The significant outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg, fought from July 1 to July 3, 1863, was the turning point in the American Civil War. Union forces, under General George Meade, achieved a decisive victory over Confederate General Robert E. Lee's army, who sought to invade the North. The battle resulted in heavy casualties on both sides and halted Lee’s advance, boosting Union morale. It marked a strategic shift in favor of the Union and contributed to the eventual defeat of the Confederacy. The battle also set the stage for President Lincoln's famous Gettysburg Address.