Rallying Around the Flags

Abstract

This paper deals with four of the most popular songs from the American Civil War: “Dixie’s Land,” “The Bonnie Blue Flag,” “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and “The Battle Cry of Freedom.” The Civil War was a time in American history when propaganda was produced at a high rate, with these four songs being some of the most enduring examples. By looking at the history of these songs, as well as the content of the lyrics, insights into the mindsets of both the North and the South can be gleaned. In particular, by looking at the covers of the songs, it is possible to understand more about the creators of these parodies. By the end of this paper, differences in mindset between the North and the South will become apparent.