Preview

Just War Theory and the Movie "Glory"

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
913 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Just War Theory and the Movie "Glory"
Movie Review – The Just War Theory and “Glory”
RS-289-WB - Religion, War & Peace

Glory is a movie that reenacts the formation of the first Negro infantry, the 54th Massachusetts, during the Civil War. Led by Colonel Robert Gould Shaw, the volunteer Massachusetts infantry endured grueling training and strict discipline. Under his watchful eye, they slowly transformed from being wild and unruly to proud, courageous, and patriotic soldiers. Although the North believed in the abolition of slavery, many Northerners’ still thought the Negro to be inferior to the White race and did not believe they could fight as well. They were soon to be proven wrong.

When the moment of battle came upon the 54th at Fort Wayne, SC, they fought with all the bravery and pride that any Union soldier would have felt. Their infantry suffered heavy casualties during the battle, including the loss of their beloved Colonel Shaw.

The American Civil War was the bloodiest war fought on American soil. It was also the saddest war for the same reason. Countryman against countryman, brother against brother; a war no American would have ever dreamed might be possible. But it happened. It was a war fought not only to abolish slavery, but to gain back the Southern states that had succeeded from the Union. While the North wanted only to preserve the Union and Democracy, the South believed that succession was the only way to prevent the North from taking away their rights; their rights to free labor, i.e., slavery. Democracy meant freedom for all. Southern states depended on slave labor and many could not afford to pay laborers to work their farms; their livelihood would be on the brink of collapsing. The North was becoming too strong!

Just who was it that waged war against the Southern states of America; a civil war? It was the legitimate and legal authority, of the United States Government. No authority in the U.S. could be higher

Did the U.S. Civil War have a “just cause”?

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    The 1989 movie, glory, was about the first black regiment to fight for the North in the Civil War; also known as the 54th Massachusetts. African-American runaway slaves and free men were not only fighting for their freedom, but were also fighting against discrimination. The government and white soldiers refused to view colored soldiers as equals, even though they were fighting the same war. Change began to happen by the end of the Civil War. Despite the challenges faced, Colonel Robert Shaw, John Rawlins, Thomas Searles, and Trip, fought to the death and proved themselves worthy of freedom.…

    • 608 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The movie “Glory” discloses the story and history behind the 54th Massachusetts Infantry. This infantry became the first black unit to fight in the Civil War for the North. The unit was formed up of black soldiers; some Northern freemen, and some were slaves that had escaped. The leader was General Robert Gould Shaw, the son of one of the top Boston abolitionists. The men of the 54th Regiment proved themselves worthy of the freedom for which they were fighting for and to gain the respect of their fellow white soldiers they fought with. Although the white soldiers fought along their fellow Black soldiers, there were often discrepancies in communication and treatment, that led to character development throughout the movie.…

    • 1052 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Glory Review

    • 629 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Glory was a movie that was filmed in 1989 where it written by Kevin Jarre and was based on the personal letters of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw. Glory was mainly about the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which was the first actual US Army that is compromised of only African American men. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw was the commanding officer during the American Civil War. He was also the son of an influential abolitionist. Also Glory portrayed many African American who had volunteered for the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.…

    • 629 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Glory Essay Example

    • 1650 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The movie Glory was a wonderful depiction of the group of men involved in the 54th Massachusetts colored regiment. The men of the 54th regiment were part of the first black regiment to serve in the U.S. military and were all volunteers. Lead by twenty-three year old Robert Gould Shaw these men were held a high amount of pride, enthusiasm, and bravery as they willingly fought against all of the racial harshness of the U.S. military system. The men of the 54th regiment put up with stereotypes and unacceptable training conditions - while being consistently being challenged to actually stay in the military and not desert. Glory depicts all of the issues that surrounded the 54th regiments black solders and white captions with amazing character portrayals. Commanding leader of the 54th regiment was Robert Gould Shaw, a twenty-three year old man who is consistently impressed with the men of the 54th regiment but faces the hard task of getting the rest of the military to take his men seriously as solders. Major Cabot Forbes was a childhood friend of both commander shaw and solder Thomas Searles. Throughout the movie Forbes is shown as being the most lenient on black troops and questions Shaw’s commanding decisions often. Sargent John Rawlins is the first black solder given the honor of becoming a Sargent due to the boycott of pay by him and the men of the 54th regiment. Throughout the movie Rawlins is portrayed as a mature voice of reason for both the black troops and the white officers. In fact Shaw asked Rawlins to be a communicator between him and the black troops. Thomas Searles is a black childhood friend of both Shaw and Forbes. Searles was the first to sign up as a volunteer to the 54th regiment, but is encouraged through out the movie to quit due to his lack of ability as a solder. Jupiter Sharts is a black man solder who encourages a positive attitude through out the movie, but seems to be faced with the challenge of being socially and worldly…

    • 1650 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Glory is a movie about the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, one of the first official all black units in the United States during the Civil War. It’s an inspirational story of how a young Union soldier, Robert Gould Shaw, is offered the chance to lead an army unit that will change not only his life, but the lives of many other Americans.…

    • 1644 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Since the end of the American Civil War it has long been thought of as a war of freedom. The victorious Union declared that they were fighting to free the slaves in the South. However, in fact, the Civil War was actually a major breaking point in American History because it was really a power struggle between the old and the new. The new, just as it had done in the previous generations, was replacing the old and was using so called “justice” as its spearhead. This division, based upon several distinct factors, led to conflict and sectionalism within the country and ultimately started a war. The Southern states eventually seceded from the Union because of differences in cultural expansion, political beliefs, and authority.…

