Final answer:
The Civil War battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg were crucial Union victories. Vicksburg's fall on July 3, 1863, gave the Union control over the Mississippi River and split the Confederacy. Gettysburg caused significant Confederate losses and ended Lee's invasions into the North.
Step-by-step explanation:
Significance of Vicksburg and Gettysburg Battles
The Civil War battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg were significant turning points in the American Civil War. Vicksburg was a crucial Union victory that occurred on July 3, 1863. This victory gave the Union control over the Mississippi River, which effectively split the Confederacy in two, hampering the South's ability to maintain logistics and communication across the Mississippi. The fall of Vicksburg also elevated Ulysses S. Grant's military reputation, leading him closer to becoming the Union's lead general.
Gettysburg, also occurring in early July 1863, was another Union victory that proved pivotal. The Confederate forces under General Robert E. Lee were driven back after intense fighting, and its aftermath marked the furthest extent the Confederacy would reach into the North. This battle resulted in the highest number of casualties in the war and marked a shift in momentum against the Confederacy. Gettysburg became emblematic of the high-water mark of the Confederacy, symbolizing their furthest advance and subsequent retreat.
Neither of these victories marked the end of the war, but they significantly weakened the Confederate forces and bolstered the Union's determination and morale. The Confederates never again mounted a strong offensive in the Western Theatre after Vicksburg, and Lee's failure at Gettysburg ended his attempts to invade the North.