NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Pulitzer Prize–winning biographer Jon Meacham chronicles the life of Abraham Lincoln, charting how—and why—he confronted secession, threats to democracy, and the tragedy of slavery to expand the possibilities of America. “In his captivating new book, Jon Meacham has given us the Lincoln for our time.”—Henry Louis Gates, Jr. LONGLISTED FOR THE BIOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL PLUTARCH AWARD • ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The Christian Science Monitor, Kirkus Reviews A president who governed a divided country has much to teach us in a twenty-first-century moment of polarization and political crisis. Hated and hailed, excoriated and revered, Abraham Lincoln was at the pinnacle of American power when implacable secessionists gave no quarter in a clash of visions bound up with money, race, identity, and faith. In him we can see the possibilities of the presidency as well as its limitations. At once familiar and elusive, Lincoln tends to be seen as the greatest of American presidents—a remote icon—or as a politician driven more by calculation than by conviction. This illuminating new portrait gives us a very human Lincoln—an imperfect man whose moral antislavery commitment, essential to the story of justice in America, began as he grew up in an antislavery Baptist community; who insisted that slavery was a moral evil; and who sought, as he put it, to do right as God gave him to see the right. This book tells the story of Lincoln from his birth on the Kentucky frontier in 1809 to his leadership during the Civil War to his tragic assassination in 1865: his rise, his self-education, his loves, his bouts of depression, his political failures, his deepening faith, and his persistent conviction that slavery must end. In a nation shaped by the courage of the enslaved of the era and by the brave witness of Black Americans, Lincoln’s story illustrates the ways and means of politics in a democracy, the roots and durability of racism, and the capacity of conscience to shape events.

And There Was Light

Succinct, with a brace of original documents following each chapter, Christopher J. Olsen's The American Civil War is the ideal introduction to American history's most famous, and infamous, chapter. Covering events from 1850 and the mounting political pressures to split the Union into opposing sections, through the four years of bloodshed and waning Confederate fortunes, to Lincoln's assassination and the advent of Reconstruction, The American Civil War covers the entire sectional conflict and at every juncture emphasizes the decisions and circumstances, large and small, that determined the course of events.

The American Civil War

France's involvement in the American Civil War was critical to its unfolding, but the details of the European power's role remain little understood. Here, Steve Sainlaude offers the first comprehensive history of French diplomatic engagement with the Union and the Confederate States of America during the conflict. Drawing on archival sources that have been neglected by scholars up to this point, Sainlaude overturns many commonly held assumptions about French relations with the Union and the Confederacy. As Sainlaude demonstrates, no major European power had a deeper stake in the outcome of the conflict than France. Reaching beyond the standard narratives of this history, Sainlaude delves deeply into questions of geopolitical strategy and diplomacy during this critical period in world affairs. The resulting study will help shift the way Americans look at the Civil War and extend their understanding of the conflict in global context.

France and the American Civil War

The American Civil War saw the country that was founded on the ideals of "liberty and union" torn apart and embroiled in some of the most bitter and bloodiest fighting mankind has witnessed. The war changed the face and character of America forever and the shockwaves of it resounded around the world. Osprey's Struggle for a Vast Future seeks to reach an understanding of the origins of this landmark conflict and its place in the history of modern society and warfare. The major themes of the war are examined in depth by the world's leading American Civil War experts, including the innovation of warfare, the role of women and ethnic origins, espionage and the extraordinary leaders and personalities that shaped the future of the United States. The conflict is also brought to life through superb photographs and illustrations. This book is not only a fascinating new perspective but is invaluable to anyone seeking to enrich their understanding of this historic event.

Struggle for a vast future

An award-winning and highly recommended comprehensive reference set on the political, social, and military aspects of the American Civil War.

Encyclopedia of the American Civil War

An account of the Civil War from its causes to its final battles including discussions of dominant figures of the era, strategies of major battles, and brutal sieges which marked this conflict.

“An extremely good writer, [Ayers] is well worth reading . . . on the South and Southern history.”—Stephen Sears, Boston Globe The Southern past has proven to be fertile ground for great works of history. Peculiarities of tragic proportions—a system of slavery flourishing in a land of freedom, secession and Civil War tearing at a federal Union, deep poverty persisting in a nation of fast-paced development—have fed the imaginations of some of our most accomplished historians. Foremost in their ranks today is Edward L. Ayers, author of the award-winning and ongoing study of the Civil War in the heart of America, the Valley of the Shadow Project. In wide-ranging essays on the Civil War, the New South, and the twentieth-century South, Ayers turns over the rich soil of Southern life to explore the sources of the nation's and his own history. The title essay, original here, distills his vast research and offers a fresh perspective on the nation's central historical event.

