Battle of Gettysburg
Reading Passage 1
What Happened at Gettysburg?
The Civil War had been going on for two years. The Confederacy had won battles at Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville. In 1863, General Robert E. Lee led his army into the North to try to win the war.
The Battle of Gettysburg started on July 1, 1863, in Pennsylvania. The Union and Confederate armies fought for three days. The Union army won and stopped Lee’s invasion. Over 50,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or went missing.
The victory helped the Union. It gave people hope. A few months later, President Abraham Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address to honor the dead and talk about freedom and equality.
Reading Passage 2
Turning Point at Gettysburg
By the summer of 1863, the Civil War had been raging for two years. The Confederacy had recently claimed major victories at Fredericksburg in 1862 and Chancellorsville in May 1863. With momentum on their side, Confederate General Robert E. Lee launched an invasion into the North, hoping to force the Union to negotiate peace and gain support from European nations.
The Battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863, in Pennsylvania. For three days, Union and Confederate forces fought in and around the small town. The Union army, led by General George Meade, eventually repelled the Confederate forces, marking a major turning point in the war. The battle ended with over 50,000 soldiers killed, wounded, or missing, making it the deadliest battle of the Civil War.
The Union victory at Gettysburg halted Lee’s advance into the North and boosted Union morale. It shifted the momentum of the war in favor of the Union and led to their eventual victory in May of 1865. A few months after the battle, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, a speech that honored the fallen soldiers and reaffirmed the Union’s commitment to liberty and equality.
Reading Passage 3
Gettysburg: A Pivotal Moment in the Civil War
By mid-1863, the Civil War had already taken a heavy toll. The Confederacy, under General Robert E. Lee, had secured major victories at Fredericksburg in 1862 and Chancellorsville in May 1863. Seeking to end the war quickly, Lee moved his troops north into Pennsylvania.
The Battle of Gettysburg began on July 1, 1863. For three brutal days, the Union army under General George Meade held off repeated Confederate attacks. Ultimately, Lee was forced to retreat, and the Union secured a much-needed victory. The battle was the deadliest of the war, with over 50,000 casualties.
The Union’s success at Gettysburg was a turning point. It halted the Confederate advance and boosted Northern morale. A few months following the battle, President Abraham Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address, honoring the fallen and reinforcing the ideals of liberty and equality for all.