Gary W. Gallagher and Joan Waugh - The American War

This short history of the war and its aftermath by two esteemed historians fills the use roll of a popular summary of the era though there is nothing new in the book.  The authors try to be "balanced" but putting the best face possible on the Confederacy though is a difficult task.  The authors do not come right out and say that the "cause" of the war was slavery though it seems obvious in their history.

I do note with pleasure that instead of the "Union" they say the "United States," which is proper.  On the other hand, they refer to the CSA as a "nation."  If the CSA really was a separate nation then they deserved to be treated as a conquered nation after the conflict, but I do not see the authors taking this position along with Thaddeus Stevens.  I want to read more about Thaddeus one day.

The authors call it "The American War."  What's with that?

Divisions in the original 13 states were present from the beginning.  There was disagreement over slavery at the constitutional convention in 1787.  The seeds of the war were there from day one. Big issues like slavery do not go away by themselves.   P 1

Slavery related issues that dogged the country from the beginning came to a head with the Kansas-Nebraska Act in 1854, the Dred Scott decision in 1859, John Brown's failed raid in 1859, and the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860 on a Republican platform of non-extension of slavery into the territories.  P. 16

Going into the war you could make case for either side having the advantage.  P. 30

It is obvious that emancipation was a military necessity.  P. 83

During the first year and half of the war Lincoln put forth no plan of emancipation.  P. 88

Approximately 180,000 African Americans served the federal cause.  At the start of 1863 the Union army became an army of liberation.  P. 95

The war settled three questions forever.  1) The Union is permanent.  2) The cancer of slavery was removed.  3) The federal government trumps state and local government in fundamental ways.  P. 188

White Southerners created their own memorial day in 1866 sometimes called decoration day.  P. 237

How Robert E. Lee transcended the fact that he was the preeminent losing general of the war to become a national hero is sad and a subject unto itself.  P. 240

Appreciation of the "Lost Cause" has mostly disappeared despite Stone Mountain and the Confederate flag flying here and there.  P. 246