What Caused the Civil War?: Reflections on the South and Southern History

"This detailed account of slavery in America, from Jamestown through the Civil War, explains its economic importance in the North as well as the South, its impact on the political dynamics of the Civil War, and the moral dilemmas it posed"--Provided by publisher.

And the War Came

The American War

Excerpt from History of the American Civil War, Vol. 1 of 3 This work is intended to be a history of the causes which led to the civil war, and of the events connected with it, considered not in a partisan, but in a philosophical and impartial spirit. While I was writing a History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, my attention was often drawn to facts illustrating how much the national life of the American people had been influenced by uncontrollable causes, and how strikingly it exemplified the great truth that societies advance in a preordained and inevitable course. I determined that, if circumstances should permit, I would devote myself to the study of the subject, and was confirmed in this resolution by the favor which was accorded to my work above mentioned, both here and in Europe. Meantime the civil war broke out, and added a new incentive to my intention. For I saw that both in the Northern and Southern States public men were accusing one another with bitterness, each throwing the odium of responsibility on his antagonist, as if the war had not been connected with past influences and had no past history, but was the sudden result of the passions and fanaticism of the hour. There seemed to be a forgetfulness of the fact that its origin dates before any of those who have been the chief actors in it were born. It came upon us in an unavoidable and irresistible way. Now when we appreciate how much the actions of men are controlled by the deeds of their predecessors, and are determined by climate and other natural circumstances, our animosities lose much of their asperity, and the return of kind feelings is hastened. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

History of the American Civil War, Vol. 1 of 3 (Classic Reprint)

Noted historian Steven E. Woodworth tells the story of what many regard as the defining event in United States history. Woodworth argues that the Civil War had a distinct purpose that was understood by most of its participants: it was primarily a conflict over the issue of slavery.

This Great Struggle

Abraham Lincoln's announcement of a blockade of southern Confederate ports and the possible seizure of neutral trading ships was met with great alarm in England. Manchester's mills demanded American cotton and other goods that would not wait for the end of the conflict. Enter the blockade runners. What was it like to risk death or imprisonment during the clash of North and South? Thomas Taylor was a 21-year-old Englishman with a taste for adventure and nothing holding him back. The outbreak of war in America interested him greatly and he was soon in the ranks of the runners. In this true sea story, Taylor not only tells of near capture and brushes with death, he tells you what it takes to operate a good blockade running ship. The introduction to this important work was written by none other than Sir Julian Stafford Corbett (1854-1922), the eminent British naval historian and geo-strategist of the 19th and early 20th centuries. His Some Principles of Maritime Strategy is still considered a classic by students of naval warfare and Corbett wrote the official history of Naval operations during World War I. This is to say that Corbett’s opinion of Thomas Taylor’s book as a work of naval art is not to be overlooked or taken lightly. For the first time, this long-out-of-print book is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones. Be sure to LOOK INSIDE or download a sample.

Running the Blockade During the American Civil War (Abridged, Annotated)

"Based on GIS technology, National Overview concentrates on the big picture behind the war, from the campaigns, operations, and conventions to the major battles."--Publisher's website.

Atlas of the American Civil War

This volume narrates the major battles and campaigns of the conflict, conveying the full military experience during the Civil War. The military encounters between Union and Confederate soldiers and between both armies and irregular combatants and true non-combatants structured the four years of war. These encounters were not solely defined by violence, but military encounters gave the war its central architecture. Chapters explore well-known battles, such as Antietam and Gettysburg, as well as military conflict in more abstract places, defined by political qualities (like the border or the West) or physical ones (such as rivers or seas). Chapters also explore the nature of civil-military relations as Union armies occupied parts of the South and garrison troops took up residence in southern cities and towns, showing that the Civil War was not solely a series of battles but a sustained process that drew people together in more ambiguous settings and outcomes.

