Jack,

You make a great point about Reconstruction not working as well as intended because of the political motivations of northern politicians. It is true that a few mal intentioned political figures were exploiting the dire circumstances in the south to gain political power, without ever wanting to truly help the region rebuild and reunite the nation.

Anna,
I agree with your point about the influence of Celtic culture on the south. You are right to point out that in the mid-nineteenth century, southerners were far removed from their ancestral culture. Personally, I think that the south was being influenced more by political factors and a misinterpretation of the principle of federalism.

Alex,
I agree with your assessment about why the south lost the war. They definitely had it in their heads that they could be these valiant revolutionaries instead of practical soldiers. They shouldn’t have been so prideful and more willing to adapt their wartime tactics.

Ava,

I think your assessment of the relationship that Lincoln had with both Grant and Sherman, respectively was spot on. It is true that both generals sought to make their own decisions when conducting military campaigns, and sheila their intentions from Lincoln. Yet, Grant was willing to take Lincoln’s considerations into account and keep h…[Read more]

Jack,

I agree with your assessment of Mcwhitney’s thesis. The south clearly got into hot water early on in the war by not understanding how little resources they actually had to combat the north. A defensive strategy would have served them well.

Reid,

I think you put the thesis of Gallagher and Waugh quite nicely. It is true that both sides expected a quick victory at the beginning. And the South, much more than the North wanted the war to come to a close, fast. They knew that they might not survive a long, drawn out war because they lacked: one; the manpower; and 2; the industrial…[Read more]

Emily,

I thought you had a very comprehensive take on the limits for women at the time of the Civil War. It was true that their lives would not change drastically for another some decades. That being said, their desire to have some involvement in what was going on in the country is admirable, even if it had been stigmatized for awhile.

Alex,

I agree with your understanding of the way that mass media was helping Americans be educated before the war. It was true that people could not always afford a newspaper subscription. Yet, as technology became more advanced, the cost of consuming media became much cheaper, so more people could educate themselves on current events.

Jack,

The point you make about the north not really being free is a very good one. As much as states like Ohio and Michigan claimed to be free states, they were not doing any favors to help runaway slaves stay safe. As such, Canada was probably a slave’s best bet to live somewhere save.