A House Divided
The Civil War and Nineteenth-Century America
By Jonathan Wells
Published November 17th 2011 by Routledge – 374 pages
Description
The Civil War is one of the most defining eras of American history, and much has been written on every aspect of the war. The volume of material available is daunting, especially when a student is trying to grasp the overall themes of the period.
Jonathan Wells has distilled the war down into understandable, easy-to-read sections, with plenty of maps and illustrations, to help make sense of the battles and social, political, and cultural changes of the era. Presented here is information on:
- the home front
- the battles, both in the East and the West
- the status of slaves
- women’s role in the war and its aftermath
- literature and public life
- international aspects of the war
- and much more!
Students will also find helpful study aids on the companion website for the book. A House Divided provides a short, readable survey of the Civil War and the Reconstruction period afterward, focusing not only on the battles, but on how Americans lived during a time of great upheaval in the country’s history, and what that legacy has meant to the country today.
Reviews
"A House Divided fills a valuable niche in the market…it provides an engaging blend of political, social, and cultural history in a manageable page count." Scott Stephan, Ball State University
"I like this textbook very much. The writing is clear, concise and accessible. The subsections are well-chosen and the narrative never drags, but carries the reader through each topic without slighting detail or getting lost in digressions. It is exceptionally well-written for college undergraduate readers. It also incorporates the latest scholarship effectively, and provides very useful bibliographies at the end of each chapters. For use-value, I think students will prefer this textbook to any one that I have used previously." Mark Elliott, University of North Carolina, Greensboro
"A House Divided accomplished the difficult task of blending topics and chronology in a clear and engaging way." John Condon, Merrimack College
Contents
Chapter One: Sectionalism in the Early Republic
Chapter Two: America in the 1850s
Chapter Three: Secession
Chapter Four: Early Battles of the War
Chapter Five: Lincoln and Northern Politics
Chapter Six: Battles, 1862-1863
Chapter Seven: Literary and Intellectual Life during the War
Chapter Eight: Life in the South during the War
Chapter Nine: Western Perspectives
Chapter Ten: Battles, 1863-1864
Chapter Eleven: Home fronts
Chapter Twelve: The War Ends, 1864-1865
Chapter Thirteen: Congressional Reconstruction
Chapter Fourteen: Legacies
Author Bio
Jonathan Daniel Wells is Associate Professor of History and History Department Chair at Temple University.
Name: A House Divided: The Civil War and Nineteenth-Century America (Paperback) – Routledge
Description: By Jonathan Wells. The Civil War is one of the most defining eras of American history, and much has been written on every aspect of the war. The volume of material available is daunting, especially when a student is trying to grasp the overall themes of the...
Categories: American History, American Southern History, Military & Naval History, Social & Cultural History, Political History
