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The role of blacks in the American revolution
Civil War history
Civil War history
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The Civil War was America’s bloodiest war, the conflict of the Civil War in 1861-1865 against the Confederate States of America resulted in the death of more than 750,000, and millions of soldiers injured. The American union was broken as soldier fought soldier in a Civil War that remains in our nation's history. 4,000,000 were freed, 750,000 dead, and 1 nation saved. The movie Glory is a 1989 American drama war movie directed by Edward Zwick and starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington, Cary Elwes and Morgan Freeman .The Movie was based on personal letters of Colonel Shaw and, the story is based on the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, the first formal unit of the US Army to be made up entirely of colored men, as told from the point of view of Colonel Shaw, he is the commanding officer during the war. Robert Shaw the officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War. As the officer he commanded all black, 54 Massachusetts, to enter the war in 1863. Officer Colonel Shaw is the main subject of the film.Private Trip is a trouble maker; he usually breaks the rules and messes with everyone. Major Cabot Forbes, childhood friend of Colonel Shaw, he is in charge of commanding the 54th. The American Civil War although it’s often referred to as the war to free the slave, No one ever thought colored were in the war.
Colonel Shaw, son of wealthy. He was 23 years old when he enlisted to fight in the War between the States. He is a very honored man and he constantly writes letters to his family. When Colonel Shaw went to war he had to realize how brutal war really was. When he fought in the Battle of Antietam, He was exposed to watching his men fall. But still he showed bravery, because he would yell to go forward when ev...
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... then finds out that he ran away in search for a pair of new shoes. Colonel Shaw then orders to get shoes for everyone and takes care of Trip and cures him from his back and his feet from all the blisters he had.
In conclusion, the training seemed easy for them once they learned their right and left, they learned faster than the white. Going into battle they were brave men and risked their life in order to win. Thomas was not the bravest but kept his respect toward Colonel Shaw even though he was treated bad. Private trip was the bully in this movie and was the one who made a major impact in the movie. As to Colonel Shaw, he made the major change from being the soldier in the army to being the leader of the army. They were all defeated, and Thomas, Private Trip, and Colonel Shaw died. They made history but we still believe they were the bravest men during the war.
Zwick effectively builds the characters of the 54th regiment by portraying the grueling months of training and development. One prominent example of this is at the end of their movie when the 54th is given the chance to fight in an attack on the beach of South Carolina at Fort Wagner. Determined to dismiss the belief that blacks would not be disciplined under fire, the 54th is at the forefront of the suicidal attack on Fort Wagner. During this battle, the 54th displays the courage that persuaded President Lincoln to enlist many more black soldiers. Zwick’s choice of characters greatly contributed to the success of Glory.
Robert Gould Shaw was a son of wealthy Boston abolitionists. At 23 he enlisted to fight in the war between the states. The movie opens with Robert reading one of the many letters he writes home. He is captain of 100 Union soldiers, most of whom are older than himself. He speaks of the spirit of his men and how they are enthusiastic about fighting for their country just like the men in the Revolutionary war only this time they were fighting to give blacks freedom and to live in a United country where all can speak and live freely.
The Union Army was able to match the intensity of the Confederacy, with the similar practice of dedication until death and patriotism, but for different reasons. The Union soldiers’s lifestyles and families did not surround the war to the extent of the Confederates; yet, their heritage and prosperity relied heavily on it. Union soldiers had to save what their ancestors fought for, democracy. “Our (Union soldiers) Fathers made this country, we, their children are to save it” (McPherson, 29). These soldiers understood that a depleted group of countries rather than one unified one could not flourish; “it is essential that but one Government shall exercise authority from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada, and from the Atlantic to the Pacific” (Ledger, 1861).
Black soldiers were among the bravest of those fighting in the Civil War. Both free Blacks in the Union army and escaped slaves from the South rushed to fight for their freedom and they fought with distinction in many major Civil War battles. Many whites thought Blacks could not be soldiers. They were slaves. They were inferior. Many thought that if Blacks could fight in the war it would make them equal to whites and prove the theory of slavery was wrong. Even though Black soldiers had to face much discrimination during the Civil War, they were willing to fight to the death for their freedom. In the movie “Glory“ the director focused on the African Americans in the north that fought in the 54th regiment led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. During the time of the Civil War, the African Americans that fought in the 54th regiment were often treated unfairly but there were always nice people that backed them up.
The First Louisiana Native Guards became the first Black regiment to receive official recognition from the government. The Union brass had initially prevented the Blacks from seeing action in the war. Colonel Robert Shaw and his men of the Massachusetts 54th had to overcome fear, mockery and racism before they were allowed to fight. By the end of 1863, many thousands Blacks found employment in the Union Army. There were some 50, 000 Black soldiers in the ranks. Although Black soldiers were promised $13 a month, they were insulted with an offer of $7 a month. Black soldiers and sailors became indispensable elements in a war that could not have been won without their help. The triumph of the Union forces was due to a number of factors, including Northern technology and the spirit of the age. But the most preeminent factor was the contribution of slaves and freedmen who provided the margin of difference that turned the tide against the Confederate forces in 1864 and 1865. According to official records, there were 185, 000 Black soldiers in the Union Army. Their mortality rate was disproportionately high, 21% of the total number of Black soldiers. Equally visible and heroic were the sailors in the Union Navy. One out of every four Union sailors was black, they served on Union ships as coal heavers, stewards, boatswains, firemen and gunners. In addition the North was forwarded by more than 200,000 civilians, mostly freed slaves. They served as spies and scouts. The most remarkable of all Union spies was a woman named Harriet Tubman.
