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