1. The documentary presents the main idea of how the Civil War remains to be the defining figure ofAmerican history because it was the first war the young nation fought against itself and numerousAmericans lost their lives or were left paralyzed by it. Ken Burns presents the letter of Sullivan Ballou,one of the union soldiers, writing to his wife Sarah and expressing his love for America and willingness togive up his life for the sake of its future. The soul and spirit in the letter shows the level of commitmentthat union soldiers had in fighting to maintain the union. Burns says that wer … Purchase document to see full attachment