The ending of this battle is tragic and enlightening as well, the great idea of sneak attacks at dawn by the Confederates and the righteous timings of reinforcement by the Union, brought this story to my attention. Gathering this information brought me believe that this is a movie, a novel, but this was actual real life. Losing lives in a battle like this one bring only one thing to mind, that each side was fierce on fighting for what they believe in. No other battles before this have had this much bloodshed in less than a day, the planning done by Grant and Johnston was phenomenal. The steady mind of Johnston and the brave hearts that were under Grant is what brought this battle to what is today’s history. Working on this essay has been excellent in my learning process and I hope to be doing another one soon.
In the history of the United States, there have been many wars like Civil War. Civil War is a war in the United States between the North and the South. In “The Killer Angels” by Michael Shaara is explained of the fogginess that often accompanies warfare. This novel talks about the period of June 30th, 1863 through July 3rd, 1863 when civil war was happening. It is a story of the Battle of Gettysburg, three years into the Civil War. The Killer Angels is also a story that at times questions what the Civil War was about. The Civil War was a war fought over slavery and the North made their own way to South by imposing the South. Slavery was the main reason what got the Civil War started in the South and separation between South and North was stronger.
After watching this film, I realized how little I knew about the American Civil War. The film provided me with more information about how many died as a result of this war and how this changed America completely. The civil war brought horrible modern conformation that included mass slaughter because “nearly two and a half percent of the population would die in the conflict -- an estimated 750,000 people in all -- more than in all other American wars combined” (“American Experience”). Never before, and never since, this war people
The time spent at training camp prepared the boys for what was to come, by making them tough and brutal, while at the same time creating an army that does not stop to question its orders.
The movie opens with a naive Shaw who believes in the equality of all men as promised in the Declaration of Independence. The first scene opens with Shaw and his company marching to Antietam. He is very enthusiastic about being in the military and his strong belief about why their fighting. This is illustrated in his letter home to his mother. Shaw writes “how grand it is to meet the men from all the states, east and west...ready to fight for their country...as the old fellows did in the Revolution. But this time we must make it a whole country...for all whom live here, so that all can speak”. The viewer realizes Shaw truly believes that all men are equal regardless of color and is willing to fight and die for his beliefs. In addition, the viewer can see that Shaw has...
Was it actually fair how war was portrayed to these young boys than to how it actually was? The Red Badge of Courage and All’s Quiet on the Western Front are both interesting stories that explain the reality of war and how young men like Paul and Henry get dragged into it. These stories do not show all the singing and dancing filled campfires, but show and explain what the battles were like and all the anxiety of waiting to go to battle. The Red Badge of Courage and All’s Quiet on the Western Front show how different war was and also show how similar
“Glory” is told mainly through the eyes of Shaw, played by Matthew Broderick. At the beginning of the movie, Shaw is fighting in a battle, and manages to survive, despite heavy Union losses. He is horrified with the violence of the war, and returns home to recover from his wounds. Shaw is recruited to lead the newly formed black regiment. Although he has grown up and still retained his abolitionist opinions, he still has doubts about the capability of black troops.
Band of Brothers is a fascinating book that captures moments lived by soldiers during World War II. It specifically relates to the History of a small unit of paratroopers known as Easy Company, 506 Regiment, 101st Airborne. It is a story that follows the company from its inception to the capture of Hitler’s nest. It begins with the training of these soldiers at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. The 140 members of easy company who were young men from different social levels were physically and mentally trained. This particular company had an extremely harsh training, but many believe it is because of this training that they were considered as one of the best rifle companies in the army.
His feet weren't going where he told them too!!! It was cold, so cold, and even though he knew where he was going, an advantage over most, he couldn't shake off the morbid feeling of doom, no matter how hard he tried.
It is the evening before a powerful and epic battle with more than victory at stake. Tomorrow, the 54th regiment will forever stamp themselves as a symbol of hope and freedom in a new world during an attack on Fort Wagner as soldiers for the North. Dozens of men with young children, wives, and an idealistic dream of a free world will die in a matter of hours. As the Northern soldiers gather on this night before war, there are no tears of fear to be shed. The din in the air is that of song and the feeling is that of an inspirational victory. On this night before their death, slaves turned soldiers have put aside their personal differences and become one; a metaphoric battle has been won. This is one of the final scenes from the movie Glory, a power depiction of the heroic efforts of the first African American regiment during the Civil War. The deep, multiple plot layers, and moving acting performances in Glory create a captivating viewing experience.