The Importance Of The Battle Cry Of Freedom

Music has always been an influence on American culture and identity, from “Yankee Doodle” in the American Revolution to the songs sung by protesters during the 1960s. Through music, artists such as Michael Jackson and Ella Fitzgerald were able to raise awareness and help minimize the division that skin color caused with American citizens. Music was an important form of communication during the Civil War as well, as many new songs dealing with slavery, treason, religion, and family began to surface. Music was important during the American Civil War, expressing the opinions and beliefs that people held near to them. The Union army, Confederate army, as well as slaves, all created music that expressed one common theme, the theme of freedom from …show more content…
In it, the Northerners describe their position in the war, repeating the theme of freedom several times. They describe their own army as “The loyal, true and brave, Shouting the battle cry of Freedom; And although they may be poor, Not a man shall be a slave” This lyric claims that freedom will be shouted from all who are free, though they may be contained by poverty, they will not be enslaved due to their skin color. The Union soldiers are justifying their side in the war, referring to it as a battle for freedom, particularly from slavery. The song lyrics show, through the usage of words like loyal, brave, and free, that this fight is for freedom. The soldiers come right out and declare that this is the true purpose of the war, and they also share their hope for the future, that it will not have slavery, though poverty is …show more content…
Slaves would sing songs across the fields, which helped them to maintain a piece of their culture, and could help to spread messages. During the Civil War, many more songs began to appear, as slaves began to experience freedom, and would publish these lyrics. One song that clearly demonstrates the struggle for freedom from oppression is the song “Go Down Moses,” in which "When Israel was in Egypt 's land, Let my people go, oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let my people go." In this reference to the bible, the Israelites were oppressed by their Egyptian masters, and their God asked the pharaoh to free them. Often, slaves would compare their plight to religious struggles, and in this case, they are comparing their struggle to that of the ancient israelites. This conveys the theme of oppression, as those in the song are struggling under slavery from the egyptians, and wish for their freedom. This religious comparison can be interpreted, making the Confederate army as the Egyptians, and Abraham Lincoln as the God, who has set out to free them by sending in the Union army. Songs that slaves sung often dealt with these themes, and during the civil war, more of these songs became popular, as the war would define their