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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 12, 2011 15:42:46 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2011 10:10:20 GMT
There is a big article in Time as well.
Having grown up in the southern United States, I can attest to the contradictory regional view of the matter. I certainly hope that the textbooks have changed since my youth (note to non Americans: each state in the US chooses its own textbooks -- there is no national educational system). Although the history books did not actually say that slavery was a good thing (just 'necessary' for the economy), I clearly remember learning that everything was the fault of the greedy northerners who wanted to steal all of 'our' stuff. Southerners were genteel freedom-lovers and Northerners were interfering busybodies.
Even in the 21st century, you will find quite a bit of residual animosity in rural areas.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 13, 2011 12:20:33 GMT
Know any good books on the subject? I'd like to read more about it.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 13, 2011 16:11:46 GMT
I can't stay online right now, but an trying to find if the recent NYTimes special anniversary coverage of the was is available. In the meantime, look at this: www.amazon.com/York-Times-Complete-Civil-1861-1865/dp/1579128459And very quickly, it's true that "states rights" is the issue most often held up as a catalyst to the war, but it's unmistakably true that it was more about the feared economic impact of slavery being outlawed. And by the by, Lincoln, "the great emancipator", certainly dragged his big feet over freeing the slaves.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 13, 2011 16:26:46 GMT
Many thanks Bixa.
I have sometnig similar - a reprint of the Daily Telegraph through the '30's which makes great reading.
I'll see if it's on UK Amazon.
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 13, 2011 17:38:44 GMT
Mick, I just put timeline and overview of the us civil war into Google. Many hits, but here are a few that you might find useful: americancivilwar.com/tl/timeline.html -- This site has some wonderful maps on it. It is a commercial site for selling books (& some other stuff), which may not be useful to someone in the UK, but the very complete blurbs may send you looking for them elsewhere. The American Civil War Overview -- a complete, free, online book: www.civilwarhome.com/overview.htmShotgun's Home of the American Civil War -- an old, thus not pretty, site with scads & scads of excellent information. www.civilwarhome.com/~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The longest siege in US military history was fought at Port Hudson, near my home town (see reply #1 for links to odd footnote in history). Check out Thill's wonderful photos of North Carolina, which include some evocative shots of civil war re-enactments.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 14, 2011 7:11:44 GMT
Thanks Bixa.
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 19, 2011 13:02:04 GMT
Just had a chance to look through some of this - fascinating stuff.
On the face of it slavery seems to be the main reason but no doubt there was more to it than that.
Once the war started it looked as if the South didn't stand a chance but it lasted some years and over 600,000 killed. No wonder there's still bitterness...
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Post by mickthecactus on Apr 19, 2011 13:06:45 GMT
There is a big article in Time as well. Having grown up in the southern United States, I can attest to the contradictory regional view of the matter. I certainly hope that the textbooks have changed since my youth (note to non Americans: each state in the US chooses its own textbooks -- there is no national educational system). Although the history books did not actually say that slavery was a good thing (just 'necessary' for the economy), I clearly remember learning that everything was the fault of the greedy northerners who wanted to steal all of 'our' stuff. Southerners were genteel freedom-lovers and Northerners were interfering busybodies. Even in the 21st century, you will find quite a bit of residual animosity in rural areas. A Southerner eh? For no particular reason I had you down as a New Yorker. Don't ask me why...........
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Post by Deleted on Apr 29, 2011 18:16:50 GMT
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2011 19:11:21 GMT
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Post by mickthecactus on May 13, 2011 12:40:59 GMT
Thanks K2. Good stuff.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 7, 2011 2:31:36 GMT
Oh my ~~ look what I just found! "DISUNION One-hundred-and-fifty years ago, Americans went to war with themselves. Disunion revisits and reconsiders America's most perilous period -- using contemporary accounts, diaries, images and historical assessments to follow the Civil War as it unfolded." opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/category/disunion/
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Post by lola on Jul 7, 2011 14:00:17 GMT
Mick, the book that hooked me into the Civil War was historical novel The Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara. Set during the four days of the Battle of Gettysburg, it portrays Gen. Lee as distracted and not up to the task. (That must have been true to some extent, or else why order Pickett's charge up Cemetery Ridge?) It's North-slanted.
For an even view of the two great generals, I like Lee and Grant: A Dual Biography by Gene Smith.
I had a crush on Gen. R.E.Lee for awhile, after reading his letters. He was a gentle man who really wanted to be a doctor.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 7, 2011 22:02:19 GMT
Curiously enough,this past (7/3/11) Sunday New York Times Book Review cover is a review of a book, The World On Fire, Britain's Crucial Role in the American Civil War,by Amanda Foreman.(958 pages!!!!!). www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/books/review/book-review-a-world-on-fire-by-amanda-foreman.htmlBy far, one of the best documentaries I've ever seen on the topic, is a movie by Ken Burns. Outstanding. (it's 5 discs!!). PBS recently aired it again back in April. Well,well worth a watch. www.pbs.org/civilwar/Too too cute Lola!!! Robbie Robertson and Robert E. Lee. 2 Robbies!!!
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