1. The Battle of Fort Sumter: This battle marked the beginning of the Civil War. On April 12, 1861, Confederate forces launched an attack on Fort Sumter, a Union-held fort in South Carolina. The surrender of Fort Sumter to Confederate forces signaled the start of open hostilities between the North and the South.
2. The Emancipation Proclamation: On January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that all enslaved individuals in the Confederate states were free. This executive order was a significant turning point in the war, as it both weakened the Confederacy and inspired many African Americans to join the Union cause.
3. The Battle of Gettysburg: Fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg is often regarded as the turning point of the Civil War. The Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee, unsuccessfully attempted to invade the North and was decisively defeated by the Union Army of the Potomac, led by General George Meade. This battle marked the end of Lee's invasion strategy and boosted the morale of the North.
4. The Battle of Vicksburg: Occurring concurrently with the Battle of Gettysburg, the Battle of Vicksburg was a significant Union victory that gave control of the Mississippi River to the North. The capture of Vicksburg split the Confederacy in two, making it more difficult for the southern states to transport supplies and communicate.
5. The Appomattox Court House Surrender: On April 9, 1865, Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the Appomattox Court House in Virginia. This marked the effective end of the Civil War, as Lee's surrender led to the surrender of other Confederate forces and the collapse of the Confederacy.