The 150th anniversary of the American Civil War is just months away, and the conflict's very language still resonates within our national narrative. Texas rumbles with the sounds of secession. "States' rights" remains a battle cry over boarder security, civil unions, and taxation. Groundswells against federalism have given birth to a political faction. The country still struggles with issues concerning race.
Author and historian Thomas R. Flagel offers a new and provocative perspective on the very source of these crises, through his newest edition of The History Buff's Guide to the Civil War.
An era often referenced but rarely comprehended, the four-year maelstrom induced a trauma unprecedented and unsurpassed in the American experience. The modern nation North and South may still be contending with anger and denial, unable to graduate towards acceptance. Considering the evidence, often overlooked by other histories, our lingering divisions are understandable.
Flagel provides a deeper clarity and perspective on tough issues of the Civil War that will have you debating new and intriguing questions in no time...
*While the U.S. has lost nearly 5,600 brave Americans in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Civil War killed an average of 5,600 soldiers every twelve days.
*The "War Between the States" caused the national debt to swell 4,000%, by far the highest percentage increase in American history.
*In 1860, Mississippi was the 4th wealthiest state in the country. By 1865, it had become one of the poorest. It has remained near the bottom ever since.
*The average age of a Civil War veteran was 26, and many suffered from "Soldier's Heart," known today as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.
*If the war were fought today, and consume the same proportion of the population, the death toll would be approximately 5.8 million.
I have always found history to be extremely interesting. I can't believe how much I learned from The History Buff's Guide. Anyone who likes to learn about what happened in the past will appreciate this book. I give it five stars.
SourceBooks
512 pages
$16.99 US
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Disclosure: I received a copy of this book for free. All opinions expressed are 100% mine. If you make a purchase using my Amazon or Barnes and Noble link, I will receive a small portion of the purchase price.
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