Every chapter in the historical novel 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America by Steven Gillon holds significance in the shaping of modern America, but "The Battle of Antietam" undoubtedly had the greatest influence in American history. Prior to this battle Lincoln did not have enough power to strive towards freeing southern slaves and had only hoped to keep the union together. However, after his victory at this battle the president was able to put forward the Emancipation Proclamation which required that all slaves in rebellious states be freed. The principle that one person could not own another set in motion progression for racial equality for years to come. The freeing of slaves not only affected each individual that was forced into servitude. After the war was over, which likely would not have ended in a union victory if not for the Battle of Antietam, the economy began to shape into its present form. The north was thriving while the south was left economically devastated. Not only did the war shape the current economy, it also changed the way political parties compete with each other. It also became a trend to not elect those from far down south into office. Lastly, if …show more content…
Even though black citizens were discouraged from voting in various ways in the 1960s, about a century before they had no voting rights. If it were not for the 15th Amendment, which was a result of the Antietam victory, African Americans would not even have the opportunity to be able to vote. This is not the only reason that Antietam was more influential than the movement that followed. Even though the Ku Klux Klan was weakened by the actions taken against it after its members were charged with the murder of three young activists, this group continued to exist and there is still violence inflicted upon black citizens
The Battle of Antietam was a stalemate between the Union and the Confederacy costing over 22,000 American lives. However to the North this was a strategic victory because Maryland did not secede to the South and Abraham Lincoln was provided the opportunity to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. As for McClellan, he was relieved of command shortly after Antietam because of his inability to trust his Corps Commanders to make decisions on the battlefield, his lack of understanding the operational environment in the form of overestimating the Confederate numbers, and his failed visualization of Abraham Lincoln’s desired intent and end state. Lee’s army was never over-powered nor was the Confederacy defeated because of his trust for his Corps commanders
While the Civil War was taking place, the Massachusetts Infantry Regiment sends Confederate forces to engage in the Battle of Antietam. Captain Robert Shaw (Matthew Broderick) visits his family after recovering from battle and attends a party where he is introduced to Frederick Douglass. Then, Shaw is offered a promotion to the rank of Colonel, commanding the first all-black regiment of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. He takes on the challenge, and invites his childhood friend, Major Cabot Forbes (Cary Elwes) to serve as second in command. The first black man to volunteer soldier is another one of Shaw's friends: Thomas Searles (Andre Braugher). But when the Confederacy issues an order that all black soldiers wearing the Union uniform
The American Civil war is often thought of as a war against slavery, but the truth is that without Antietam, it is possible that this mission would have never been realized. By mid-1862, thousands of slaves were fleeing to join the Northern armies and Lincoln became convinced that abolition was a valid military strategy and personally viewed it as morally correct (McPherson, pg. 70-71). He then set out to write an emancipation proclamation, but was forced to push it way for
In the Battle of Antietam historians consider it a turning point in the war because it was one of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, and it was when Lee wanted to take the war onto Northern soil. In the article it states Lee felt that staging an offensive in a Union state would strike a blow to Northern confidence. He thought that he would earn support from Maryland. It was the bloodiest single-day battle ever on American soil.
In the summer of 1862, the confederates found themselves as the aggressors. In the Eastern Theater, Lee’s army of Northern Virginia had driven the Union Armies away from the Confederate capital, Richmond and was preparing to invade Maryland. In the western theater, the confederate armies were also moving strong, into Kentucky. Due to the war France and Britain were feeling the strain as cotton from the southern states was starting to diminish.
This complicated war full of bloodshed and death started merely by an assault of a Confederate left flank. Deemed the single most deadly day in American military history, the Union (who had more men) swept many attacks towards the Confederate army. Even though the South had more spirit and useful tactics the sheer numbers of the Union made this battle one to remember. They fought for many hours in Miller's cornfield to then make a last stand at Antietam Creek. With the only sign of cover being trees and the stone bridge which was worn by bullets and bodies you could tell this fight was going to be bad. The Union captured the bridge and with a final push and counter attack from another Union division the Union were victorious and were another
The Battle of Antietam took place on 17 September 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland. The battle was fought between General Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia and General McClellan’s Army of the Potomac. Although the battle lasted only 12 hours, it was a significant point of the American Civil War, as well as the deadliest day in history. Tactically the battle was considered a draw, but the North claimed strategic victory and President Lincoln published the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing hundreds of thousands of slaves.
