- The Battle of Vicksburg (May 18-July 4, 1863): This was a decisive Union victory that split the Confederacy in two and gave the Union control of the Mississippi River.
- The Emancipation Proclamation (January 1, 1863): This executive order issued by President Abraham Lincoln declared all slaves in the Confederate states to be free.
- The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863): This was the bloodiest battle of the war and a major turning point in favor of the Union.
- The Surrender of Appomattox Court House (April 9, 1865): This was the formal surrender of the Confederate army to the Union army, effectively ending the war.