NationStates Jolt Archive

Recent debates have made me want to dig into to books regarding the causes of the Civil War, 1861-65.

I've studied this subject before and am more interested in some subjects than others. I don't care much about the battles, military manuevers, etc. I am more interested in the politics.

I'm interested in quality scholarship -- though it is nice if it reads easily.

I'm mainly interested in what caused the secession, the Confederacy, and then the war. You may be aware I already have strong opinions on this subject.

Please tell me if you know of a book I should read. It may be one you think I will agree with, it may be one you know I'll hate, or it could be one to blow my mind.

Thank you. (And feel to turn this into another debate about the Civil War)

Not read it myself yet but somebody said it's pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/081392104X/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?%5Fencoding=UTF8&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#RHXYKPCHG6CXM

Not read it myself yet but somebody said it's pretty good.

http://www.amazon.com/review/product/081392104X/ref=cm_cr_dp_synop?%5Fencoding=UTF8&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending#RHXYKPCHG6CXM

Looks most interesting. Thanks. I've already reserved it at the library.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig2/miller5.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/wilson5.html

Obviously many of these are biased, so I would take them with a grain of salt, but if you want to see things from the CSA's perspective, they're probably worth a look.

For the war, I'd have to say Shelby Foote's work and McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom are indispensable; they're long, for sure, but the combination of in-depth content and ease of access to people uniformed about the Civil War are very useful. It's a lot easier to see the reasoning behind the Confederacy and the war (and, by extension, to pursue more specific research) if you have a good knowledge of the war itself.

Look Away by something Davis, or Davies - deals with exactly what you're asking.

I'll google it now.

EDIT: It's available as an eBook (http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/cgi-bin/item/parent-9780684865850/Look-Away-A-History-of-the-Confederate-States-of-America-eBook.html)

Thank you. (And feel to turn this into another debate about the Civil War)

Civil War? More like War of [i]Northern Aggression[/inflammatory blah blah blah]

Maybe you could try Ordeal of the Union by Allan Nevins. It's an eight-book series, but you'd only need the first four, given your interest in the causes rather than the events.

Civil War? More like War of [i]Northern Aggression[/inflammatory blah blah blah]

"Yeah, and I suppose Fort Sumter opened fire on all those innocent heavily armed Rebel cannons!"

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig2/miller5.html
http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/wilson5.html

Obviously many of these are biased, so I would take them with a grain of salt, but if you want to see things from the CSA's perspective, they're probably worth a look.

Thanks. I will look.

For the war, I'd have to say Shelby Foote's work and McPherson's Battle Cry of Freedom are indispensable; they're long, for sure, but the combination of in-depth content and ease of access to people uniformed about the Civil War are very useful. It's a lot easier to see the reasoning behind the Confederacy and the war (and, by extension, to pursue more specific research) if you have a good knowledge of the war itself.

Hmmm. I'm not sure. The war itself doesn't really interest me. But I'll keep those works in mind. Thanks.

Look Away by something Davis, or Davies - deals with exactly what you're asking.

I'll google it now.

EDIT: It's available as an eBook (http://www.diesel-ebooks.com/cgi-bin/item/parent-9780684865850/Look-Away-A-History-of-the-Confederate-States-of-America-eBook.html)

Thank you. I just reserved it from the Library.

Maybe you could try Ordeal of the Union by Allan Nevins. It's an eight-book series, but you'd only need the first four, given your interest in the causes rather than the events.

Interesting. I've requested the first 2 volumes so far. Thanks.

WARNING: Any books recommended may subsequently come up in NSG!

Interesting. I've requested the first 2 volumes so far. Thanks.

No problem. I'm guessing your library has online reservations, given the speed with which you're making these requests?

No problem. I'm guessing your library has online reservations, given the speed with which you're making these requests?


Yep. Free online reservations. I love my local library system.

Yep. Free online reservations. I love my local library system.

Damn, that's pretty sweet. I'd love it too.

Rise and Fall of the Confederate Goverment - Jefferson Davis (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/19831)

When in the Course of Human Events - Charles Adams (http://www.amazon.com/When-Course-Human-Events-Secession/dp/0847697231/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196286373&sr=8-1)

A Constitutional History of Secession - Graham, Livingston (http://www.amazon.com/Constitutional-History-Secession-Remington-Graham/dp/1589800664/ref=pd_sim_b_img_3)

One Nation, Indivisible? A Study of Secession and the Constitution - Robert Hawes (http://www.amazon.com/Nation-Indivisible-Study-Secession-Constitution/dp/1596820918/ref=sid_dp_dp)

Allegiance: Fort Sumter, Charleston, and the Beginning of the Civil War - Detzer (http://www.amazon.com/Allegiance-Sumter-Charleston-Beginning-Civil/dp/015600741X/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196286709&sr=1-2)

You could also read DiLorenzo's books about Lincoln, although they're not really that good. He takes an extremely big L Libertarian tack to the whole thing, and while I dislike Lincoln as well DiLorenzo rages more than he analyzes.

While some of these books aren't specifically about the Civil War, they do all deal with it. I'm rather fascinated by the concept of secession and its legality, so I have all of these books. Of course, I don't agree with much of what's said in them (I won't even link to "The South Was Right!" by the Kennedys) but they're still interesting reads (if you're into that sort of thing).