Gettysburg the Civil War Was a Battle Term Paper

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Gettysburg

The Civil War was a battle that tore the United States into two dividing loyalties and families across the states. That it is a scar that still rankles the North and South cannot be doubted and yet, one event during the war is remembered over all others -- the Battle of Gettysburg. The battle took place for three days and yet, even today we see almost 1.3 million people visit the same ground in hope of reliving the event that took place on July 1 and 3, 1863. 75,000 Confederate soldiers under the leadership of General Robert E. Lee and almost 84,000 Union soldiers who came under the command of General George G. Meade fought the Battle of Gettysburg. With about 51,000 casualties and more than 10,000 soldiers dead Gettysburg was considered to be one of the most tragic battles of the American history and one that changed the course of the Civil War. [SCHENSUL,1993]

Analysis

This battle is remembered more than any other and has captured our imaginations through media depictions from books to movies and more. Michael Shaara's novel The Killer Angels was written on the three-day battle of Gettysburg (July 1- 3, 1863) and is considered a classic of historical fiction. Through research Shaara presented the words of the men who had fought the battle, their letters, and other documents and die not consciously change any fact or knowingly violate the action [Shaara 1974, xiii]. The result is a moving portrayal of men caught up in the vortex of a great event, in which decisions of life and death, victory or defeat are made on the basis of complex internal responses to pressing external circumstances.

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The Civil War was being fought by the states divided into the North and South. The strife was caused due to the fact that the Northern States were imposing a law that would allow the black slaves to be freed. Such an act would have adversely affected the economy of the Southern States and so they believed that it was within their right to secede from the Union. Abraham Lincoln, the President at the time did not believe that America could survive if the states were allowed to secede and so the war began. According to Chamberlain the war was, "American's fight for mankind, for freedom; for the people, not the land," [Shaara 29].

Once the Civil War started it seemed the South would be invincible. Under the command of General Robert Lee, it gained one victory after another and it seemed the war would be in the favor of the South. Had Lee been successful at Gettysburg the South would have won the war at the U.S. history, as we know it would have changed forever. The Southern Army realized that this one last success would entail a complete success in terms of the war and for them the battle held more than a small stake.

The North had until the time of the battle been losing the various skirmishes that took place. While General Lee ruled supreme on any battlefield the Northern commanders leadership had proven to be insufficient and Lincoln was becoming frustrated with this failure on the field. In a last ditch desperate attempt President Lincoln put Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade in control of the army......

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