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USI.9e:
When the Confederacy fired on a northern fort in South Carolina, the war began.
This fort was called Fort Sumter.
The first major battle of the Civil War was the 1st Battle of Manassas, also known as
Bull Run.
When the Emancipation Proclamation was signed, “freeing the slave” became the
new focus of the war. As a result, many freed slaves joined the Union army.
The North was victorious in the Battle of Vicksburg. When they won, the North took
control of the Mississippi River. This divided the South in half.
It wasn’t until the turning point of the war that the result seemed inevitable. The
Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point of the Civil War. The North was able to
repel Lee’s invasion.
The war finally ended in 1865, when Lee surrendered to Grant at Appomattox Court
House.
Location and topography (the land) were critical elements influencing important
developments in the Civil War, including major battles.
Union ships blockaded southern ports such as Savannah, Charleston, and New
Orleans. The Union ships prevented trade in and out of these southern ports so that
southerners could not get goods and supplies.
Controlling the Mississippi River was extremely important. The South did not have
the railroads that the North had, so it relied on the river to move supplies and troops.
The North took control of this transportation artery during the Battle of Vicksburg,
crippling the South.
Controlling the high ground was extremely important during a battle. For example, at
Gettysburg, the North controlled the land above the South and was able to repel
Lee’s invasion.
Battle locations were not random. Many battles were fought as a means of gaining
control of the other side’s capital city (much like capture the flag!). As a result,
battles were often fought around these capital cities. Richmond was the capital city
of the Confederacy and Washington, D.C. was the capital city of the Union. The land
between these two cities was often the site of battles.
CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING!!!
1. What event officially began the Civil War?
2. What was the first major battle of the Civil War?
3. How did the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation influence the Civil
War?
4. What was the significance of the Battle of Vicksburg?
5. Why was the Battle of Gettysburg significant?
6. What happened at Appomattox Courthouse in 1865?
7. How did the Union blockade affect the outcome of the war?
8. Why was the Mississippi River so important during the war?
9. Why does ground level matter in a battle?
10. Why did so many battles take place between Richmond and Washington,
D.C.?