Throughout the years the United States of America has been an established nation, the
The United States has taken part in multiple different wars. Some of these wars included World War I and III, the Gulf War, the Korean War, and the Civil War. The Civil War was a war which started in 1861. This specific war was fought in the United States, between southern and northern states. The southern states (The Confederacy) were fighting for independence from the United States (the Union), because of the Union's political policies. The Civil War ultimately lasted four years, and cost over 650,000 lives. James M. McPherson is an American author who wrote an analysis of multiple different letters and accounts from the Civil War. Said book being titled,
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In the book, ‘What They Fought for’ the idea of soldiers being dedicated to their cause is stated many times, an example of this being: “The wealthy Alabama planter who married one of Mary Todd Lincoln’s half sisters and who as a captain in the 4th Alabama declared that “I am willing to fall for the cause of Liberty and Independence.” (McPherson 10) and “My country, glorious country, if we have only made it truly the land of the free…I count not my life dear unto me if only I can help that glorious cause along.” (McPherson 34) This theme of dedication is not only found in the Civil War, but also in other american wars. An example of this is written in by a man nicknamed ‘Happy’ Neil, who served in World War II: “The American flag means a whole lot to me. I am glad that when I do come home I can say I have a share in it. That is more than some people can say. “ (Neil 1944) A major in the marines also wrote something along similar lines during the Gulf War about soldiers' overall willingness to fight against tyrants, “Everyone wants to kill Hussen, because of this creep a lot of people are dying.” (Tony 1991) It can be easily determined that not only dedication to a cause was demonstrated in the Civil War, but also a recurring theme in other American