. In 1862, Col Robert Gould Shaw returned home to recover from wounds after most of his soldiers had fallen to war fatalities. Shortly after his recovery, the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation by President Abraham Lincoln and the support of Massachusetts Governor Andrew, changed the prejudice of black soldiers not being stable enough to eradicate fear under pressure in war situations. Yet, the soldiers’ willpower to defeat Confederacy made the 54th Massachusetts proud to be soldiers, proud to wear the uniform, as well as proud to fight for their freedom. The story of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, significantly changed white perception of black soldiers.
a. Col Shaw took command when he was 25 years of age while
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The depiction of the regiment transitioned from slavery to freedom. Freed slaves, Northern freemen, and even one of his childhood friends shifted mindsets after seeing actions of equality by Col Shaw. The first steps of shifting mindsets and prejudices of white supremacy by the black regiment was the supply of weapons, food, uniforms, and the most powerful illustration, the destruction of paychecks. After this incident, Col Shaw created a bond of trust and confidence that made the black regiment want to fight for more than just their own freedom. Col Shaw’s shift in leadership style created a family that wanted to fight for each …show more content…
His lesson of putting the men under simulated pressure was receptive and clearly understood by demonstrating by example. Additionally, the men realized and emphasized with the Col’s own experience and imagined what hew went through to be able to teach this lesson. Respect and honor were teachable characteristics during these scenes, that created an environment of seriousness while fighting for emancipation.
3. The men of the 54th Massachusetts faced a lot of obstacles on their way to emancipation including prejudices, bad leadership, and bad attitudes. Yet, with the shift from callousness and apathy shown by the white command toward empathy and trust between the regiment and the command, soldiers turned into disciplined God-fearing wholesome freedom fighters. Col Shaw created an equal environment in which a purpose of fighting for everyone’s freedom was the upmost priority. a. The final scene in which Confederates bury Col Shaw along with the rest of his soldiers sums up the story by suggesting the triumph over racism within the military ranks against Confederacy, the preservation of the Union, and the emancipation of freedom. Col Shaw overcame his prejudices by being emerging into the ranks of his own men by putting himself equally next to the first ranks and off his horse, which earned him the respect and created the motivation to fight without fear against supremacy and for
Glory tells the story of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts, the “trial balloon” for black soldiers. The regiment was comprised entirely of African Americans. Some of these people were ex-slaves, willing to fight for the North. At first the army intended to just use them only for manual labor, but as the war got started some seen combat. Although it was widely believed that blacks would not make good soldiers, the 54th was one of the bloodiest actions of the war.
The black men did the same job just as hardy, but yet they were put in more danger than the white men. There were many racist comments thrown at the Harlem Hellfighters before, after, and during their fighting. One example of these statements are “the Negro brain just wasn’t “evolved” enough to handle the challenges of combat leadership…” The Harlem Hellfighters really earned their spot in this war. Even though they were getting beaten up every day they continued to try their hardest at every obstacle, they didn’t let the white mens’ comments decrease the amount of work that they did.
Beginning with the Battle of Antietam, Glory develops the perspective of the Civil War, savage confederates, and the heroic union. Captain Robert Shaw returns home on medical leave following his injury in the Battle of Antietam and is promptly offered a promotion to Colonel in command of the first all-black regiment, the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Shaw accepts and gathers recruits, who are soon informed that all black soldiers will be returned to slavery, or if found serving the union army would be executed in response to Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Expecting many of his soldiers to desert, Shaw is surprised to find his regiment as it was before, ready to serve their nation. The black soldiers endure months of
Its April of 1861, first month of the Civil War, Alfred M. Green is delivering a speech in Philadelphia in order to persuade African Americans to join the Union army. At the time African Americans were not allowed to join, but Green felt as if they should and be preparing to enlist. In his speech Green uses a variety of ways to change his audience view on the war by explaining to them by helping in the war they will be fighting for there freedom.
The character core such as Trip, Thomas and John Rawlins showed why black soldiers were proud to be apart of the union army and were ready and willing to stand for what they believed. The racism of both Union and Confederate troops which was displayed throughout the movie with examples such as the letter sent from the Confederate President Davies stating that all black troops that were captured would be put in slavery or killed likewise there commanding officers would be hanged, or when the Union army did not pay them the military standard 13.00 dollars and stated that the money was being deducted for their uniforms the men refused to take inadequate pay and in a show of unity Shaw and his officers refused their pay to show their solidarity which was one of the powerful
Robert E. Lee’s (1807-1870) contribution to the United States as a war general and commander received positive connotations for his commitment, attitude and inspiration on the battlefield. However, it is debateable about his contributions because of Robert Lee’s association in the Civil War (1861-1865) to the Confederate Army that fought for the Southern States. Robert Lee lead many successful campaigns and battles including the following; helping defeat Mexican armies that lead to U.S land gains and westward expansion, battles against a more powerful army in the Civil War. Despite these achievements Lee’s loyalty for the Confederate Army that fought to uphold slavery undermines his success and is highly debateable about whether his contribution is justified or not. Robert Lee’s contributions to his nation begin before the Civil War in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848).
