Civil Rights

Hainline

Name _________________________________

Date _________ Pd ________

“Glory”

Learning Target: Students will be able to identify key elements from the film, “Glory” and apply them to the Civil War.
Glory is the story of Colonel Robert Gould Shaw and the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Regiment, the first regular army regiment of African American soldiers commissioned during the Civil War. At the beginning of the war, most people believed that African Americans could not be disciplined to make good soldiers in a modern war and that they would run when fired upon or attacked. Colonel Shaw, a white abolitionist, and hundreds of soldiers in his regiment, all African American volunteers, gave their lives to prove that African American men could fight as well as whites.

Known as the “Swamp Angels” because much of the regiment’s duties were in the swamps and the marshes of the South, the 54th fought bravely and with great success. One of the more notable members of the regiment was Lewis Douglass, son of Frederick Douglass.

Although the 54th was instrumental in several early battles and is generally responsible for encouraging many other African Americans to enlist in the Union Army, they were never given the respect that white soldiers were. Even though Lincoln credits African American soldiers for turning the tide of the war, not one African American regiment was involved in the Union parade in front of the White House after the war ended.

Please answer the following questions while watching the movie or as you reflect after class. 1. Identify the following people:
a. Private Silas Trip

b. Private Jupiter Sharts

c. Corporal Thomas Searles

d. Sergeant Major Mulcahy

e. Sergeant Major John Rawlins

f. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw

g. Major Cabot Forbes

2. Pick THREE of the above people and describe IN DETAIL how the character changed over time. How did being a part of the Massachusetts 54th change this person’s life?

3. Colonel Robert Gould Shaw made mistakes at the beginning of Glory. Identify TWO mistakes. Then DEFEND hist actions or explain what he did from his perspective

4. Provide three examples of racism faced by the Massachusetts 54th from northerners.

5. What was the turning point for Colonel Shaw in gaining the trust of his men?

6. Why wouldn’t Private Trip carry the regiment colors?

7. Why did the soldiers of the Massachusetts 54th willingly march to their deaths in front of Fort Wagner?

8. In the assault on Fort Wagner, Colonel Shaw could have chosen, without any dishonor, to lead his regiment from the rear rather than from the front. He probably would have survived. Why didn't he do this?

9. What does the final picture of Private Trip and Colonel Shaw say to you about the Civil War?

10. Please rate this movie on a scale of one to four stars and explain why you rated it the way you did!