The complicated relationship between the south and Britain is well told. The blockades of southern ports by the superior naval capabilities of the north choked the south. There is also a huge amount of economic detail in the book that made it clear the south could never win, both in terms of financial, technological capabilities and manpower. In fact, he wished to grant freedom to any slave who would take up arms in the Confederate army (which never came to pass). Lee, the book doesn't paint him out as any monster, but a many who was a hero in the Mexican War, and himself was against the idea of slavery. After all the hullabalooh about Robert E. There are some great outlines of the generals of Ulysses Grant and Robert E.
The launch of the rifle resulted in a major increase in casualties with old school tactics. I would say I lost some interest when the war began, as the book goes into considerable detail on the battles and the significant escalation in the amount of casualties as battles progressed.
#BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM AMAZON FREE#
It is quite interesting that Democratic voters, particularly the Irish contingent, were very reluctant to the join the fight to free southern slaves (the Irish were afraid cheap labour would then flood the north and deprive them of work). The increasing casualties and the decision (need) to enlist black soldiers fully swung the war that way. Although Lincoln, and many of his soldiers, did not think the war was about that, in essence the matter was inescapable. Soon after the war begins, the freeing of slaves from Confederate territory is really what settles the context of the war. However, it seems quite clear that is about the freedom to have slaves or not. McPherson tries to be sympathetic to the Confederate view that the war was not about slavery but rather freedom (indeed one must ask the question if Battle Cry for Freedom does actually allude to both sides). States wanted to secede from the Union and not be beholden to the whims of Washington DC. The rise of the Lincoln and the newly formed Republican Party put the south on edge, with their principles, rather than policies, of being anti-slavery. That swing the balance towards a Union where there were more slave states than non. McPherson makes the excellent point that the expansion of the "Union" south and westwards swallowed up new slave states. The first 300 pages of the book are the best in my opinion, where McPherson draws a magnificent line between the end of the Mexican War in 1848 and the first shots of the Civil War (some papers referenced as early as 1851 "first shots of Civil War at Christiana"). I finally settled on Battle Cry For Freedom by James McPherson and am entirely satisfied with the book - it is a brilliant summation of the economic, political and military details before and during the war. Trawling through the masses of Civil War books, it became difficult to choose one alone.
There are extensive notes so readers can investigate fully various subjects of the book. It's beautifully written and worth the time it takes you to plow through it. I really believe that any student of American histroy must read this book. It is a thoroughly detailed review of the major causes of the Civil War and if you don't understand it after reading this book, you never will. It is impossible to undestand what the Civil War was without understanding the background, so I fail to understand the complaints of some reviewers that the war only shows up after about 300 or so pages.
#BATTLE CRY OF FREEDOM AMAZON SERIES#
It was actually written as part of a greater series "The Oxford History of the United States." It covers the Civil War era, not just the war itself, and covers about twenty years from 1847-1865. There does seem to be some confusion about the purpose of the book. The idea that Americans would place allegiance to their states over the national governement seems so utterly foreign now, it amazes me to think how so much has changed since those days. He truly brings to life that feeling of utter division that was the Civil War and one wonders how the country ever healed and how it has become so united. McPherson's writing style is quick, clear, and easy to read. This is probably the best one volume book on the Civil War out there.
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