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Founding Fathers-Civil War
Even as those who had served in the Revolution slowly dwindled, the ideals of the Revolutionary War continuned to spark great emotion into the Civil War. As Frederick Douglass, a Black Abolitionist who supported the war to free the slaves stated; "We want a country that shall not brand the Declaration of Indepedence a lie". But both sides saw it to themselves to become preservers of the founding fathers desire for freedom. -
Start of Civil War
When the Civil War commenced in Fort Sumter, South Carolina the ideaism of the American Hero had split into two. This gave two identities to the country. On one side, the Confederacy saw themselves as carrying the principles the founding fathers had set forth. For the Union, they believed they were fighting for the ideal that "All men are created equal". -
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Diversity of Civil War
Over the four long years of the Civil War, the Union side specifically became know for increasing the diversity of their military forces. Both African American and foreign born soldiers were active in the union cause. Although they would remain segregated, this was an important factor in how many northerners would perceive the changing diversity of the nation. -
Battle of Gettysburg/ Gettysburg Address
After one of the bloodiest battles between the North and the South, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech that unveiled his determination in the cause of the country. This cause became not one of just states rights, but of equality and freedom. -
End of Civil War
Before the Civil War, people usually indentified themselves with their state rather than their country. People would see themselves as Georgians or New Yorkers rather than Americans. After the Civil War, people would identify as Americans finally brining a sense of national unity. -
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The Changing Hero
After the Civil War, the American military hero seemed to take the persona of a "defender of Democracy". As this role changed going into the 20th century, America continued to assert itself as a World power, in the Spanish American War and in the two World Wars. This change of power seemed to reflect positively to other countries as well as the American people. -
Spanish American War
At the turn of the 20th century, America decided to partake in Imperialism in countries such as Cuba, the Philippines, and Guam eventually made them all into territories. -
Pearl Harbor Bombing/ Beginning of World War II
As this event began World War II, a certain amount of heroism was remembered from those who fought on the day of pearl harbor. In response, America began a war in the Pacific that would change the structure of the military forever. -
Truman Bomb
America chose to historically end its war with Japan in a bomb on the cities of Okinawa and Nagasaki. After the death of the great wartime leader Franklin Delano Roosevelt, his successor Harry S. Truman had the dubious task of ending the war. Considering the risks that could take place in putting boots on the ground in this situation, a bomb was seen as the preferred method of ending the war with Japan.
This technology would successfully end the war, but would forever change war implications. -
Executive Order 9981
In lieu of the greatest defense reorganization in history, Harry S. Truman stated in an executive order: "It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion, or national origin." This would forever change the demographics and the acceptance of minorities into the Armed Forces. -
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The Military in our Image-The Present
As we have seen historic events that have changed the scope of how we perceive the military, the opinion of the military has changed in lieu of unpopular wars, drafts, public opposition and reform in the laws that governed its institution. -
Vietnam War: The End of Heroism
As the Vietnam War starts as an act to end Communism from spreading in Asia, America went fully into a power struggle using tactics to defoliage the Vietnamese jungle. This picture decpicts a helicopter dropping a fertizlier later dubbed "Agent Orange" which would harm over one million Vietnamese civilians. -
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Agent Orange
During the ongoing conflict in Vietnam, a chemical used for deforestation of the Vietnamese jungle became a source of trouble for almost half a million civilians and soldiers alike. This chemical weapon dubbed "Agent Orange" was the source of cancers, deformaties, sicknesses and deaths for many who were exposed to its harm. -
My Lai Massacre
Though war has always included senseless murdering of the people who are part of it, the My Lai massacre sent greater shock through the heads of many Americans. In the first war that people could watch on their TV set, My Lai became an atrocity when it eventually became knowledge to the public in LIFE magazine. Though stories of heroism were shown by warrant officer Hugh Thompson in the ensuing conflict, almost two hundred innocent Vietnamese were murdered. -
Kent State Shootings
At Kent State University , three students were killed protesting against the Vietnam War by Ohio National Guardsmen. This act caused great distress among the nation and made many lose trust in the "establishment" of the American Military. Many events including the end of college draft deferments and the misleading informationa about the Gulf of Tonkin led to protest at this time. This would be seen as a distrustful day to the American public. -
End of Vietnam War
As the troops pulled out of Vietnam after almost a decade of intervention, America's military role would never be the same. Failing to end communism in Vietnam, many felt alienated by the war and made strides would be taken to subsequently change the face of the military. -
Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repealed
Barack Obama famously signed the Don't ask, Don't tell repeal act of 2010, making it so that military service members could serve their country openly gay. -
Heroes Today
Our country has had signifcant changes in the face of our military. With both the technology and mores of the military in constant evolution, it can be hard to illustrate what exactly it means to be a hero.
But as the archtype for a hero constantly changes, our belief in American soldiers as heroes never openly ceases. Those who fight for freedom and defend the Constitution truly execute the liberty this country stands for.
