Waving the bloody shirt referred to?

"Waving the bloody shirt" referred to a political strategy used primarily during the Reconstruction era in the United States, where politicians, particularly Republicans, highlighted the violence and suffering caused by the Civil War to gain support and justify their policies. This tactic was aimed at reminding voters of the sacrifices made by Union soldiers and the need to protect the rights of freed slaves. It often involved invoking the memories of those who died in battle or suffered due to the Confederacy's actions. The phrase became a metaphor for exploiting past grievances to rally support for contemporary political agendas.