- Atlanta was a vital rail and manufacturing hub for the Confederacy in Georgia. Its capture disrupted Confederate supply lines and communications in the Western theater of the war. Controlling Atlanta weakened Confederate armies in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi.
2. Psychological Impact:
- The fall of Atlanta gave a significant morale boost to the Union and signaled a turning point in the war. After a series of military setbacks for the Union, capturing Atlanta lifted spirits and bolstered support for Lincoln's government.
3. Political Impact:
- With the South in decline, Union control of Atlanta increased internal pressures on the Confederacy. Many within the Confederacy recognized the growing strength of the Union armies after this defeat.
4. Resources and Infrastructure:
- Capturing Atlanta gave the Union access to resources in Georgia and the surrounding regions. The city's loss diminished the South's economic capabilities and reduced their ability to mobilize resources for battle.
5. Election of 1864:
- Lincoln faced re-election in the autumn of 1864. The victories surrounding the siege of Atlanta, including those at Peachtree Creek and Kennesaw Mountain, were critical in strengthening his political standing and contributed to his re-election against Democratic opponent George B. McClellan.