Download Glory Movie Guide and Assignment

11/1/13
Glory Movie Guide and Assignment
Glory Movie Guide and Assignment
Important People:
Colonel Robert Gould Shaw – Union officer, commander of the first all Black regiment, 54th Massachusetts
Major Cabot Forbes – Shaw’s childhood friend, appointed as Shaw’s executive officer (2nd in command)
Thomas Searles – 1st volunteer for the 54th regiment, a well-educated free black man from the North
Private Trip – escaped slave, volunteers for the 54th
Sergeant Major John Rawlins – former gravedigger for the Northern Army, volunteers for the 54th
Private Jupiter Sharts – uneducated former slave, wants to learn to read from Thomas
Sergeant Major Mulcahy – Irish immigrant in charge of properly training the 54th for battle
Important Facts, Terms, and Events:
Civil War – 1861-1865, 11 Southern states secede from the country, Union President Abraham Lincoln goal for the
war is to preserve the Union
Battle of Antietam – September 17, 1862, Bloodiest one day battle in US History, Confederate General Robert E.
Lee’s advance to Washington D.C. is stopped, saving the Union
Federal Law of 1792 – Bans African-Americans from joining the Army even though many had fought bravely in
the American Revolution
Emancipation Proclamation – January 1, 1863, After the Union victory at Antietam, Lincoln issues the
Emancipation Proclamation that frees the slaves in the Confederacy. While he has no power to enforce the law, it
changes the focus of the war to the ending of the slavery. It encourages former slaves and free blacks to enlist the
Union Army.
54 th Massachusetts – January 26, 1863, Secretary of War authorizes the enlistment of Black soldiers
Confederate Proclamation – Any Black soldier captured while fighting for the North would be shot or returned to
slavery. Any white officers in command of Black soldiers would be shot
Civil War wages – White soldiers were paid $13/month (there was no increase for combat pay). Black soldiers
were paid $10 with another $3 being deducted for a clothing allowance, bringing pay down to $7/month. White
soldiers had no clothing deductions.
Equal Pay Act – 1864 Law passed by Congress making wages equal regardless of color, it was retroactive
1 st Union Conscription – March 3, 1863, The Union Army is having difficulty recruiting volunteers; the 1st draft is
set up and is mandatory for men between the ages of 20-45. “Replacements” can be bought for $300; many feel
this is a rich man’s war fought by the poor.
New York City Draft Riots – July 13-16, 1863, In response to the Draft, deadly riots break out in New York City
Charge on Fort Wagner – July 18, 1863, The 54th Massachusetts ill-fated assault on the Fort in South Carolina
180,000 – The number of Black soldiers that serve in the Union Army, making up 10% of the Union force. 40,000
will die during the course of the War, 30,000 from disease and infection
16 – The number of Black soldiers awarded the Medal of Honor, the government’s highest military award
Assignment: (25 points) Select from one of the two assignments explained below and write at least a one page
to answer the prompt. The suggested length is based on regular-sized handwriting on college-ruled paper. If you
have wide-ruled paper and/or large handwriting, I expect the assignment to be longer in length. You may, of
course, exceed these minimum requirements. This is a separate assignment so do not complete it in your notebook
unless you can tear it out and hand it into to me.
“Once let the black man get upon his person the brass letter, U.S., let him get an eagle on his button,
and a musket on his shoulder and bullets in his pocket, there is no power on earth that can deny that he
has earned the right to citizenship.” Frederick Douglass
www.cvhs.cv.k12.ca.us/STAFF/kcassidy/USHistory09/CivilWar/Glory11.htm
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11/1/13
Glory Movie Guide and Assignment
A. Explain what you think Frederick Douglass means in the above quote. Your explanation should take the Dred
Scott Supreme Court decision under consideration as well information from the movie Glory.
B. Write an editorial for a Northern newspaper that might have been written about the 54th Massachusetts
Regiment. Your writing should include an explanation of its formation, training, and the hurdles the Regiment had to
overcome as well as the assault on Fort Wagner. As an editorial, it should contain a slant (opinion) from the author,
you, about how the Regiment performed.
www.cvhs.cv.k12.ca.us/STAFF/kcassidy/USHistory09/CivilWar/Glory11.htm
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