Yet in the struggle to transform the American flag into a symbol of freedom and equality for all, the Civil War was only the first of many battles yet to come. The ultimate defeat of the Confederacy ensured that the Union, and its flag, would survive. The artifacts and images on this page reflect how the Civil War transformed the American flag into a sacred symbol worth defending and dying for-on the battlefield and beyond. For members of the Southern Confederacy, meanwhile, the “old flag” they had once loved had come to stand for a federal government that did not respect their rights and threatened their way of life. With the abolition of slavery and the opening of the Union ranks to black soldiers, many African Americans saw the flag in a new light, as a symbol of freedom and the promise of citizenship. Entwined with a war to redefine the United States and what it should stand for, the flag became the primary icon of national identity and ideals, infused with meanings and memories from all sides of the conflict.įor Northerners who were called on to defend the Union created by the founding fathers, the flag became the sacred emblem of that cause, consecrated in battle by the blood of Union soldiers. The Civil War not only revived that patriotic attachment to the flag, but expanded and intensified it, fostering a spirit of reverence and devotion that would endure for generations to come. Through Key’s song, an earlier generation had come to appreciate the flag’s value as an inspiring and unifying national symbol. The attack on Fort Sumter, South Carolina in April 1861 launched the nation into civil war and brought about lasting changes in how Americans viewed and used the Star-Spangled Banner.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |