Turning point of the American Civil War

Pivotal event in 1861–1865 conflict The Battle of Gettysburg, fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, was the deadliest battle of the American Civil War, with over 50,000 casualties. The Union army repelled Robert E. Lee's attempt to invade the North, a defeat often described as a turning point in favor of the Union. The turning point of the American Civil War refers to a battle or other development after which it became increasingly likely that the Union would prevail. Historians debate which event constituted the war’s turning point. The Union army’s victory at the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863), followed by the Union capture of Vicksburg on July 4, 1863, is most frequently cited as decisive. Several other battles and events throughout the conflict have also been proposed as turning points. This article provides a chronological listing of military developments sometimes cited as turning points in the war, along with arguments supporting their respective significance. It begins with early victories by the military forces of the Confederate States in the first few months after the Civil War commenced in April 1861, which shaped the plans and