There is widespread disagreement over the turning point of the American Civil War. The idea of a turning point is an event after which most observers would agree that the eventual outcome was inevitable. While the Battle of Gettysburg is the most widely cited (often in combination with Battle of Vicksburg), there are several other arguable turning points in the American Civil War. Possibilities are presented here in chronological order. Only the positive arguments for each are given.
At the time of the event, the fog of war often makes it impossible to recognize all of the implications of any one victory. Hindsight well after the fact reveals the endpoint and all the developments that led up to it. In most cases, contemporary observers may lack confidence in predicting a turning point. In the Civil War, many of the turning points cited by historians would not have been recognized as such at the time.
Read more about Turning Point Of The American Civil War: Confederate Victory in First Battle of Bull Run (July 1861), Confederate Invasion of Kentucky (September 1861), Union Capture of Forts Henry and Donelson (February 1862), Union Capture of New Orleans (April 1862), Union Victory in Battle of Antietam (September 1862), Stonewall Jackson's Death (May 1863), Union Capture of Vicksburg and Victory in Battle of Gettysburg (July 1863), Union Victory in Third Battle of Chattanooga (November 1863), Grant's Appointment As Union General-in-chief (March 1864), Union Capture of Atlanta (September 1864), Lincoln's Reelection (November 1864)
Famous quotes containing the words civil war, turning, point, american, civil and/or war:
“... there was the first Balkan war and the second Balkan war and then there was the first world war. It is extraordinary how having done a thing once you have to do it again, there is the pleasure of coincidence and there is the pleasure of repetition, and so there is the second world war, and in between there was the Abyssinian war and the Spanish civil war.”
—Gertrude Stein (1874–1946)
“I heard the bell tolled on thy burial day,
I saw the hearse that bore thee slow away,
And, turning from my nursery window, drew
A long, long sigh, and wept a last adieu!”
—William Cowper (1731–1800)
“The point is children lie to others for good and sufficient reasons, but they don’t kid themselves. They know who did what, but they feel no moral imperative to inform grownups.”
—Leontine Young (20th century)
“The American ideal, after all, is that everyone should be as much alike as possible.”
—James Baldwin (1924–1987)
“There are those who say to you—we are rushing this issue of civil rights. I say we are 172 years late.”
—Hubert H. Humphrey (1911–1978)
“Another danger is imminent: A contested result. And we have no such means for its decision as ought to be provided by law. This must be attended to hereafter.... If a contest comes now it may lead to a conflict of arms. I can only try to do my duty to my countrymen in that case. I shall let no personal ambition turn me from the path of duty. Bloodshed and civil war must be averted if possible. If forced to fight, I have no fears from lack of courage or firmness.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)