What was the signifigance of the Peninsula Campaign in the American Civil war?

I know it ended with the Seven Days battles, but I don't see the actual signifigance on it. What did it change or effect? From what I've researched, it just kind of fizzled out after the Seven Days Battles. Does anyone out there have an answer for me?What was the signifigance of the Peninsula Campaign in the American Civil war?
Well the first significance was that General Joseph E. Johnston was wounded at the battle of Seven Pines/Fair Oaks. This allowed Jefferson Davis to replace him with Robert E. Lee in command of what he would later re-christen the Army of Northern Virginia.





But going back to the beginning of the campaign. This was designed by General George B. McClellan (Not McClelland or however the other guy spelled it) in order to circumvent the Confederate Army and take Richmond by working up the Virginia Peninsula.





General Joseph E. Johnston was in command of the Confederate Army of the Potomac (prior to being renamed the Army of Northern Virginia by Lee). Johnston, throughout the course of some relatively minor battles, basically backed the army up the Peninsula until he was on the very outskirts of Richmond (he would later repeat this in 1864 during the Atlanta campaign), and was forced to react.





He chose to attack at the battle of Seven Pines, which did 2 things that were of great significance. The battle stalled McClellan's attempt on Richmond, more importantly, by Johnston being wounded, Robert E. Lee was placed in command of the army.





Upon taking command, Lee shored up the Richmond defenses to keep McClellan at bay. Almost a month after the battle of Sevin Pines, McClellan makes a weak attack at the battle of Oak Grove, but quickly loses the initiative. Lee then plans a series of bold strikes against McClellan, resulting in the 7 days battles, which pushed the Union army back down the peninsula and then eventually kicking them off altogether, and back to square one.





It opened the door for Lee to take command of the Army of Northern Virginia and cement his place as one of the greatest military leaders in American history. Until then he was just a military advisor to President Jefferson Davis. He quickly repositioned troops to fight General John Pope at the battle of Second Manassas/Second Bull Run and then into his first invasion of Maryland in the Antietam/Sharpsburg campaign, which ended with the issue of the Emancipation Proclamation. So really, the Peninsula Campaign was the spark in the powder keg that led directly to the defeat of General Pope at 2nd Manassas, and then the first invasion of the North.





Had the Peninsula Campaign never happened, Robert E. Lee never would have taken command of the Army of Northern Virginia, and there wouldn't be any references in the history books to places like Gettysburg, Chancellorsville, Antietam, The Wilderness, or Appomattox.





Through no fault of his own, Robert E. Lee prolonged the war much longer than it should have lasted through his leadership of the Army of Northern Virginia, and the constant incompetence of Union leadership.What was the signifigance of the Peninsula Campaign in the American Civil war?
General George B. McClellan, commander of all Union armies, developed a complicated plan to attack Richmond by sailing his 80,000-strong army down the Potomac River, through the Chesapeake, and up the peninsula created by the James and York Rivers towards Richmond. The so-called Peninsular Campaign was a disaster. Robert E. Lee, newly elevated to command of the Army of Northern Virginia, frustrated McClellan at every turn, and with the Battle of the Seven Days (June 25 to July 1), McClellan, cautious as always, decided to retreat. Lincoln was incensed and sacked McClellan, placing himself in the role of chief of the army. McClellan retreated back down the peninsula to Washington.





From Shmoop History/Civil War
Whilst it did provide the opportunity for Davis to elevate Lee to command of what became the Army of Northern Virginia (a significant event in itself) I think the campaigns real significance was much greater.





The Peninsula Campaign showed the Confederacy that they could win (or so they thought at the time). McClellan arrived with over 120,000 men, he faced barely 43,000 men under Johnston and then Lee. Lee's victory, snatched from the jaws of defeat gave the Confederacy a confidence boost, that carried it through to Gettysburg two years later.
The significance was that the North under McClelland failed to take Richmond.The failure of McClelland to advance and attack gave confidence to the south.Lee attacking and not waiting to be attack un nerved McClelland.Making him think Lee had a numerical advantage.The north got the best of the confederates in the actual fighting.But Lee's agressive style made this seem like a union fail.