What led to the American Civil War is a topic of debate which lacks a simple answer. There is heated debate whether the war was fought for emancipation or to preserve the Union. Historians can advocate for either argument since both sides have ample evidence to support their respective standpoint. Both Hollywood and scholarship agree that the Civil War is a war to preserve the Union. While the issue of slavery was a massive factor in the war, it was not the defining factor. The Union army never declared war to coerce the South into abolishing slavery, but to keep the country united. The Union Army fought to maintain the Union, and the emancipation proclamation serves as a means to end the war. Like many scholars, Glory, Gods and Generals, Gettysburg,
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African American troops were allowed to enlist to serve in the war following Lincoln’s emancipation. The 54th Massachusetts was the first colored Corp, and its bravery in the battle of Fort Wagner paved a path for other colored corps to be established. An increase of troops would always be welcomed in a war, and most of the troops keeping guard in the Confederacy following the Union victory were African American. While African Americans were allowed to serve in the military following the Emancipation Proclamation, in reality only Confederate slaves were emancipated. It was enacted as a war act in regions of rebellion; essentially it made freeing the slaves a goal in the war. Slaves in the areas of controlled by Confederacy were freed as Union troops occupied those areas. The Emancipation Proclamation served as a bonus in the fight to restore the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation, however, was a military ordinance, and thus held little weight as law, it also did not apply to the remaining slave states, Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland, that did not secede from the Union. Something more was needed if Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery.
The scholarly pieces openly support the Union fighting the war to preserve the Union. Hollywood in the majority of the films surveyed presents a similar message. With the exception of Glory, every film presents a Union army fighting the Confederates with …show more content…
Following the passage of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, and the later passage of the actual Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops were not satisfied with serving in the war to abolish slavery. The response by the Union Soldiers in the film is remarkably similar to scholarly pieces, such as the letters in The Soldier’s Pen, as argue that the soldiers did view the Proclamation with a positive mindset. George Tillotson’s letter demonstrates the negative opinion of the Proclamation by Union troops, and the scene in the film where the Union troops act displeased about the Proclamation are essentially mirror images of one another. Both reflect the initial negative response by Union soldiers to the Preliminary Emancipation
African American troops were allowed to enlist to serve in the war following Lincoln’s emancipation. The 54th Massachusetts was the first colored Corp, and its bravery in the battle of Fort Wagner paved a path for other colored corps to be established. An increase of troops would always be welcomed in a war, and most of the troops keeping guard in the Confederacy following the Union victory were African American. While African Americans were allowed to serve in the military following the Emancipation Proclamation, in reality only Confederate slaves were emancipated. It was enacted as a war act in regions of rebellion; essentially it made freeing the slaves a goal in the war. Slaves in the areas of controlled by Confederacy were freed as Union troops occupied those areas. The Emancipation Proclamation served as a bonus in the fight to restore the Union. The Emancipation Proclamation, however, was a military ordinance, and thus held little weight as law, it also did not apply to the remaining slave states, Kentucky, Missouri, and Maryland, that did not secede from the Union. Something more was needed if Lincoln wanted to abolish slavery.
The scholarly pieces openly support the Union fighting the war to preserve the Union. Hollywood in the majority of the films surveyed presents a similar message. With the exception of Glory, every film presents a Union army fighting the Confederates with …show more content…
Following the passage of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, and the later passage of the actual Emancipation Proclamation, Union troops were not satisfied with serving in the war to abolish slavery. The response by the Union Soldiers in the film is remarkably similar to scholarly pieces, such as the letters in The Soldier’s Pen, as argue that the soldiers did view the Proclamation with a positive mindset. George Tillotson’s letter demonstrates the negative opinion of the Proclamation by Union troops, and the scene in the film where the Union troops act displeased about the Proclamation are essentially mirror images of one another. Both reflect the initial negative response by Union soldiers to the Preliminary Emancipation