Read the excerpt below from a letter Mary Blackford wrote expressing her thoughts on the coming war.
What does this tell us about Mary's opinions of the possibility of separating from the United States?
What does this tell us about Mary's opinions of the possibility of separating from the United States?
...I suffer at times such anguish of mind about the ruin of our great Country and the prospect of Civil war that I feel impelled to write you, just to pour out my heart – not that I think it can do any good. No, no one can help us now but God, all our hope and trust must be in Him…To see my sons arrayed against one part of their country, our own ‘Star spangled banner,’ and in such a cause, is a sorrow that makes me feel that the grave is the only place for me. You did not know…the pains I took to train my five sons in sentiments of patriotism.
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Dig Deeper: The "Star Spangled Banner" is another name for the American flag. It is also the name of the National Anthem. Listen to the sound clip below to hear what the National Anthem sounded like when played with Civil War Era instruments.
Students created their own "living" version of the Star Spangled Banner to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the National Anthem. Check it out and learn more about its origins by clicking here.
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Mary writes that she worked hard to teach her sons to love their country, the United States of America. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Mary had five sons, all of whom had the opportunity to enlist in the Confederate Army. If you were Mary, would you have let them fight for the Confederacy against the United States?