|
|
Grade Level
7-12
Subjects History and Music
Estimated Time Required 1 (50-60 minute)
class period
Introduction
Both North and South used music extensively during the
Civil War to rally troops, as recreation, to march by,
and many other reasons. Frequently both sides would borrow
each other’s tunes or lyrics. It was not uncommon
for each side to serenade the other, or for battle to
stop while an impromptu concert was held.
Probably the most famous Civil War era song was Julia
Ward Howe’s "Battle Hymn of the Republic", which used
the tune of the abolitionist song, "John Brown’s
Body". However, there were many other songs that both sides
knew well.
In this activity, students will examine lyrics of songs
of both sides, and make conclusions about the lyrics.
Resources for this Lesson
Two songs (and/or variations of these songs) will be used
in this lesson. Lyrics for songs (as well as MIDI files
of the tunes) are listed with each song.
"Battle Cry of Freedom"
(http://users.erols.com/kfraser/union/songs/battcry.html)
"Battle Cry of Freedom" (Southern
version) (http://users.erols.com/kfraser/confederate/songs/southern_battcry.html)
"Dixie’s Land " ("Dixie")(http://users.erols.com/kfraser/confederate/songs/dixie.html)
"Union Dixie"
(http://users.erols.com/kfraser/union/songs/union-dixie.html)
The lyrics are part of a site entitled "Poetry and
Music of the War Between the States" (http://users.erols.com/kfraser/)
(Note: at the top of each page of lyrics a link is available
to hear the song in MIDI format. The teacher may need
to download a MIDI player in order to hear the songs.
Relevant Standards
This lesson addresses national content standards established
by the Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning
(McREL) (http://www.mcrel.org/standards-benchmarks).
History
• Understands the impact of the Civil War on social
and gender issues (e.g., the roles of women on the home
front and on the battlefield; the human and material costs
of the war; the degree to which the war united the nation;
how it changed the lives of women, men, and children)
• Understands how different groups of people shaped
the Civil War (e.g., the motives and experiences of Confederate
and white and African American Union soldiers, different
perspectives on conscription, the effects of divided loyalties)
• Understands how the Civil War influenced Northern
and Southern society on the home front (e.g., the New
York City draft riots of July 1863, the Union's reasons
for curbing civil liberties in wartime, Lincoln's suspension
of the writ of habeas corpus during the war)
Strategy for the Lesson
The teacher should open the lesson by a discussion of
how historic events worked to influence popular music.
(For example, soon after the terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001, Lee Greenwood’s" God Bless The USA"
became extremely popular, even though it had been written
20 years before. Sergeant Barry Sadler’s "Ballad
of the Green Beret" was a Top 40 hit during the early
rock and roll era because of its relationship with the
early days of the Vietnam War. "The Star Spangled Banner"
became a number one hit for Whitney Houston after she
sang it on Super Bowl Sunday during the Gulf War in1991.)
The teacher should then discuss with the students that
music seemed particularly important during the Civil War
era, including its use to promote the abolitionist cause.
(Note: Many of the songs available on the Web site are
also available on the companion CD soundtrack for The
Civil War series, and are also played during the series.
If the teacher has access to a copy of the soundtrack,
they may wish to play selections from the CD or audio
tape.)
Next, the teacher can either direct students to the web
pages to look at the song lyrics (and may elect to play
the MIDI files), or may distribute photocopies of the
song lyrics. The teacher should also distribute question
sheets to the students to complete. (Please note: two
versions of the question sheet are posted. One with possible
answers and one for student distribution.)
Extension Activities
• Students may wish trying their own hand at creating
lyrics (or perhaps songs) that highlight certain battles
or events in the Civil War.
• Students may wish to investigate how music had
an impact on national or world events in other instances.
• Students may wish to investigate the origin of
the word "Dixie". Some related web sites that
may be used in this investigation are:
http://www2.h-net.msu.edu/~south/archives/threads/dixie.html
http://civilwarhome.com/dixieorigin.htm
• Have students research and debate on a resolution
to ban the playing of Dixie in state sponsored events
such as school functions.
Question Sheet for Civil War Music
(With possible answers)
Compare the lyrics for "Battle Cry of Freedom",
and answer the following questions.
1. In the first stanzas of the two versions of the song,
what seems to be the main difference between them?
[The Southern version of the song seems to infer that
the Confederates have taken the offense to advance their
cause ("Beneath it oft we’ve conquered, And
we’ll conquer oft again!") The Union version
seems to be more peaceful… the use of the word "rally"
compared to conquer, gathering, etc.]
2. What does the Southern version mean by "Down with
the Eagle, And Up with the Cross"?
[Some Southern flags had crosses on them, or it may mean
they wanted to support the "Stars and Bars"
of the Confederacy over the American Eagle.]
