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There were differing perspectives on how genuine patriotism should be and how it should be displayed. Some people, such as shopkeepers, just put out flags and counted that as sufficient patriotism, which some others judged them for. Horace Bushnell, a pastor, argued that patriotism wasn't worth much if it was only brief. He believed that patriotism should be strong and consistent, which others across the country agreed with, and rooted in Christian piety, which was a less consistent belief among others. (Ezra C)
The movement of commercial goods through the US market at the time of the Civil War caused hesitation, as many consumers felt that there was no way to generate authentic patriotic feelings with the exchange of money and goods. This hesitation, however, did limit many consumers from engaging with these products, as flags, paper goods, and other items were popular for the duration of the war. -Sarah M
The Civil War happened to coincide with both the industrialization of America and the rise of consumerism. This led to people using the goods they bought to show their support for the nation during the war. One major way of doing this was by buying the US flag. (Tanner Gillikin).
Making flags and other patriotic items created work for women during the Civil War. Flag making was considered a women’s job during this time, and with the rise of patriotic consumer culture during this time period. Items made in the traditional red, white, and blue made a great deal of profit for women in this time period. (Tanner Gillikin)