A Nation Dividing and Expanding: Civil War, Regionalism, and Realism — Test
Question 12 • American Literature and Composition
Read the final stanza from "The Colored Soldiers. And their deeds shall find a record In the registry of Fame; For their blood has cleansed completely Every blot of Slavery's shame. So all honor and all glory To those noble sons of Ham— The gallant colored soldiers Who fought for Uncle Sam! Which theme of the poem is reflected in this stanza?
Answer
A
Those who are prevented from experiencing freedom should not fight for it.
B
The Civil War left a scar on this country that can never be erased.
C
Freedom from enslavement is the only cause worth dying for.
D
Black Americans’ willingness to fight in the Civil War helped unite the country.
Explanation
The stanza honors Black soldiers who fought for the Union, saying their blood “has cleansed completely” the shame of slavery and praising their service to the country. This reflects the theme that Black Americans’ willingness to fight in the Civil War helped bring the country together. Choice B is tempting because the stanza mentions slavery’s shame, but it emphasizes honor and reconciliation rather than an unhealable scar.
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