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| Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era | 
| Author: James M. Mcpherson
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Category: Book
List Price: $18.00
Buy Used: $1.47
You Save: $16.53 (92%)
New (11) Collectible (6) from $10.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  181 reviews
Sales Rank: 82665
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 928
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.1
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.9
ISBN: 0345359429
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.73
EAN: 9780345359421
ASIN: 0345359429
Publication Date: January 21, 1989
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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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.
Product Description
The esteemed, Pulitzer Prize-Winning history of the Civil War that brings to vivid life, the generals, the presidents, the soldiers, politicians, Abolitionists, Southern fire-eaters, Northern barn-burners, Copperheads, and Know-Nothings. An instant classic, this is the single volume on the tragic war and its background that every historian--amateur or trained--will want to have on the shelf to read again and again.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 176 more reviews...
 Battle Cry of Freedom November 16, 2008
This is a very good general history of the Civil War in one book. It is easy reading. Do not get this book if you are looking for great depth of history on the War. But if you are a novice enthusiast of the Civil War, this is a great book to read. It will give you a good base of knowledge to build upon.
 A Feast of Facts and Intrigue October 24, 2008
This hefty tome is comprehensive and cram-packed with details. But fear not. You know the basics. You know the outcome. You know many of the key events. And yet this book is a gripping, edge-of-the-seat page turner.
The amount of research done in preparation for this book is simply incredible. Readers need not doubt the facts presented. Extensive quotations make the sentiments from all viewpoints come alive.
A large portion of the book is devoted to an exposition of factors that contributed to the Civil War: an economic downturn, legislation lowering tariffs impacting the North negatively but advantaging the South who imported many products, anti-immigrant proclivities, and so on.
The author does not shy away from offering personal opinions on some issues, but he presents enough facts for the reader to reach independent conclusions. For example, McPherson tackles the Constitutional legality of secession. He also examines the extent that non-slaveowners in the South where pro-slavery. Plantation magnates feared that non-slaveowners would sympathize with the anti-slavery movement and destroy the Confederacy from within, so they began a campaign preaching white supremacy.
Every twist and turn is there for your delight. Many abolitionists were dedicated to peaceful resistance, but as they witnessed the treatment of slaves who had escaped to free states, many became convinced that violence was necessary to break the bonds of slavery. John Brown was an early advocate of the necessity of violence in removing the cancer of slavery. McPherson's breathes life into Brown's exploits in the Kansas territory and his later misconceived attack on Harper's Ferry, leading to the popular perception of his martyrdom for the anti-slavery cause.
All in all, this is a fantastic book. And it's detail and heft is a boon, because it only makes the reader want more.
Enjoy!
Dale October 8, 2008
I own over 500 Civil War books and this is by the best. It's very detailed, but still very interesting. I would recommend this book to an individual wanting to know something about the Civil War or to an individual already very knowledgeable on the Civil War.
 Kindle Edition has problems August 22, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This review is purely as to the flaws of the Kindle transfer -- the book itself is a masterpiece I've reread with pleasure on paper over the years. Unfortunately the transfer is a rough scanned-PDF type that is MUCH harder to read than other Kindle books. Caveat Emptor.
Excellent August 14, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This book is full of infomation about the times of the Civil War. Very informative about why things happened. Excellent.
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