The primary result of the Battle of Antietam for the Confederacy was a loss of morale.

Although the battle was tactically inconclusive, with no clear victor, the heavy casualties suffered by Confederate forces and the failure to achieve their objective of invading the North dealt a significant psychological blow. General Robert E. Lee's inability to secure a decisive victory diminished confidence among his troops and supporters. Additionally, the battle provided the Union with a much-needed boost, culminating in President Abraham Lincoln issuing the Emancipation Proclamation, further complicating the Confederacy's position in the war and diminishing its chances for foreign recognition.