The Battle of Gettysburg, also familiarized as the second turning point of the Civil War (the first being the fact that the war changed into a fight for slavery), was a major clash between the Union and the Confederacy in the north. The Union had won this battle, giving them great advantages (such as increased morale, less loss of troops, etc.). But from another perspective, if the Confederacy had won it, many things could have happened that would have severely affected the war.
If the Confederacy had won, it is possible that they could have gained support from foreign nations, such as Britain and France. By reflecting back to the Battle of Saratoga during the Revolutionary War, in which the American colonies gained the aid of France after their victory, one can assume that the Confederacy could receive this help. By allying with the stronger force during a war, the helping nations can create a friendly bond with each other for future economic help between them after winning the war (such as trade, donations, etc.). And considering that this battle was the bloodiest and most important til now, a loss for the Union could have finally pushed them far enough to forfeit.
Also, by winning this battle, the Confederacy would have been able to continue fighting strongly. With such victory, Union forces invading Vicksburg would have been forced to retreat back to the north for further defense. And rather than hiding after the Confederacy loss, the Confederates would have significantly increased their morale. By winning such battle on the enemy territory, not only would it have gradually decreased the Union's morale, but it would have given the Confederacy a more powerful spirit to fight.
And so, President Lincoln would have eventually be forced to surrender. The Union had lost many battles already, and after losing a major one such as Gettysburg would have cornered him and eventually forced him to give up. At this rate, the process of the Anaconda Plan would have been cut down, thinning the chance of the Union's victory. And instead, the South would be the ones trapping the Union -- from the inside and outside.
I do not think that the battle would turn European countries to the Confederate's side because as you already said, the Civil War became a fight for slavery. This means that France and England would not be able to join the Confederates because they already made slavery illegal in their own countries.
ReplyDeleteI don't think that the European countries would help the Confederates because the Europeans would be going against their word/rule, helping the Confederates win for slavery, when the European countries have banned slavery.
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