Preserving a Nation

"Essential Question: Can the use of force (military and political) preserve a nation?"

When Sherman marched through the South, his men burned the Southerner's fields creating a path of destruction where ever they went. This was one of the major things that the Southerners had to rebuild during the Reconstruction period. Although Sherman's march created a lot of physical damage to the South, it was probably one of the things that ended the Civil War so quickly. If Sherman hadn't caused so much damage, the Union and the Confederacy might have been at war for a few more years, causing more damage to both sides' cities and also more casualties. Sherman's march may have caused less damage than if the war had continued.

I believe that the use of force (military force in this case) can be used to preserve a nation. If the force is used at the right time and at the right location, even the enemy nation can be preserved. Sherman's march is a good example of this. As I have stated above, Sherman's march devistated the South, perhaps enough to demoralize the Confederate troops and generals into surrendering to the Union. Because the Confederacy surrendered, destruction and bloodshed was avoided, therefore preserving much of the South and almost all of the North from damage.

-Caleb Hilley