The Civil War was a conflict unlike any other in American history. It was fought between brothers, both figuratively and literally, over the ideological structure on which America would be formed. What originally the North believed would be quick victory resulted in a length war marked by a substantial death toll on both sides and more collateral damage to America than ever before. The paradox of the war was that though a battle between governmental ideology, most of the Americans at the time were restricted from suffrage or even morally diminished to the worth of property. Alfred Green touches on the oppressive nature of America during this period. Instead of merely showing resent for the African American position in American culture, Green looks to inspire those of his race to back the Civil War and even volunteer for service in the Union Army. All of this in hopes to later further …show more content…
Green asks his audience to “remember the past” and “ the brave deeds of (their) fathers.” What Green is not trying to establish is a disdain for the history of African Americans but rather motivation to go fight for a global cause. The past for blacks in America had been riddled by oppressive social standing. What Green wants is for African Americans to build on this harsh past. He wants his audience to look back on the past; he wants them to look at the “Revolution of 1776, and … the War of 1812 (which failed) to bring (them) recognition”; he wants “fugitive-slave laws, Dred Scott decisions, … and dreary months of imprisonment” to not be forgotten by his people; but most of all, he wants his audience to fight for what’s right. Through the war, Green which to set the precedent for an improvement in the social status of African American people. This appeal to the past persuades his audience to not buckle under the previous and present social injustices, but rather to strive to right as many social wrongdoings as
In the nineteen-forties there was a terrible war raging on, with many dead, and others wounded. Little did America know, there was another war, a silent war, a war of opportunities and understanding. During the war years, morale was low and Americans were afraid to go to war, however; the Double V campaign encouraged Americans to fight for democracy and victory abroad and at home. Unfortunately, it didn 't include all Americans. African-Americans had been fighting for their own freedom for many years, but now, they wanted to fight for their country and were denied,“For surely those who perpetrate these ugly prejudices here are seeking to destroy our democratic form of government just as surely as the Axis forces.”
The author demonstrates this in lines 18-22 where he says, “The result of the most unfair rules of judicial investigation has been the pay we have received for our solicitude, sympathy, and aid in the dangers and difficulties of those days that tried men's souls '. Green’s statement is very true, the African Americans did all they could to help in the revolutionary war and other wars, but they are still treated like animals and do not get the respect they deserve. He is showing that he understands why most people are not wanting to fight for the North but is about to show why he believes they need to
He’s zealous. Green uses repetition to emphasize the idea of unity. He uses repetition, such as “let us,” to unify African Americans by getting a hold of their emotion of pride towards patriotism. The use of repetition helps engrave into their mind that this is something they should do for the greater good. The lasting effect on them is pride because they defended their country.
He says that people want to end slavery, but they have to fight for their rights. Saying African Americans have people who are on their side gives them an understanding that they should fight to gain their freedom. Alfred M. Green knows ending slavery is what African Americans want, telling them people are on their side gives them security in fighting in the war. Choosing to use metaphors in his speech makes African Americans more open to enlisting to join the Union
The United States Civil War is possible one of the most meaningful, bloodstained and controversial war fought in American history. Northern Americans against Southern Americans fought against one another for a variety of motives. These motives aroused from a wide range of ideologies that stirred around the states. In James M. McPherson’s What they fought for: 1861-1865, he analyzes the Union and Confederate soldier’s morale and ideological components through the letters they wrote to love ones while at war. While, John WhiteClay Chambers and G. Kurt Piehler depict Civil War soldiers through their letters detailing the agonizing battles of war in Major Problems in American Military History.
Critique of Nonfiction Novel The civil rights movement was a revolutionary chapter in American history. Leading the movement was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose legacy has been etched in history. Troy Jackson explores the roots of King’s legacy in Becoming King: Martin Luther King Jr. and The Making of a National Leader. Jackson analyzes how different influences in Montgomery, Alabama shaped Dr. King into the leader of the civil rights movement.
The Civil War was a national devastation that had a deep impact on American society. In 1863, Lincoln proposed the Emancipation Proclamation declaring the slaves would be free, though it was limited only to the rebellious states. By careful preparation of the document, Lincoln ensured that it would offer a positive impact on the Union efforts and to redefine the purpose of the civil war. The results of the emancipation continued to have an abrupt and profound effect of equality and social justice (Roark, 402).
The civil war redefined what it meant to be an American because the nation was divided. The civil war redefined to be an American because it changed laws and american’s were also divided over slavery. Nobody ever helped Sojourner Truth get into carriages,over mud puddles or even gives her any best place. Frederick Douglass told others that they would be free when you are twenty-one during the civil war, but he said that he is a slave for life. Paul Revere quotes said On a shadowy something far away,where the river widens to meet the bay,a line of black,that bends and floats on the rising tide,like a bridge of boats so it basically has something to do with the civil war or the fact that he feels bad for the people who are slaves and need help.
African Americans face a struggle with racism which has been present in our country before the Civil War began in 1861. America still faces racism today however, around the 1920’s the daily life of an African American slowly began to improve. Thus, this time period was known by many, as the “Negro Fad” (O’Neill). The quality of life and freedom of African Americans that lived in the United States was constantly evolving and never completely considered ‘equal’. From being enslaved, to fighting for their freedom, African Americans were greatly changing the status quo and beginning to make their mark in the United States.
The nineteenth century was one the most remarkable period in American history. For it was the century of the Market Revolution as well as the Civil War. The war took millions of lives of innocent people, who either tried to eliminate or defend slavery. The Civil War seemed to be revolved around slavery. However, slavery was not the only causation.
This gives the reader a first hand look into what it was like to be an African American during the Revolutionary era. These people were viewed as a lesser race only because of the color of their skin, or as Wheatley states, the speaker’s “diabolic
After the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 and the rise of the Republican party, Southerners feared the tipping of the balance of political power against them; their need for self-determination parallel the colonists’ belief of rebelling against the oppressive government of Great Britain. However, the Civil War represented something more: the clash of the feudalistic, agrarian South with the industrialized, capitalistic North. These two powers differed socially, politically, and economically, and were especially conflicted over slavery. These two sections of the United States were divided against one another, and could not survive this way. Therefore, it is more accurate to state that though the Civil War resembled some aspects of the American Revolution, it was a clash between two forces who could not exist with one another in their current state, leading inevitably to conflict between the
The American Civil War changed Americans and their ideals about freedom in many ways. Northern and Southern United states began to have simmering tensions for the states’ rights versus federal authority, plus westward expansion, and slavery had huge effects on the states. An election which made anti-slavery Republican Abraham Lincoln the president of the United States of America in 1860, caused seven of the southern states to concede from the Union to make The Confederate States Of America soon after four more joined afterwards. It changed Americans in many ways as neighbors fought each other through the 4 gruesome years of the war. Conflict between the sides were like fights between brother and brother instead with many deaths.
Green starts his speech by mentioning the belief that most American citizens share, which is true patriotism. In the speech, he states, “My country, right or wrong, I love thee still,” which is where he first brings up patriotism because you must have that belief that to be a true patriot. At that time, African Americans wanted to be treated like actual American citizens and mentioning that fighting for their side shows patriotism, pushed them closer to wanting to enlist so they could prove they were
With this in mind, the quote is still inspiring to this day to describe what it is like to be African American and describes how his accuracy and assessment was and still is