Download The Civil War: Key Battles & Turning Points

The Civil War:
Key Battles &
Turning Points
Summarize significant key battles, strategies,
and turning points of the Civil War – including
the battles of Fort Sumter and Gettysburg, the
Emancipation Proclamation, the significance of
the Gettysburg Address, and the surrender at
Appomattox – and the role of African Americans
in the war.
Remember
South Carolina seceded from the Union.
After, the states of AL, FL, MS, GA, LA,
and TX seceded.
These states formed their own government
– Confederate States of America
(Confederacy), which supported states’
rights and slavery.
Their president was Jefferson Davis.
Significant Events
Fort Sumter – first battle of the Civil War
Gettysburg – important battle for the North
Emancipation Proclamation – end of slavery
Gettysburg Address – inspired Union
soldiers
Appomattox Courthouse – end of the Civil
War
Fort Sumter
The Confederacy began taking over forts in
the South.
One fort that was not taken over was Fort
Sumter, South Carolina, near Charleston.
Davis wanted to take control of Fort
Sumter, but a Union officer commanded the
Fort. When he didn’t surrender the Fort, the
Confederacy began firing on Fort Sumter.
Fort Sumter
The firing lasted for two days. Without food or
water, the Union was forced to surrender the Fort to
the Confederacy.
Lincoln responded
to the attack by
asking men in the
Union states to
become soldiers and
create a Union army
to fight the
Confederacy.
Gettysburg
The Confederate army was pushing further
north. When they reached Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, the Union army was ready to
stop them.
Led by Robert E. Lee, the Confederate army
fought the Union army for three days.
As the Confederates continued to fight,
more Union soldiers joined the battle
against them.
Gettysburg
Finally on day 3, as over 150 cannons were
shot on each side of the battle, the
Confederate troops marched towards the
Union troops. This resulted in a disastrous
attack with over 5,000 Confederates killed
or wounded.
The North won this battle and forced the
Confederacy to retreat into Virginia.
Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln’s goal of the war was to absolve
slavery in the United States.
He believed “slavery must die so that the
nation might live.”
On January 1, 1863, Lincoln gave a
statement that freed all slaves in the
Confederate states at war with the Union.
Emancipation Proclamation
 Since Union
officers were not in
control of the
Confederacy, most
African-Americans
were not released from
slavery.
Emancipation Proclamation
Gettysburg Address
About 4 months after the Battle of
Gettysburg, Lincoln gave a speech during a
memorial service for the soldiers.
The Gettysburg Address inspired Union
soldiers to continue fighting for their
country and the end of slavery.
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Appomattox Courthouse
Where the surrender took place
General Robert E. Lee
surrendered to General Grant.
The war was over! The North
won!
African-Americans in the War
Many AfricanAmericans supported
Lincoln’s beliefs. One
such African-American
was Frederick
Douglass. He
encouraged others to
join the war effort as a
member of the Union
army. “Fly to arms,”
he wrote.
African-Americans in the War
African-Americans were allowed to join the
Union army. Even though they were paid
less and had to buy their own uniforms,
many joined the army because they
supported Lincoln.
The first group of all black troops against
the Confederacy in South Carolina was the
54th regiment.
African-Americans in the War
Overall, 200,000 African-Americans fought
for the Union and over 37,000 died.
Later, in June 1864 Congress passed a bill
that stated black and white Union soldiers
would receive equal pay.
The Civil War:
Key Battles &
Turning Points
Summarize significant key battles, strategies,
and turning points of the Civil War – including
the battles of Fort Sumter and Gettysburg, the
Emancipation Proclamation, the significance of
the Gettysburg Address, and the surrender at
Appomattox – and the role of African Americans
in the war.