    • 1134 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Movie Critique, Glory

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages

    "Glory" depicts a period in the American Civil War emphasizing on the war modus operandi and troop movement techniques. The film focuses on the first real African-American regiment, 54th of Massachusetts, and the way these soldiers are trained and prepared to fight. Even though they acquire a new status as soon as they enlist for battle, they still face prejudices and are discriminated against by the white men. They're not trusted to be able to fight with the same ardor and patriotism as the others and this puts them on a lower and inferior rank. Surprisingly enough, things change by the end of the movie, when Massachusetts 54 is engaged in battle and proves the efficiency and the courage of the black men who succeed in making a difference by changing the course of the war. Even though they were not victorious in the battle, they managed to show the world their value, and they brought an important victory for the entire mass of black people against the prejudices and misjudgments of their white neighbors.…

    • 761 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The movie glory focuses on the 54th massachusetts regiment of all black soldiers during the civil war. It is based on letters sent by Robert Gould Shaw, who was born in Boston on October 10, 1837, to his parents. He was born to wealthy abolitionist parents, who had been aquainted with such people as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe and the famous abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass.…

    • 513 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Glory Movie Critique

    • 1537 Words
    • 7 Pages

    The movie Glory is shown through 5 different perspective: Robert Gould Shaw and his journey commanding the Fifty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteer Regiment during the civil war, Private Trip, Private Jupiter Sharts (a scared and aloof man), Corporal Thomas Searles (an educated man who grew up with Shaw) and Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins (a wise runaway slave). In the movie, initially all the African American men are treated brutally since they are indiscipline. Sergeant major Mulcahy helps teach these men discipline by making them go through hours of training and by whipping them. After witnessing the torture, Shaw learns to accept the men and convinces his commander through blackmail that they should be transferred to a combat command. When they finally are transferred, they are involved in their first real battle at James Island, but on the way there these African American soldiers are mocked by white Union soldiers who laugh at them since they are black. Shaw’s men prove themselves in battle and the white men who initially mocked them, bowed down to them in respect. Two days later the men march proudly under the command of Robert Gould Shaw to attack Fort Wagner, but unfortunately Shaw and most of the men (including the 4 African American characters) are killed.…

    • 1537 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    The Civil War, also known as “The War Between the States”, was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America, a collection of eleven southern states that left the Union in 1860 and 1861 and formed their own country in order to protect the institution of slavery. As hostilities broke out between the North and the South, both sides believed that they would prevail in short order; very few on either side envisioned a bloody four-year war that would pit brother against brother. In retrospect, it is very easy to say that the North possessed the greater advantage, but in 1861, the distinction was not as clear as both the North and South possessed _______________________________________.…

    • 1246 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Did you know about 600,000 people died in the Civil War? The North and the South’s economies made their money in two totally different ways. The North made their money by big industries. The South used the cold-blooded system of slavery. The United States fought a Civil War because of sectionalism, slavery and compromises ignoring previous compromises.…

    • 288 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Summary Of The Movie Glory

    • 1270 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The movie Glory is about a story within a historical event, which is known as the civil war. It is about Africa Americans fighting for not only our country, but also their own respect. The movie is also about how whites acted towards Africa American people. Although the North was essentially fighting the war to abolish slavery they still did not see the African Americans as equal. There are several questions one must ask when reviewing this great film. The movie is very factional with what is going on during this time of history. “Glory tells the story of the 54th Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, made up of black soldiers some Northern freemen, some escaped slaves and led by whites, including Robert Gould Shaw, the son of Boston…

    • 1270 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    What They Fought Fo

    • 1443 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Throughout my years of history lessons, I was under the understanding that the civil war was simply a war over slavery. Over time I have come to realize there is much more behind the North and South’s reasons for fighting than just the concept of slavery. Everything that ties in with slavery played a massive role in the Civil was, such as; equality, individual rights and liberties, and the basic set up of American government. However, slavery was playing a portion of the role in the war. Other than the underlying hatred of the North towards the South, and the South towards the North, there were many other factors fueling that fire. The civil war was more than a series of battles between the Confederacy and the Union. While Union soldiers from the North were focused on fighting for the underlying principles that the founding fathers had established our nation upon, the Confederate soldiers from the South focused on their strong sense of nationalism and copious amounts of pride towards self-government and their personal property.…

    • 1443 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The American Civil War was one of the most significant and controversial periods in American history, in where Americans killed each other (about 600,000 men died) and still, some of the past arguments on state’s rights are still argued today. The Civil War was a matter of south versus north, confederacy (Southern States) versus The Union (Northern States). Northern states claimed that if the Southern slaves were property, then they should not be counted toward voting representation in Congress. Southerners argued that the slaves were human beings, and eventually came to accept the three-fifths compromise, by which five slaves counted as three free men toward that representation. But who was right?…

    • 753 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Glory Movie Analysis

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The federal government placed many restrictions and discriminatory actions on the black troops. At the beginning of the Civil War, African Americans were not allowed to serve in the U.S. military. By the summer of 1862 it was clear that additional troops were needed. To meet the need, Congress passed two bills that allowed the participation of black soldiers in the Union Army. The Government established segregated units called The Bureau of Colored Troops. The measure lacked popular support and the U.S. Army did not begin recruiting black soldiers until 1863.…

    • 630 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays