The Civil War, a four-year period in the United States filled with bloody fighting, thousands of casualties and the destruction of much of the South's infrastructure . Although the Civil War had various causes (economic, political, etc.), it primarily had its origins in the pressing issue of slavery at the time, particularly its expansion into Western territories. As we all know, slavery was one of the most horrible periods in our nation's history, yet it was a typical and normal thing for people in the 19th century. The film Glory (1989), directed by Edward Zwick, does not necessarily depict the horrors of slavery, but it shows 19th-century America's attitude toward African Americans, as well as African Americans' thirst for freedom. 'Average African American. The film begins with its protagonist, Colonel Shaw, being found by gravedigger John Rawlins (who later becomes a soldier in the Civil War). He is sent to a field hospital, and once he is ready to leave, he visits his family on their plantation, where he meets Frederick Douglass and is offered the position of colonel of the 54th Massachusetts Regiment. He accepts the promotion and invites his old friend, Major Forbes, to be his right-hand man in the leadership of the infantry. He also accepts, and soon after, black soldiers quickly volunteer, including Rawlins, Searles, Trip, etc., who will become important factors in the film's plot. Throughout the film it is clear how each character is very different from each other, for example, Private Trip is very stubborn and rude, while Private Searles is much more calm, peaceful and weak. Yet as the plot progresses, the characters slowly and gradually transform into different personalities, with some undergoing more changes than others. ...... middle of paper ...... desperately wiping shoes, Shaw made a huge scene at the man in charge of the soldier's supplies and was able to get what he wanted for his men. Because Shaw had this bond with his soldiers, he became a very strong leader and his men began to respect Shaw. Much like Searles, a big moment for Shaw was the final battle, where he demonstrated how he had changed in terms of his leadership. He fought with great bravery and courage and died a hero. The changes of all these characters were very important in terms of the plot of the film. The film shows how all these completely different people changed so they could come together and fight for a cause they all believed in, and it shows how they underwent that change. It shows us how possible it is for people to come together, no matter how different they are, and fight as one for a cause they all truly believe in...