What They Fought for Essay - 1331 Words

What they Fought for What they fought for is an analysis of a collection of nearly a thousand personal letters and journals entries written by the soldiers who fought America’s famous Civil War. This book seeks to define the ideology of what the soldiers understood they were fighting for, and their comprehension of the outcome of their service .Although counter arguments agree that most soldiers could not give a solid explanation of why they fought for, nor the real Constitutional issues that were at stake; the thoughts the soldiers recorded show that they fought for more than just masculine identity; they highly valued being at home safe with their loved ones, at any cost. This book gives an inside perception of the Civil War, and a†¦show more content†¦If the north was to succeed, they would forever be oppressed by their victory, and slaves of their achievements. The Confederates fought to promote the wellbeing of their family and the protection of their land â€Å"from Yankee outrage and atrocity†(Mc.Pherson 20) . On the other side was the Union, also known as the Yankees; a group determined to put out the rebels of the South, and preserve the nation that was created in 1776. Like the Confederates, the Union also found support in the memory of the Revolutionary War. Union soldiers fought the â€Å"Traitors who sought to tear down and break into fragments the glorious temple that our forefathers reared with blood and tears† (Mc.Pherson 28). If the south was to secede it would have destroyed and undermined the power and authority of the Constitution, and therefore break the union that made up the United States of America. The Union soldiers referred to the Confederates as the â€Å"Rebels†, who did not deserve to be part of the united nation for their selfish and inhumane habits, yet their land belonged to the country as a whole. A soldier in the Sherman army wrote to his wife â€Å"We want to kill them all off and cleanse the country†¦ their punishment is light when compare d with what justice is demanded† (Mc.Pherson 40-41). Union militias could not bear the thought of secession, for they â€Å"will be held responsible before God if we don’tShow MoreRelatedEssay on What They Fought for708 Words   |  3 PagesWhat They Fought For 1861 - 1865 This book was a good analysis of Civil War soldiers diaries, and letters to their loved ones. Which explains what they were going through in their lives and what they fought for and risked their lives for in this conflict. In the book the author James M. McPherson uses information from l00s of diaries and letters from the soldiers to learn why they fought in this war. The Union soldiers fought to preserve the Nation that was created in 1776, to save itRead MoreWhat They Fought For By James M. Mcpherson880 Words   |  4 PagesBrother†, it was fought between the Union or the United States of America and the Confederate States of America. The war lasted four years from 1861 to 1865. What motivated these men to fight and what is the cause of the Civil War is a subject that many historians tried to find out. The book â€Å"What They Fought For† by the author James M. McPherson focuses more on the motivation of North and South soldiers in the Civil war than the ultimate cause of it. It concentrates on the reason why and what drove themRead MoreAnalysis Of James Mcpherson s What They Fought For 1861-1865 933 Words   |  4 PagesJames McPherson the author of What They Fought For 1861-1865, thesis states that the soldiers from both the North and South fought for a large extent for ideology, and not exclusively as brothers in war with other soldiers, for principles of strength or courage, and for the nations of honor and duty. 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