Key Battles

Class-

In our Civil War unit, it is important to know these four key battles.

April 10 1861: Fort Sumter
This battle started up the Civil War officially after the South and North couldn't agree on peace. Fort Sumter, located in Charleston, South Carolina was a battle that the South was able to win when the North retreated (run away).
September 17 1862: Antietam
The Battle of Antietam was the single bloodiest day in the Civil War because the most amount of soldiers lost their lives. This was also the first battle fought on Northern soil.

July 1-3 1863: Gettysburg
This battle was crucial for the North to win because Southern General Robert E. Lee had pushed troops all the way up to Pennsylvania and into important Northern States. The North had more troops and were able to win this battle and have Lee's troop retreat to the south.

April 9 1865: Appomattox Courthouse
Robert E. Lee's last battle is fought here in Northern Virginia in which the Northern troops had advanced far enough into what was once considered Confederate territory. This is also the last battle of the Civil War because Lee meets with Ulysses S. Grant and discusses a treaty to end the war.



Essay Question:

In a paragraph, explain which battle you think is the most important and why?