Robert Gould Shaw was a Union Army officer who commanded the first all-black regiment during the American Civil War. Though his life was cut short, Shaw’s legacy continues to inspire countless people, including myself. The determination and courage he displayed in fighting for the rights of black Americans is a testament to his character and the ideals he held dear. Shaw understood the importance of standing up for what is right, even when it meant going against the norm.
He is then shown to eventually join and support them in their boycott. In reality however, Shaw was the one who inspired his soldiers to boycott their pay. When they enlisted, the soldiers were promised a pay of $13 a month that was equal to white soldiers (“To colored Men”). But they were later informed that they would only receive $7 per month with $3 taken out for clothing, while white soldiers received free clothing (“The 54th). When Shaw learned of this, he wrote to Governor Andrew protesting against the pay cut and insisting that the regiment should be taken out of the army if the government did not keep to its promise (“The Biography”).
They stood in the light of the setting sun and awaited to be called true heros. Throughout the movie Shaw’s actions showed faith and equality to the men. In the final battle Shaw got of his captain's horse and fought with the men on the ground. Shaw showed his greatest transformation at his last battle;becoming a great leader powerful and inspiring music plays in the background adding to the drama and creating suspense for the upcoming battle but also symbolizing that. Shaw’s men’s views changed.
After that he realized to get there respect he needed to show it to them. Slowly he gains respect of the soldiers and the officers by getting them new supplies like shoes, uniforms and refused to take the payment they offered him because the soldiers were going to get paid lower than the white men. Shaw’s leadership skills have changed from the beginning, to a strong and brave leader as he lead his regiment to the final battle to the front line. The regiment view of Shaw has changed to him receiving full respect from his soldiers, and a strong leader you lead the first Colored regiment in the civil
Manning displayed this through this quote from an African American solider, “We of the free states have yielded to this peculiar institution… until it has become so deeply rooted that [removing] it will shake the nation and our institutions to the very center.’ Like many of his fellow enlisted men, Bailey knew a revolution when he saw one (85).” This quote proves that the Emancipation Proclamation did not just free the slaves, but also increased the number of Union troops. This gives the Union an advantage in manpower. Manning then goes on to discuss how religion played in to the war.
The men of the 54th regiment proved themselves worthy of the freedom for which they were fighting, and the respect of their fellow white soldiers. Through the eyes of Shaw the movie glory is told . At the beginning of the movie, Shaw is fighting in a battle and manages to survive despite heavy union losses. Horrified by the violence of the war
From this, derives a bond with the reader that pushes their understanding of the evil nature of slavery that society deemed appropriate therefore enhancing their understanding of history. While only glossed over in most classroom settings of the twenty-first century, students often neglect the sad but true reality that the backbone of slavery, was the dehumanization of an entire race of people. To create a group of individuals known for their extreme oppression derived from slavery, required plantation owner’s of the South to constantly embedded certain values into the lives of their slaves. To talk back means to be whipped.
In chapter one of What They Fought For, I learned about the letters and diaries of the Confederate soldiers. The themes of the letters were home-sickness, lack of peace, and the defense of home against their invading enemy. The thought of soldiers fighting for their homes and being threatened by invaders, made them stronger when facing adversity. Many men expressed that they would rather die fighting for a cause, than dying without trying and this commitment showed patriotism. Throughout the letters, soldiers claimed their reason for fighting, was for the principles of Constitutional liberty and self-government.
In the battle scene, the 54th is pinned down and taking massive amounts of enemy fire, and yet none of the soldiers are making any sort of move to fight back. Their comrades are dying all around them, but the men simply lie there in the sand covering their heads. Thus it falls to Colonel Robert Shaw to be the beacon of courage for his men in order to lead them to glory. While the movie is undoubtedly about the struggles of the African American men of the 54th, it cannot be overlooked that at every turn they require guidance and mercy from their benevolent white colonel. It would be unrealistic for a company of African American men to accomplish what they did in the Civil War without Shaw’s help, but it is still worth noting that in some ways this feels largely like movies where the white man comes to save the savages (e.g. Dances With Wolves, Avatar, The Last Samurai).