The Battle of Gettysburg:
- The Battle of Gettysburg was fought in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, between the Union Army of the Potomac, commanded by General George G. Meade, and the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee.
- The battle was the turning point of the Civil War, as it marked the end of Lee's second invasion of the North and the beginning of the Union's successful push to take control of the Confederate capital, Richmond, Virginia.
- Although the battle resulted in heavy casualties for both sides, it was a significant Union victory. General Meade's forces managed to stop Lee's invasion, inflicting severe losses on the Confederate Army.
Lincoln's Re-election:
- The Union's victory at Gettysburg greatly boosted the morale of the Northern public and strengthened Lincoln's position as a strong and capable leader.
- Lincoln's handling of the war and the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate territories, also contributed to his popularity among the voters.
- As a result, Lincoln won the 1864 presidential election by a significant margin, defeating his Democratic opponent, General George B. McClellan.
Therefore, the Battle of Gettysburg played a crucial role in Abraham Lincoln's re-election by turning the tide of the Civil War in the Union's favor and reinforcing his leadership during a challenging period in American history.