The Cambridge History of the American Civil War: Volume 1, Military Affairs

In the seventy-three succinct essays gathered in The Enduring Civil War, celebrated historian Gary W. Gallagher highlights the complexity and richness of the war, from its origins to its memory, as topics for study, contemplation, and dispute. He places contemporary understanding of the Civil War, both academic and general, in conversation with testimony from those in the Union and the Confederacy who experienced and described it, investigating how mid-nineteenth-century perceptions align with, or deviate from, current ideas regarding the origins, conduct, and aftermath of the war. The tension between history and memory forms a theme throughout the essays, underscoring how later perceptions about the war often took precedence over historical reality in the minds of many Americans. The array of topics Gallagher addresses is striking. He examines notable books and authors, both Union and Confederate, military and civilian, famous and lesser known. He discusses historians who, though their names have receded with time, produced works that remain pertinent in terms of analysis or information. He comments on conventional interpretations of events and personalities, challenging, among other things, commonly held notions about Gettysburg and Vicksburg as decisive turning points, Ulysses S. Grant as a general who profligately wasted Union manpower, the Gettysburg Address as a watershed that turned the war from a fight for Union into one for Union and emancipation, and Robert E. Lee as an old-fashioned general ill-suited to waging a modern mid-nineteenth-century war. Gallagher interrogates recent scholarly trends on the evolving nature of Civil War studies, addressing crucial questions about chronology, history, memory, and the new revisionist literature. The format of this provocative and timely collection lends itself to sampling, and readers might start in any of the subject groupings and go where their interests take them.

The Enduring Civil War

"This book re-examines multiple aspects of the Union blockade during the American Civil War. Michael Bonner and Peter McCord scrutinize the blockade's operation under international maritime law, its psychological effect on citizens of southern-port cities, and the actuality of blockade runners outside of Confederate lore. This deep examination of the blockade critiques the often uncritically accepted notion that the blockade was, by and large, extremely effective"--

The Union Blockade in the American Civil War

In this examination of Union and Confederate foreign relations during the Civil War from both European and American perspectives, Howard Jones demonstrates that the consequences of the conflict between North and South reached far beyond American soil. Jones explores a number of themes, including the international economic and political dimensions of the war, the North's attempts to block the South from winning foreign recognition as a nation, Napoleon III's meddling in the war and his attempt to restore French power in the New World, and the inability of Europeans to understand the interrelated nature of slavery and union, resulting in their tendency to interpret the war as a senseless struggle between a South too large and populous to have its independence denied and a North too obstinate to give up on the preservation of the Union. Most of all, Jones explores the horrible nature of a war that attracted outside involvement as much as it repelled it. Written in a narrative style that relates the story as its participants saw it play out around them, Blue and Gray Diplomacy depicts the complex set of problems faced by policy makers from Richmond and Washington to London, Paris, and St. Petersburg.

Blue and Gray Diplomacy

In 1865, after four tumultuous years of fighting, Americans welcomed the opportunity to return to a life of normalcy. President Abraham Lincoln issued his emancipation decree in January 1863 and had set the stage for what he hoped would be a smooth transition from war to peace with the announcement of his reconstruction program in December 1863 and with his call of "malice toward none and charity for all" in his Second Inaugural Address in March 1865. Lincoln's dream of completing the process of reconstructing the nation was cut short just one month later by the hand of an assassin. The essays in this volume--by Adams and Hudson along with Stanley Harrold, John David Smith, Mitchell Snay, and Fay Yarbrough--represent an exemplary collection on the importance of democracy and race during and after America's most devastating conflict. Ranging from a consideration of antebellum abolitionists to the racial policies adopted by Native American tribes that had allied with the Confederacy to the ambiguous legacies of Reconstruction, these chapters are thoroughly researched, persuasively argued, and beautifully crafted. Democracy and the American Civil War is a compelling examination of black Americans and their quest for citizenship rights in the face of violence and ostracism. As volume coeditor Leonne Hudson points out in his introduction, Lincoln's actions were significant steps on the road toward the fulfillment of the democratic tenets contained in the foundational documents of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. By the end of the Civil War, President Lincoln had come to realize that individual freedom was an inalienable right. Furthermore, he believed that in a democratic nation all men were not only entitled to freedom but to equality as well. Although African Americans had played an unforgettable role in helping to preserve the Union, they found their path to full democracy littered with political and legal obstacles that would bedevil them for decades.This collection enriches our understanding of democracy, race, and the Civil War, and it reminds us that the historical importance of democracy and the complexity of race are topics with which we should continue to engage.

