The Battle of Gettysburg fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, in North America between the Union and the Confederate armies (Guelzo, 2014). The battle of Vicksburg was fought on May 18-July 4, 1863 also between the Confederate and Union forces and the two battles are termed as the most significant battles in the American civil war. The battles had a psychological, strategic and diplomatic impact on the civil war which had been offset by the session of the Confederate states from the Union after Abraham Lincoln declared the abolishment of slavery (Adams, 2016). Strategically, the battle exposed the weakness of the Union army which had fewer soldiers under the commandership of General Lee and crippled them since they lost a lot of soldiers. The battle of Vicksburg, on the other hand, enabled the Union forces to control of the Mississippi the only remaining Confederate stronghold a factor that led to further weakening of the Confederate Forces (Lande, 2016). Their food and war supplies from Texas and Louisiana were blocked leading to food shortage and weakening of their defense. They, therefore, strengthened the union forces and weakened the Confederate forces.
Diplomatically the battle of Gettysburg led to the withdrawal of Britain's promised support for the Confederate forces, and even other European powers could not officially recognize them (Adams, 2016). The battle of Vicksburg also led to the surrender of the Confederate armies under General Grant after the Union forces put Vicksburg under siege locking out supplies of movement from in or out the city risking starvation of the soldiers and the civilians (Guelzo, 2014). Psychologically both battles changed the European perception of the Civil War since the defeat of the confederates made them withdraw their support which would have been a heavy reinforcement against the union forces. On the civilians and the soldiers, the psychological effects included nostalgia, homesickness, and depression from compulsory military service and post traumatic stress disorders (Lande, 2016). The battles therefore not only affected the international attitude towards the Union forces but it also took a toll on the soldiers and the civilians too.
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In sum, the battles of Vicksburg and Gettysburg had great significance on the American civil war. The siege of Vicksburg led to the surrender of the Confederate forces while the Gettysburg attack resulted in the exposure of the weakness of the Confederate troops. Both defeats led to the surrender of the South and the North emerging victorious.
References
Adams, E. D. (2016). Great Britain and the American Civil War . England: Dodo Press.
Guelzo, A. C. (2014). Gettysburg: the last invasion . New York: Vintage Books.
Lande, G. R. (2016). Psychological Consequences of the American Civil War . McFarland Publishing.
