History: Battles and Conflict 4

– The Battle of Gettysburg –

“The Battle of Gettysburg, fought between July 1 and 3, 1863, was a seminal conflict in the American Civil War. It is chiefly remembered for the staggering number of casualties incurred by both the Union and Confederate forces. The battle was initiated when Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s troops confronted the Union’s Army of the Potomac, commanded by General George G. Meade.

Over the course of three arduous days, the two forces clashed in a series of encounters that eventually culminated in the Union’s momentous victory. On the last day, General Lee made a perilous decision to launch a massive assault, later dubbed “Pickett’s Charge,” against the center of the Union line. This proved catastrophic for the Confederates, as they suffered an exorbitant number of casualties.

The Union victory at Gettysburg is widely regarded as the turning point in the Civil War, as it weakened the Confederate Army and bolstered the North’s morale. Furthermore, it paved the way for President Lincoln’s epochal Gettysburg Address.”

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO words from the text for each answer.

The Battle of Gettysburg was a ______ conflict in the American Civil War.
General Robert E. Lee’s troops ______ with the Union’s Army of the Potomac.
The combat persisted over the ______ of three grueling days.
On the final day, General Lee executed a ______ assault known as “Pickett’s Charge.”
The Union’s triumph at Gettysburg is commonly seen as a ______ point in the Civil War.
The battle laid the groundwork for President Lincoln’s landmark Gettysburg ______.

Choose NO MORE THAN ONE word from the text for each answer.

The Battle of Gettysburg, which ensued from July 1 to 3, 1863, was a pivotal skirmish in the American Civil War, renowned for its astronomical tally of ______ on both Union and Confederate sides. The confrontation was precipitated when troops under Confederate General Robert E. Lee engaged the Union’s Army of the Potomac, led by General George G. Meade. Across three ______ days, the armies engaged in a sequence of clashes, ultimately culminating in a decisive victory for the Union. In a ______ gambit on the concluding day, General Lee sanctioned a large-scale offensive, now referred to as “Pickett’s Charge,” against the Union’s central line. This maneuver proved calamitous for the Confederates and is deemed a turning ______ in the war. Additionally, this battle set the stage for President Lincoln’s iconic Gettysburg Address.

Vocabulary Builder

Find the synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning) to these 9 words from the original passage.

Original Word	Variants Used
Battle	________ / ___________ / __________________
Fought	___________________ / __________________
Troops	___________________ / __________________
Days	__________________
Assault	_________/ __________ / __________________
Casualties	___________________ / __________________
Decision	__________________
Victory	___________________ / __________________
Address	__________________

Reveal answer (10 More Words)

Original Word	Variants Used
Battle	conflict, skirmish, confrontation
Fought	clashed, engaged
Troops	forces, armies
Days	course
Assault	attack, offensive, maneuver
Casualties	tally
Decision	gambit
Victory	triumph, success
Address	speech