Music is a popular form of expression and communication that has been used almost since the beginning of time. It can tell a story of an event or share a person's thoughts and feelings on a specific topic. Know matter how it is used, it is important to society especially during tough times in America like the civil war. Music from the civil war included various messages and tones like uplifting or sad or revolutionary. In most cases, music was used as a way to inspire soldiers to keep on persevering and to send reassurance to their family and other people at home and cause a widespread act of patriotism. The songs were used as a binding force among the various communities throughout the country. Many civil war songs did a good job on joining people together and leading them to support one another and fight as one. Songs of the civil war created a nationwide progression of people coming together through religious incentives and patriotism. 

Through the wording of these songs, the ideologies of America are revealed. The time period of the two songs is the 1860s, which is when America was enduring its Civil War. This was a critical time of conflict for the citizens of the nation, tearing apart friends and families. In times like these people needed outlets and ways to vent and communicate with people without getting into arguments. That made the music a vital thing at this time period. The civil war songs were made to inspire people to come together in a form of Patriotism, and they were used to communicate from soldier to soldier, or soldier to people. The lyrics to both "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "God Will Defend the Right" show how music was a way for soldiers and the other citizens to release their inner thoughts and in these two cases they used it to bring unity to a specific group of people. The songs shed light to the fact that America was being torn apart turning everyone against each other, and it was creating an enormous political debacle that did not come close to being easily solved. Soldiers were probably feeling frustrated and needed to turn to one another to get the reassurance that what they were doing was right and that all their sacrifices they were making have a greater purpose. In both of the two songs, the greater purpose is revealed as God's purpose. 

In "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and "God Will Defend the Right," religion plays as the main concept for the songs. The singers of the songs use God as the reason to carry on with the civil war. In the first stanza of "Battle Hymn of the Republic," it states "Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored ...  His truth is marching on" (Howe 1-7). These lines from the song represent how the soldiers feel about God and relate it to their actions. They are saying they have seen God and he is marching with them in the fight. The same type of thing is done in the other song and specifically it is seen in the title which also appears in the chorus "God will defend the right." These soldiers are saying they can fight in war because they have free will given to them by God and he is encouraging them. They are basically saying that God has granted them the will to fight and is supporting them through their battle. The soldiers want everyone back at home to understand so they can have their support, and they also use these specific lyrics in the songs because some of them may even be doubting it themselves. These songs serve as constant reminders to the soldiers and the people as to why they are on the battlefield fighting and that is because they are doing it to create justice in the name of the Lord. In "Battle Hymn of the Republic" two lines in the very last stanza state "As he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free." This is the soldiers relating their actions to the actions of Jesus. They are talking about how Jesus came to save the world and in doing so he gave up his own life, and this is being compared to the actions of the soldiers on the battlefield. The soldiers in the song say that they believe they are carrying out the will of God just like his son did, and that they are fighting and risking their lives for the people of their country. The religious aspects of the songs also make war seem more humane than what it really is and seems. Also, they are making it seem like God justifies their actions so the people who consider it wrong will now consider it right. The soldiers want everyone to believe that war is the right thing to do at the time and they are doing it through the will of God. Not only did the civil war songs relate to religion, but they also encouraged patriotism.

Civil war songs played a large role in spreading patriotism. In "God Will Defend the Right" the song unites the southern Confederate soldiers by using words that inspire and would make the soldiers want to come together and fight for their rights against the Union. The first line of each chorus "Sons of the south arise" makes it known that the singer is talking to all men in the south and wants them to join together. The last line in each chorus says "Home of the brave and free," which is effective in getting the idea of patriotism across. It is using words that are from the very beginning of American history and are the ideals for which America was built on. By using these words in the song, the soldiers and people feel pride for their country that they are fighting to save. The songs of the civil war time period featured numerous musical works that were brought about to inspire either the North to join together or the South to join together. It did not bring together both battling sides, but it did bring both sides closer together with one another. In contrast, the song "Battle Hymn of the Republic" does not center its focus on patriotism directly, but it still accomplishes the goal through relating it to God and fighting to save each other. Although it is heavy with gospel-like words, the song does its job on uniting the people closer together. 

The songs for the civil war were used as weapons and outlets to inspire the citizens about the war through religion and patriotism. Religious aspects of the songs create a more calming nature of war and help to tie together all religious people to support the civil war. The patriotism in the songs create a sense of unity among both the Union and Confederacy. It brought people all over the country together, including soldiers on the battlefield. Civil war music was definitely something crucially important for Americans to have during the hard time of separation and war within their own country. The music brought a soothing peace and reminded the people of their purpose and reasoning for everything happening. The civil war music was not the first of its kind and definitely was not the last, but it is very important to all historical battle songs. 

