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Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (Oxford History of the United States)

by: James M. McPherson

: Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era (Oxford History of the United States)
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Binding: Hardcover
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.73
EAN: 9780195038637
ISBN: 0195038630
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Number Of Items: 1
Number Of Pages: 904
Publication Date: February 25, 1988
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Sales Rank: 66234
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA



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Editorial Review:

Product Description:
Filled with fresh interpretations and information, puncturing old myths and challenging new ones, Battle Cry of Freedom will unquestionably become the standard one-volume history of the Civil War.
James McPherson's fast-paced narrative fully integrates the political, social, and military events that crowded the two decades from the outbreak of one war in Mexico to the ending of another at Appomattox. Packed with drama and analytical insight, the book vividly recounts the momentous episodes that preceded the Civil War--the Dred Scott decision, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry--and then moves into a masterful chronicle of the war itself--the battles, the strategic maneuvering on both sides, the politics, and the personalities. Particularly notable are McPherson's new views on such matters as the slavery expansion issue in the 1850s, the origins of the Republican Party, the causes of secession, internal dissent and anti-war opposition in the North and the South, and the reasons for the Union's victory.
The book's title refers to the sentiments that informed both the Northern and Southern views of the conflict: the South seceded in the name of that freedom of self-determination and self-government for which their fathers had fought in 1776, while the North stood fast in defense of the Union founded by those fathers as the bulwark of American liberty. Eventually, the North had to grapple with the underlying cause of the war--slavery--and adopt a policy of emancipation as a second war aim. This 'new birth of freedom,' as Lincoln called it, constitutes the proudest legacy of America's bloodiest conflict.
This authoritative volume makes sense of that vast and confusing 'second American Revolution' we call the Civil War, a war that transformed a nation and expanded our heritage of liberty.

Amazon.com Review:
Published in 1988 to universal acclaim, this single-volume treatment of the Civil War quickly became recognized as the new standard in its field. James M. McPherson, who won the Pulitzer Prize for this book, impressively combines a brisk writing style with an admirable thoroughness. He covers the military aspects of the war in all of the necessary detail, and also provides a helpful framework describing the complex economic, political, and social forces behind the conflict. Perhaps more than any other book, this one belongs on the bookshelf of every Civil War buff.



Customer Reviews
Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - More than met my expectations, but with some reservations.
In my opinion this book richly deserved its Pulitzer Prize. Sometimes prizewinners disappoint me, ... Read More


Rating: 4 out of 5 stars - Battle Cry of Freedom
This is a very good general history of the Civil War in one book. It is easy reading. Do not get ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - A Feast of Facts and Intrigue
This hefty tome is comprehensive and cram-packed with details. But fear not. You know the basics. ... Read More


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars - Dale
I own over 500 Civil War books and this is by the best. It's very detailed, but still very interesting. ... Read More


Rating: 2 out of 5 stars - Kindle Edition has problems
This review is purely as to the flaws of the Kindle transfer -- the book itself is a masterpiece I've reread ... Read More

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Copyright ©2003, Mark Carey.