Battle of Antietam

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Peter Loebach 7433 Cinnabar Terrace Gaithersburg Maryland 20879 LET 3 Colonel Zadok Magruder High School 5939 Muncaster Mill Road Rockville, Maryland 20855 The Battle of Antietam was fought on September 17, 1862. The United States Army of the Potomac led by General George B. McClellan fought against the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia led by General Robert E. Lee. The battle was considered the bloodiest battle in American history where both sides suffer a great amount of losses. I have learned of the political turning point of this battle. Had the outcomes have change the south could have won the civil war. The Battle of Antietam was a battle that would determine many outcomes that would affect the war. One of these outcomes was the Emancipation Proclamation which freed all slaves in the north. This allowed for slaves to fight for their freedom and rights in the war, giving the north an increase in numbers and moral. The other outcome, had the south won, was the aid of European countries such as Britain or France. Both Britain and France saw the possibility of the south becoming its own nation and would do anything to help. Antietam was a test for the south to prove if they were capable of becoming their own nation. When they lost Britain and France withdrew aid saying the south was not worth their effort. The Battle of Antietam was a battle that would determine who would come out on top in the war. With possible ad on both sides from either the Emancipation Proclamation or European countries either side could have won the
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