Final answer:
The Battle of Gettysburg marked a significant defeat for the Confederacy and a turning point in the American Civil War. President Lincoln's Gettysburg Address famously honored the fallen and redefined the war's purpose, advocating for a nation founded on liberty and equality. The high casualties and the retreat of Confederate forces signified the decline of Confederate momentum.
Step-by-step explanation:
Significance of the Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg is often considered a pivotal turning point in the American Civil War. It was the largest battle ever fought on North American soil and resulted in a significant defeat for the Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee. The battle lasted from July 1 to July 3, 1863, and culminated in Pickett's Charge, a disastrous infantry assault by the Confederates on the last day.
President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, delivered four months after the battle, is hailed as one of the most significant speeches in American history. In it, Lincoln redefined the war's purpose, emphasizing liberty, equality, and the idea of a unified nation. The address also honored the fallen soldiers and rededicated the living to the cause of ensuring that "government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
The iconic phrase, "High Watermark of the Confederacy", refers to the furthest point reached by the Confederate forces during Pickett's Charge, symbolizing the closest the Confederacy came to achieving its goal of defeating the Union forces in the North. The high casualty rates and the subsequent retreat of Lee's army back to Virginia marked the last time the Confederates would attempt to invade Northern territory. The simultaneous Union victory at Vicksburg on July 4 reinforced the notion that the tide of war was turning in favor of the Union.
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