3. Summarize the meaning of the third stanza of the Northern
version of the song, which begins, "We will welcome
to our numbers…"
[This stanza seems to equate the fight between north and
south to the issue of slavery, especially when the author
notes, "not a man shall be a slave, shouting
the battle cry of Freedom."]
4. How do you think the Southern version of the song symbolizes
the Confederate cause?
[Answers vary. At several points in the song, the lyrics
promote the Southern idea, such as "Down with the
eagle, up with the cross", "rally round the
bonny flag", as well as "their motto is resistance—to
tyrants we’ll not yield…"]
5. How do you think the Northern version of the song symbolizes
the Union cause?
[Answers vary. At several points in the song, the lyrics
promote the Northern cause, such as "The Union Forever…"
"Not a man shall be a slave…" "From
the East to the West", "We’ll hurl the
rebel crew from the land that we love best…"]
Compare the lyrics for "Dixie’s Land (Dixie)"
and, "Union Dixie" and answer the following questions.
6. While the Confederate States of America did not have
an official "national anthem" (even the North
did not recognize the "Star Spangled Banner" as
the nation’s anthem until 1931), "Dixie’s
Land" (or" Dixie", as it is more commonly known)
was truly a "national song". What aspects of
the song might make it significant in regard to the Confederate
cause?
[Answers vary. Students will probably look at the first
stanza of the song as the most significant, with lyrics
like "I wish I was in the land of cotton, old
times there are not forgotten" as indication
that the south had sentimental value to soldiers who might
be fighting in battle, and hopefully fighting in the north.
In addition, the chorus of the song continues the nationalistic
feeling, "Then I wish I was in Dixie, Hooray!
Hooray! In Dixie’s Land I’ll make my stand,
to live and die in Dixie".]
7. How does the song "Union Dixie" (in the first
stanza) describe the South?
[The author notes the South as "the land of traitors,
rattlesnakes, and alligators". He (or she) notes
also (it’s the land) "where cotton’s
king and men are chattels (property)"…]
8. While the first verse and chorus of "Dixie"
are well known, the rest of the song is not. Frequently,
the tune is used without lyrics. Why do you think the
rest of the song is obscure?
[Probably the rest of the song isn’t well known
because it doesn’t specifically deal with the South
as much as the first verse and chorus do. It may be a
good folk song, but it doesn’t lend itself to a
geographic area, nationalism, or a cause.]
9. How could the song, "Union Dixie" be used to
rally troops as a school fight song might rally the student
body or athletes? Give at least three examples.
[The song mentions specific instances where Northern soldiers
would prevail, including, in the first verse, "Union
boys will win the battles", in the chorus, the words,
"Each Dixie boy must understand that he must mind
his Uncle Sam". Also, in the second verse, the author
notes, "I wish I was in Baltimore, I’d make
Secessionist traitors roar…. We’ll put the
traitors all to rout…". ]
10." Dixie" is still a well-known song in the 21st
Century, while the "Union Dixie" has generally
been forgotten. Speculate why this is so.
[Answers vary. Some may note that "Union Dixie"
is more topical to the Civil War, while" Dixie’s
Land" is more simply a memory of the Old South, and
not as military in nature. Others may note that the lyrics
of neither are remembered well, but the tune is. ]
Question Sheet for Civil War Music
(for student distribution)
Compare the lyrics for" Battle Cry of Freedom",
and answer the following questions.
1. In the first stanzas of the two versions of the song,
what seems to be the main difference between them?
2. What does the Southern version mean by "Down with
the Eagle, And Up with the Cross"?
3. Summarize the meaning of the third stanza of the Northern
version of the song, which begins, "We will welcome
to our numbers…"
4. How do you think the Southern version of the song symbolizes
the Confederate cause?
5. How do you think the Northern version of the song symbolizes
the Union cause?
Compare the lyrics for "Dixie’s Land (Dixie)"
and,"Union Dixie" and answer the following questions.
6. While the Confederate States of America did not have
an official "national anthem" (even the North
did not recognize the "Star Spangled Banner" as
the nation’s anthem until 1931), "Dixie’s
Land" (or "Dixie", as it is more commonly known)
was truly a "national song". What aspects of
the song might make it significant in regard to the Confederate
cause?
7. How does the song "Union Dixie" (in the first
stanza) describe the South?
8. While the first verse and chorus of"Dixie"
are well known, the rest of the song is not. Frequently,
the tune is used without lyrics. Why do you think the
rest of the song is obscure?
9. How could the song, "Union Dixie" be used to
rally troops as a school fight song might rally the student
body or athletes? Give at least three examples.
10. "Dixie" is still a well-known song in the 21st
Century, while the "Union Dixie" has generally
been forgotten. Speculate why this is so. This
lesson was written by Michael
Hutchison.
|
|
