KEY FIGURES
Who led the Union Army?
McClellan
When did Lee position the Confederate army at Antietam Creek?
Sept 15, 1862
Why did Lee invade?
To win in the North
What is the Cornfield?
First major fighting area
Who retreated?
Lee; he fled Maryland
Who led the Confederates?
Lee
When did McClellan and the Union Army begin moving toward Antietam?
Sept 16, 1862 (afternoon)
What did Lee hope to gain?
European support
What is Sunken Road?
A road where the Confederate Army hid under, building a defensive trench to hide from the Union.
What did Union gain?
they pushed Confederates back and gained strategy and upper hand at the end after weakening the Confederates
What is McClellan’s Lost Opportunity?
Delay after finding Lee’s plans
What happened on September 17, 1862?
Main Battle of Antietam (“Bloodiest Day in American History”)
Why did Europe matter?
What is Burnside Bridge?
the bridge that ambrose burnside led the union army to cross on, as they tried to get to the Confederates who had upper ground on the far side of the bridge.
Why was it a turning point?
It helped the Union to stop Confederate invasion and weakened their power and strength to secede and gain independence.
Who led the Burnside Bridge attack?
Burnside
What happened on September 18–19 after the battle?
Lee withdrew across the Potomac River into Virginia
What was the BIGGEST cause of battle?
The fact that Lee invaded Maryland and Special Order 191 Revealed.
What is Dunker Church?
Landmark in the Battlefield; shows contrast between peace and war!
What major policy was enacted after?
Emancipation Proclamation of 1863
Who had the better strategy?
Lee (because McCellan and Burnside were both VERY hesitant)
What happened on Jan 1st 1863?
Emancipation Proclamation enacted by President Abraham Lincoln
McCellan's Lost Opportunity (hesitancy)
Most important location?
Sunken Road (bodies were lying like stones)
Burnside Bridge (union lost to time)
What was the Battle of Antietam's long-term impact?
President Lincoln was able to analyze how slavery caused polarization and suffrage, and he now focused on not fighting the Confederacy on Secession, but rather to END slavery.