Antietam Aftermath

The aftermath of the Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, was significant for the American Civil War. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history, resulting in about 22,000 casualties. The Union victory gave President Abraham Lincoln the confidence to issue the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared the freedom of enslaved people in Confederate states. This shifted the war's focus to not only preserving the Union but also addressing slavery. The battle also strengthened the Union Army and marked a turning point in public support for the war, highlighting the enormous human cost of the conflict.