Music of the Civil War

The Civil War is a tremendously important part of any American history course. Not only does it set the stage for an understanding of twentieth century history, but it also allows students to study a period of American history that was characterized by gross inequities, social injustice, and bloodshed. An excellent way to begin exploring the culture of this era is by studying the art, music, and literature of the time.

Music Conveys Peoples’ Emotions

Music, in particular, is an excellent window into the mindset people on both sides of the conflict: the Union and the Confederacy. Begin by showing segments of Ken Burns’ PBS documentary The Civil War. This show is a wonderful way to introduce learners to the life and times of people fighting in the war. Through watching this documentary, your class will have the opportunity to examine the music, lyrics, letters and photographs of the Civil War era as primary documents.

Presentations Highlighting Civil War Music and Images

As a way to assess students’ understanding of the song lyrics and how they convey peoples’ feelings and war experiences, consider having individuals or groups of learners select a few songs from the Civil War era. Using their chosen songs, they can create a slide show or PowerPoint presentation along with photographs from the era to illustrate the lyrics. The final presentation should give an accurate depiction of life during that era.

Traditional Research Projects

You can also divide up the class into small groups to research different aspects of life during the Civil War. Pupils can then make connections as to and how peoples’ lives were reflected in the song lyrics. Some potential topics include home life, life as a soldier, the battlefield, and emancipation. Using this information, learners can write, peer edit, and turn in a research paper. For a less traditional project, have pupils present a medley of the songs related to their topics. The Internet has some are great resources for song lyrics, offer learners' a little time to research, and you'll be amazed at what they find.

Extend the Lesson with Other Wars

You can take this lesson one step further by having students research other wars and the popular music of the time period. For example, they can research the Vietnam War, or one of the World Wars. Then, they find some of the songs that were popular at the time. Comparing and contrasting the music from different wars should be enlightening, as they will discover similarities and differences. Once the research and comparisons are complete, have learners share their discoveries with the class. No matter how you choose to approach the subject, your class is sure to discover that popular music is an excellent barometer of public sentiment. Below you will find some other lesson plans that will allow your pupils to explore the music and the culture of America during the Civil War era.

Civil War Lesson Plans:

Music of the Civil War

In conjunction with Ken Burns’ Civil War documentary, PBS has developed some excellent lessons. Here, pupils analyze and interpret the music of both the North and the South. They discuss the fact that the two sides borrowed tunes from one another and that they would serenade one another even during battle.

Looking at the Old South: Music and Culture

This resource provides an in-depth look at life in the Old South. It can be easily adapted to explore life in the North as well. Scholars have an opportunity to conduct either independent or small group research to learn more about life in America during the Civil War, and how the values and experiences of Northerners and Southerners were reflected in the music, literature, and art of the time.