September 17, 1862, more commonly known as the Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest day in American history to date. It had three phases each at different locations, and equally destructive in some way, shape, or form. While the Battle of Gettysburg is coined the most deadly battle, that took place over three days… the Battle of Antietam was only one.
The civil war was a conflict about the expansion of slavery into western territories. The compromise of 1820 and 1850 tried to maintain an unbalanced government between free and union state. The southern states seceded from the union because they feared Abraham Lincoln in 1860 when he got elected. The war started 1861 through 4 long 4 bloody years later. The Northern Union states fought against the southern Confederate states. The northern Union won the civil war. Their was 620,000 death toll. The battle of Antietam took place in Sharpsburg, Maryland. The battle of Antietam was the first battle in the civil war to be fought on northern soil. The impact of Antietam was that it turned out to be the bloodiest day in American History.
To conclude, despite the negative impacts the Civil War brought to the Americans, there were also many positive impacts that was brought to them. One of the most important actions that happened after the war was the establishment of the Reconstruction Amendments which allowed everyone to be free, provided the citizens with equal protection from the law, and prohibited racial inequality. The implication of these brought has gradually brought America to a brighter future, and if the Americans continue to obey these laws, then the peace in the country will not be
The Battle of Antietam was the bloodiest battle in the history of the United States. This battle was during the Civil War and there were many casualties on both sides, the North and the South or the Union and the Confederacy. This battle is also known as The Battle of Sharpsburg as it took place in Sharpsburg, Maryland. In this battle, the Confederates were led by General Lee, and the Union was led by General McClellan. The Confederates had left their tactical plans at their camp. Someone who worked for the Union found them and reported them back. This way, the Union would know about the Confederates’ attack. When both sides clashed, approximately 22000 soldiers were either dead, wounded, or missing. The death count was very, very high. But,
On September 17, 1862 a victory from the Union General, George B. McClellan, has turned the tables for the Civil War. At the Battle of Antietam many soldiers from both the Confederates and the Union had lost many. Lots of people think it was the bloodiest battle that was ever fought during the Civil War. This battle happened because as Robert E. Lee was making his way through to north he was confronted by the Union Army at Sharpsburg, Maryland. Throughout the day of September 17 three assaults by the Union Army and the loss of many soldiers had led the battle to end in a draw. However, the Confederate Army retreated giving the Union Army the victory. This battle was very important because it was the victory that President Lincoln needed before
In 1800s, there was a war that happened that caused many people to die in the war, which was Civil War. The Civil War was a war that was fought between the Union and Confederate parts of United States. The Union was in the North, and the Confederates were in the South. There were many reasons why the battles were fought. During the Civil War, the president was Abraham Lincoln. There were many reasons why the war was fought, but the main reason was to keep the country together. Before the war, the North and South had some conflicts. During the Civil War, the slavery was one issue why the war was fought too. There were many battles that were fought between the North and the South. Most of the battles were fought in the South. Among the battles of the Civil War, there was an important battle called the Battle of Antietam. This battle was also known as the Battle of Sharpsburg. The battle of Antietam took place on September 17, 1862. This battle was fought at Antietam Creek that was close to the village of Sharpsburg, Maryland. The South was led by a general named Robert E. Lee. He was one of the greatest general on the Confederate side.
For this reason he chose a narrative rather than a thematic format, integrating political and military events to emphasize complex patterns of cause and effect. Thus, he emphasizes that the failure of the Army of the Potomac to reach Richmond during the Seven Days’ Battle in the spring of 1862 changed Union policy from the limited goal of restoring the Union into one of total war to destroy the Old South and consequently gave rise to the Copperhead faction of antiwar Democrats in the North. Antietam was a major turning point not only because Lee 's Army of Northern Virginia was driven back across the Potomac, but also because it ended Confederate hopes for European recognition and military assistance, and gave Lincoln the military victory he had been waiting for as a backdrop for his Emancipation Proclamation.
The Passing of the 15th amendment in 1868 did give black men the right to vote. They were able to vote but were not permitted because they were blocked at the poles with threats of violence and death. The violence and intimidation of the Ku Klux Klan had a lot to do with the blocking of the blacks at the voting polls.