U.S. History Ordeal by Fire

U.S. History

Ordeal by Fire - the Confederacy's Defeat

There were three major contributing factors to the South's defeat in the Civil War. First was the passage of the Emancipation Proclamation. The Union's goals changed with the Proclamation, and it changed how many foreign powers viewed the South, the war, and the Union efforts to reform the country. The Emancipation Proclamation made it clear the Union was fighting to free the slaves and create a new Union, rather than simply reform the old one. The South lost luster in the world's eyes, and it lost the support of Great Britain, which could have made a difference in the outcome of the war if Britain had actually become involved. Thus, the Proclamation was one of the most important factors in turning the tide of the war in the Union's favor, and in the South's ultimate defeat. It changed how much of the world viewed the war and the reasons it was being fought, and turned many sympathizers away from the South. If they had gained support of other countries, the war might have had a different outcome, but the Proclamation made it clear the war was about slavery, and few others wanted to support that cause.

Another important factor in the South's defeat was the Battle of Gettysburg, where the Union troops decimated the Southern troops, and turned them back toward southern battlefields. The South would never reach so far into Northern territory again, and General Lee's defeat at Gettysburg was a crushing blow to the South. They lost at least 25,000 men, (the Union lost 3,155), and they would never recover the advantage they had as they moved North through Pennsylvania. It was also a turning point because General Meade missed the chance to take the entire army before they could escape across the Potomac. Meade allowed them to escape, and many felt the war would have ended if Meade had taken the offensive and captured them before they crossed the river. The South's ultimate defeat hinged on Gettysburg, because had they won the battle they may have won the war. The Battle decimated the troops, but it also affected their morale and their own belief they could win the war. It was a decisive battle for both sides, and when the South lost, it was another element that would lead to their defeat. Union victories in the West (Vicksburg and Port Hudson) simply added to the South's woes as they retreated from Gettysburg.