All 6 Uses
oppress
in
What They Fought For - 1861-1865
(Edited)
- An enlisted man in a Texas cavalry regiment told his sister in 1861 that just as their forefathers had rebelled against King George to establish "Liberty and freedom in this western world …. so we dissolved our alliance with this oppressive foe and are now enlisted in 'The Holy Cause of Liberty and Independence' again."
p. 9.5oppressive = harsh and unfair
- If the mere imposition of a tax could raise such a tumult what should be the result of the terrible system of oppression instituted by the Yankees?
p. 9.8oppression = harsh and unfair treatment
- Nevertheless, he wrote to his mother in 1862, "I joyfully embrace it as a means of repelling a dastardly, plundering, oppressive, and cowardly foe from our homes and borders…."
p. 21.1oppressive = harsh and unfair
- Confederate soldiers' letters and diaries continued in 1864 and even into 1865 to abound with such expressions as this "gigantic struggle for liberty," for "the great Democratic principles of States' Rights and States' Sovereignty," for "the dear rights of freemen" against "tyranny and oppression," ...
p. 25.1 *oppression = harsh and unfair treatment
- Others were, however—especially on the theme of the Union as a beacon light of liberty for the oppressed in their homelands.
p. 31.6oppressed = treated harshly and unfairly; or people treated harshly and unfairly
- "I cannot believe Providence intends to destroy this Nation, this great asylum for the oppressed of all other nations and build a slave Oligarchy on the ruins thereof."
p. 45.5
Definitions:
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(1)
(oppress as in: oppressive government) to dominate harshly and unfairly; or to make sufferThe meaning of oppress depends upon its context. For example:
- "The authorities oppress political activists," or "The new nation oppressed Native Americans." -- to dominate harshly and unfairly
- "She is oppressed by excessive debt." - made to suffer
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(2)
(oppress as in: oppressive heat) to make uncomfortable (weigh heavily on the senses or spirit)
- (3) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)