Democracy and the American Civil War

A collection of letters from a Union surgeon in the American Civil War, revealing what life was like for a doctor and a soldier in that era. Union surgeon James Dana Benton witnessed firsthand the suffering and death brought about by the ghastly wounds, infections, and diseases that wreaked havoc to both the Union and Confederate armies. A native of New York, Dr. Benton penned a series of letters throughout the war to his family relating his experiences with the 111th New York Infantry as an assistant surgeon, and later with the 98th New York as surgeon. This unique correspondence—which covers a wide array of topics beyond medicine and the treatment of the injured—is the basis of Death, Disease, and Life at War: The Civil War Letters of Surgeon James D. Benton, 111th and 98th New York Infantry Regiments, 1862-1865. Dr. Benton was present for some of the war’s most gruesome and important battles, including Gettysburg, Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg. He was also present for the fall of Harpers Ferry, Abraham Lincoln’s second Inaugural address, and the collapse of Richmond. His pen offers an insightful and honest look into the everyday life of not only a Union surgeon, but also an officer who suffered the same basic hardships other soldiers in the ranks endured. Chris Loperfido’s Death, Disease, and Life at War is a valuable addition to the Civil War bookshelf. “More than 600,00 men perished in the Civil War, and many more were wounded or fell ill. Prompt and timely attention from an army surgeon was often the difference between life and death. James Benton’s letters home provide a compelling glimpse into the everyday life of these doctors—their concerns and frustrations, their patients and colleagues, the places visited, and their opinions on the war. I commend Christopher Loperfido for bringing this interesting slice of the war to light.” —Scott L. Mingus, Sr., award-winning author of Confederate General William “Extra Billy Smith”: From Virginia’s Statehouse to Gettysburg Scapegoat “Loperfido’s excellent arrangement of [Benton’s] letters provide[s] a compelling look at the life of a Union doctor during a time when the practice of medicine was still primitive and an understanding of health in general was scanty at best. Death, Disease, and Life at War is another valuable piece to the puzzle of understanding what it was like to serve in the Civil War.” —Meg Groeling, author of The Aftermath of the Battle: The Burial of the Civil War Dead

Death, Disease, and Life at War

The story of America’s bloodiest conflict is still as meaningful today as it was in 1865. This comprehensive, visually arresting guide covers the history, causes, and consequences of the Civil War. It provides eyewitness accounts by soldiers and civilians, key profiles of military leaders, and clear timelines that give an overview of how the events developed. This lavish volume is illustrated throughout with photography and paintings and includes detailed galleries showcasing weapons, equipment, and other artifacts. This expanded edition also comes with informative and photographic features on memorial sites associated with the Civil War. Produced in association with the Smithsonian Institute, The Civil War: A Visual History is an invaluable resource for schools and libraries, as well as a perfect companion for anyone interested in military and social history. Packed with information on key locations, the treatment of wounded soldiers, and slavery, this is a rich, detailed account of one of the most controversial conflicts of our time.

The Civil War

Discover the people, battles, and politics of America's bloodiest conflict. Explore its causes, chapters, characters, and consequences. With a topic on every page, Civil War Visual Encyclopedia tells the story of the war using simple explanations and stunning photographs. Profiles on decisive battles, strategic maps, political leaders, military commanders, naval vessels, uniforms, weapons, and equipment shine a light on the key events and other turning points during the five years of fighting. Find out about the child soldiers who fought valiantly and the healthcare heroes who made groundbreaking differences. Read about the railroads and how the media reported on the war via the telegraph! Discover eyewitness accounts and personal letters. Learn about the reasons behind the war and its lasting impact: the abolition of slavery. More lives were lost in the Civil War than in any other in American history. Filled with vivid insights into this historic conflict - from a day in the life of a plantation worker in the south to a personal diary entry of a Union soldier on the action-included front lines - Civil War Visual Encyclopedia invites young readers to witness the war unfold in a striking new way. This is the ultimate e-guide for children to the war that changed the USA forever.

The Civil War Visual Encyclopedia

Through photographs and historical documents, profiles the lives of Confederate soldiers during the American Civil War, discussing their day-to-day activities, weapons, and equipment.

Confederate Soldier of the American Civil War: A Visual Reference

Through photographs and historical documents, profiles the lives of Union soldiers during the American Civil War, discussing their day-to-day activities, weapons, and equipment.

