Turning point of the American Civil War

The turning point of the American Civil War was a military victory or other development after which it seems certain that the Union would prevail. While there is no unanimity as to which battle or development constituted the Civil War's turning point, the victory of the Union army in the Battle of Gettysburg, fought over three days from July 1 to July 3, 1863 in and around Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, followed immediately by the July 4th Union victory in the siege of Vicksburg on the Mississippi River is often cited as the Civil War's turning point. Several other decisive battles and events throughout the war have also been proposed as turning points.

This list includes a chronological listing of the military developments sometimes cited as turning points in the war and the associated arguments in support of their respective roles as turning points in the war. The list includes battle victories by the military forces of the Confederate States in the first few months after the Civil War commenced in April 1861, which led to changes in the plans and resources of the armed forces of the Union in the war, which concluded with the Confederacy signing the articles of surrender in April 1865.