![]() The divide was so stark, McPherson writes: A plantation economy based increasingly on cotton, where slave labor was free and most goods were exported, the South lacked many of the hallmarks of the industrial North, namely the manufacturing facilities, iron-works, infrastructure and modern workplace practices that made America’s industrial economy the world’s most dynamic. In the South, life went on much as it did before. ![]() However, these changes were primarily impacting the North. Women were fighting for the vote, abolitionists were agitating for a broader definition of freedom, and a booming immigrant population was pouring into America’s cities, setting off a nativist movement that would impact party politics across the land. Most workers now served highly specialized roles, a single link in an ever-growing chain of divided labor that allowed the industrial revolution to shift into high gear. CIties were becoming bigger, more crowded and increasingly industrialized. The railroads were rapidly changing the speed of travel, the telegraph accelerating communications, while steam power was transforming nearly everything else. ![]() McPherson opens with a setting of the stage, describing a country grappling with an unprecedented pace of change. You can read about some of his (and other eminent historians) issues with the project here.Īs for Battle Cry of Freedom itself, if you’ve read other installments in this series, you’ll know what to expect here. He’s been in the news more recently as a member of a group of academics that have been critical of the NY Times 1619 Project. He currently teaches at Princeton University and received a Pulitzer Prize in ‘89 for Battle Cry of Freedom. James McPherson is one of most highly-respected and well-known Civil War historians in the country. If you find yourself consumed by the Civil War, as many have, this is a set to lose yourself in for many months.Īll in all, I felt like McPherson’s book was the perfect volume for me. This series covers seemingly every battle, large or small, and epic conflicts like Shiloh, Chancellorsville or Fredericksburg consume entire chapters, complete with maps throughout. I quit not because I wasn’t enjoying the ride, Foote’s writing lives up to its illustrious reputation, I only quit because this largely military history of the war was set to consume most of my year and I just couldn’t justify the time spent when I have so much else to read. Every major battle is covered, as well as more minor skirmishes, and an event like Bull Run or Antietam will take place over many pages rather than many paragraphs.Ī Large Multi-Volume History: I haven’t quit many books in this journey, but I did abandon Shelby Foote’s epic trilogy about 350 pages into the first book. At just under 900 pages, it’s a bigger commitment than Catton’s affair but the reader will come away with a far more detailed understanding of what led to the war, much more nuance on the war itself, and in true Oxford History style, a deeper understanding of the social, economic, political, cultural and international factors that swirled and coalesced as the conflict dragged on. Contains both military as well as social, economic and political history.Ī Large Single-Volume History: This is where Battle Cry slides in perfectly. Every major battle is covered, if only for a page or two. It’s an excellent, highly readable, substantive, yet concise history of the conflict from one of the war’s most beloved writers. Worthy of its fame.Ī Slim Single-Volume History: Bruce Catton’s Civil War would be a great selection for this reader. A wonderful, deeply moving account of the war that requires no reading whatsoever and yet still gives you a good general knowledge of both the lead up, the war itself, and its aftermath. No Reading Required: Ken Burns’ Civil War documentary. ![]() If I did, it would most likely look something like this: I think if one were interested in learning about the Civil War, I could now recommend a path depending on one’s tolerance for the subject and desired time spent on it. What can I say at this point that hasn’t already been said about the stellar Oxford History of the United States series? McPherson’s single-volume classic on the Civil War is undoubtedly the most famous volume in the set and boy did it live up to expectations.
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