The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg was a defining battle of the Civil War. It marked a turning point for the Union as well as for the Confederates, though it was not the final battle to be fought. There were many events prior the actual battle that had led to this clash (Berkin 442). The United States was undergoing great changes in the mid 1800's. Populations in both the North and the south grew tremendously. The main increase from the North was largely due to the many immigrants that flooded the coastal cities. Around 2.8 million immigrants came into the United States between 1850 and 1860. This great increase in immigrants further fueled the industrialization of the Northern states. The new source of labor was cheap, and therefore, slavery became, in the eyes of the North, un-needed (Williams). During this same time period, there was another revolution taking place in the Southern states. The agricultural revolution took hold and cotton production soared to new heights. Cotton production went from around 2 million bales to 5.7 million bales per year within that ten year period. The South also produced other crops but cotton was the biggest cash crop. The cotton produced by the South was estimated to contribute seven eighths of the world's cotton (Williams). Unlike their Northern counterparts however, the South relied heavily upon the use of slave labor. This led to much discontent leading up to and including the election of 1860. During that election time period, there were many issues at stake. Two of the main issues were slavery and sectionalism. The candidates were Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, John Breckinridge, and John Bell. As Election Day came closer it seemed that Lincoln would be the new President (Berkin 408). Lincoln had won almost every free state in the Union. The only Northern state not won by Lincoln was New Jersey. Although Lincoln had not won in a single Southern state, he became the next
The Battle of Gettysburg was a defining battle of the Civil War. It marked a turning point for the Union as well as for the Confederates, though it was not the final battle to be fought. There were many events prior the actual battle that had led to this clash (Berkin 442). The United States was undergoing great changes in the mid 1800's. Populations in both the North and the south grew tremendously. The main increase from the North was largely due to the many immigrants that flooded the coastal cities. Around 2.8 million immigrants came into the United States between 1850 and 1860. This great increase in immigrants further fueled the industrialization of the Northern states. The new source of labor was cheap, and therefore, slavery became, in the eyes of the North, un-needed (Williams). During this same time period, there was another revolution taking place in the Southern states. The agricultural revolution took hold and cotton production soared to new heights. Cotton production went from around 2 million bales to 5.7 million bales per year within that ten year period. The South also produced other crops but cotton was the biggest cash crop. The cotton produced by the South was estimated to contribute seven eighths of the world's cotton (Williams). Unlike their Northern counterparts however, the South relied heavily upon the use of slave labor. This led to much discontent leading up to and including the election of 1860. During that election time period, there were many issues at stake. Two of the main issues were slavery and sectionalism. The candidates were Abraham Lincoln, Stephen Douglas, John Breckinridge, and John Bell. As Election Day came closer it seemed that Lincoln would be the new President (Berkin 408). Lincoln had won almost every free state in the Union. The only Northern state not won by Lincoln was New Jersey. Although Lincoln had not won in a single Southern state, he became the next
Cited: Berkin, Carol, Miller, Christopher L. Miller, and Hames L. Gormly. Making America: A History of the United Sates. 4th Ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2006. The Battle of Gettysburg. Weeks, Dick. 19 March 2005. http://www.civilwarhome.com/gettysbu.htm Military History Online: Gettysburg. Williams, Brian. 2005. http://www.militaryhistoryonline.com/gettysburg/