US History

U.S. History Study Guide

©2018 of 194 Pacific Railroad company and authorized the building of the transcontinental railroad. The Union Pacific Railroad Company built tracks westward from Iowa, the Central Pacific Railroad Company built tracks eastward from California. The two tracks met on May 10, 1869 at Promontory, Utah. This historic moment marked the completion of the first transcontinental railroad and by 1884, there were four more lines. Americans would be able to travel from coast to coast in a week’s time. Railroads attracted many new settlers to the newly accessible West by offering free transportation. 13.19 Civil War 1863 The war shifted in favor of the Union in 1863, despite a victory by Robert E. Lee in the Battle of Chancellorsville, a battle that cost the life of one of his greatest generals, Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson. Lee struck with another offensive attack in the North but suffered a major defeat at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, in early July. The victorious general, George Gordon Meade, did not pursue right away and the Confederate Lee with his Army of Virginia escaped to fight another day. Battle of Fredericksburg (Chancellorsville) The Army of the Potomac (main force of the Union army), under another commander, General. Joseph Hooker. Fighting Joe as he was nicknamed, attempted to outflank Lee at Fredericksburg. After a brilliant attack that disorganized Hooker’s troops, General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson riding out the chaos came towards the Confederates, not realizing it was him they fired upon him and his men, he was shot in his left arm and mortally wounded in the darkness, and he died soon after. When Lee learned of Jackson's injury, he is reported as saying, Jackson might have lost his left arm but I am losing my right one. Lee finished the battle with pure military brilliance and the Union forces had captured Fredericksburg. Lee divided his force again and defeated the Union army. Hooker gave up the campaign and withdrew the next night. The Battle of Chancellorsville is regarded as Lee’s most brilliant victory. Vicksburg, Chickamauga, and Chattanooga Vicksburg, Mississippi fell to Ulysses S. Grant on July 4th 1863 after a 47 day siege. Regarded as an impenetrable Confederate stronghold, Grant cracked it open the same day Meade would win at Gettysburg. The Confederates won their greatest victory in the Western Theater at the Battle of Chickamauga in September, but failed to capitalize on it and in late November were beat from the hills above Chattanooga, opening the road to Atlanta for the Union’s Western armies. Grant was placed in command of all Western armies, a prelude to an even greater promotion that would come the following spring. Gettysburg Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia (the main force of the Confederacy) into Pennsylvania in his second invasion of the North, seeking a victory on Northern soil. The Union army now under Achieve Page 174