Economic Impact of Civil War

These lyrics reveal a lot about the economic impact of the war. There is a sense of nationalism in the first line, showing the celebrated victory of the Union. When it is stated that "every freeman sing" about the economic crash of the South, which relied almost wholly on cotton plantations and slavery, a joyous tone is created. This further shows how a sense of pride is taken from the abolition of slavery and the death of Southern plantations. Saying King Cotton is "dead and buried" illustrates how the south will never fall back to their pre-war economic policies and will have to develop new industries and ways of efficient agriculture. The last line also shows how the War moved the nation's economic power and influence to the North, where corn and other grains were being exported to Europe. Overall these lyrics illustrate the celebratory death of slavery and therefore Southern plantations as well as the great economic successes the North experienced during and after the war.