Union Soldier of the American Civil War

"Here is a new kind of dictionary - one that is packed with full-color photographs, plus thousands of terms and historical facts from the Civil War." "The Visual Dictionary of the Civil War gives you access to the specialized vocabulary of historians and Civil War buffs in a way that is clear, informative, and easy to understand." "If you know what a particular uniform or rifle or cannon looks like but don't know its name, simply look at the labels around the illustrations. And if you know a term but don't know exactly what it refers to, the index directs you to the illustrations that show you just what you are looking for."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

The Visual Dictionary of the Civil War

836 pictures illustrating the Civil War with a narrative that covers both military and political aspects of the war.

The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War

From the work of photographers Mathew Brady and Alexander Gardner to the painters and illustrators, such as Winslow Homer and Edwin Forbes, this book presents full-color and black-and-white illustrations of the Civil War.

The Civil War in Art

From Goodreads: In this account of the bloodiest war fought on American soil, Brooks Simpson recounts the events of the war from the opening salvo at Fort Sumter through the battlefields of Gettysburg and Shiloh to the Confederate surrender at Appomattox Court House. An Illustrated History of the American Civil War brings to life the realities of the war and the people who lived through it. It explains how the politics around slavery led to an unbridgeable divide between North and South and examines the strategies that led to the Union's eventual victory in 1865. Beautifully illustrated throughout, featuring an array of contemporary photographs, artworks and artifacts, it provides the perfect introduction to the tragic conflict.

An Illustrated History of the Civil War

Featuring full-color maps of seventeen Civil War battlefields, an authoritative documentation of the great battles includes Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Shiloh, Chickamauga, and Fredericksburg with paintings, period photographs, and contemporary pictures of the sites.

Battle Maps of the Civil War

From the American Battlefield Trust, the collection of their popular battle maps of the Western Theater of the American Civil War. “I just love those maps that you guys send to me.” It is a phrase that the staff of the American Battlefield Trust hears on a weekly basis and the expression refers to one of the cornerstone initiatives of the organization, mapping the battlefields of the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, and the American Civil War. The American Battlefield Trust is the premier battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Over the last thirty years the American Battlefield Trust and its members have preserved more than 52,000 acres of battlefield land across 143 battlefields, in 24 states—at sites such as Lexington & Concord, Vicksburg, Yorktown, Shiloh, and Gettysburg. Other than physically walking across the hallowed battle grounds that the American Battlefield Trust has saved, the best way to illustrate the importance of the properties that we have preserved is through our battle maps. Through the decades, the American Battlefield Trust has created hundreds of maps detailing the action at major battles. Now, for the first time in book form, we have collected the maps of some of the most iconic battles of the Western Theater of the Civil War into one volume. In Vol. 2 of our Battle Maps of the Civil War Series, you can follow the course of the war from Fort Sumter to the Surrender at Bennett Place. Study the major actions of the Western Theater from start to finish utilizing this unparalleled collection of maps.

From the first shots fired at Fort Sumter in 1861 to the final clashes on the Road to Appomattox in 1864, The Atlas of the Civil War reconstructs the battles of America's bloodiest war with unparalleled clarity and precision. Edited by Pulitzer Prize recipient James M. McPherson and written by America's leading military historians, this peerless reference charts the major campaigns and skirmishes of the Civil War. Each battle is meticulously plotted on one of 200 specially commissioned full-color maps. Timelines provide detailed, play-by-play maneuvers, and the accompanying text highlights the strategic aims and tactical considerations of the men in charge. Each of the battle, communications, and locator maps are cross-referenced to provide a comprehensive overview of the fighting as it swept across the country. With more than two hundred photographs and countless personal accounts that vividly describe the experiences of soldiers in the fields, The Atlas of the Civil War brings to life the human drama that pitted state against state and brother against brother.

The Atlas of the Civil War

The American Civil War (1861-1865), a pivotal conflict in United States history, was primarily driven by the contentious issue of slavery. This war, fought between the Northern states (the Union) and the Southern states (the Confederacy) that seceded from the Union, fundamentally reshaped the nation's social, political, and economic landscape. Key events include the Battle of Gettysburg, President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, which proclaimed the freedom of slaves in the Confederate states, and his subsequent assassination shortly after the South's surrender. The Civil War's conclusion led to the Reconstruction era, aimed at rebuilding the nation and integrating freed slaves into society. Its legacy continues to influence American culture and politics, emphasizing themes of freedom, equality, and national identity.

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American Civil War

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