The Crisis of the Civil War

[aefenglommung]

I mentioned in my last post that "crisis" -- in the dramatic sense -- means turning point, not crescendo of activity. At what point did Outcome X become more or less inevitable? I was making a theological point in that post, but as I was doing so, a historical point came to me. What was the crisis -- the turning point -- of the US Civil War?

Comments

[xxxbarnes]

A very substantial argument. I had not really thought about this. I would point out that the Northern Army with Grant commanding was considerably heartened when they saw that after the terrible battle of the Wilderness that Grant, unlike any of their previous commanders, was not going to retreat (it was basically a draw, although a technical win for Lee), but instead ordered a flanking movement and turned the Army further south, not north toward Washington. That was the moment the Northern troops felt they had found a real leader. But you are right that Lincoln's re-election was a resolve of the Northern people, especially the troops and dissuaded any European ideas of recognizing the South. I had not thought about that.