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Ordeal By Fire: The Civil War and Reconstruction
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816 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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About the author
James M. McPherson
171 books717 followersJames M. McPherson, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University, 1963; B.A., Gustavus Adolphus College (St. Peter, Minnesota), 1958) is an American Civil War historian, and the George Henry Davis '86 Professor Emeritus of United States History at Princeton University. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Battle Cry of Freedom, his most famous book. He was the president of the American Historical Association in 2003, and is a member of the editorial board of Encyclopædia Britannica.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
August 31, 2014
A. Synopsis: This is a synthesis of the Civil War and Reconstruction. Three tenants underlie his argument. (1) The War and Reconstruction are best explained as important stages in America’s modernization. (2) The locus of America’s modernizing impulse lay in New England. (3) The Republican party became the political expression of this modernization impulse. The forces of modernization spread South and West. The Republicans achieved what they hoped to in political and economic realms, and more than most of them anticipated in their racial policy. Only the last 1/5 of the book covers Reconstruction (and that is the part that the following notes apply)
B. The problems of peace
1. The aftermath of war: The South was an area of destruction and desolation after the war. 200,000 Yankee troops remained in the South to keep order under martial law.
a) Attitudes of Southern whites: The reports of the attitude of the Southern whites were contradictory--defiance toward Yankees and reports of submission.
b) Attitudes of Northern whites: The Northern whites could not agree on the terms they wanted to impose on the South.
2. Presidential Reconstruction, 1865: Johnson clashes with the Radicals in 2 critical ways. (1) He was a Jacksonian and thus hostile to the use of government to promote economic development. (2) Johnson was hostile to the Radicals view of the Freedmen in society. He issued 2 proclamation on 29 May 1865. (1) Amnesty and restoration of all property (except slaves) to those who would take an oath of allegiance to the union. Exceptions included high-ranking officials. (2) Named a provisional governor for North Carolina and directed him to call an election of delegates to frame a new state constitution. He issued similar proclamations for 6 other Southern states.
a) Republican responses to Presidential Reconstruction: Most supported it but abolitionists and Radicals immediately criticized it. Other Republicans became discouraged with his stance on suffrage.
b) The black suffrage issue in the North: The legislatures of Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Minnesota placed an the ballot an amendment to enfranchise the few blacks in the states. Democrats mounted an anti-suffrage campaign. The ballots were overturned by a narrow margin. Thus, moderate Republicans were unwilling to force a showdown on this issue with the President.
c) Revival of Southern defiance: But, a growing number of assaults on freedmen in the South began to convince the moderates that Johnson’s plan was not working. Ex-Confederates were beginning to hold office again.
d) Johnson and the South: In September 1865 Johnson began to speak of forgiveness for the acts of treason. He gave out 13,500 pardons out of 15,000 that were requested.
3. Land and labor in the post-war South: Some of the freed slaves stayed on the plantations to work for wages. Others left to find family, or just to get away. This created a labor shortage. Many blacks were forced to sign one year work contracts.
a) The issue of land: The slaves wanted their own land. But, this did not happen as the land was returned to the Confederates. Land reform did not become a part of Reconstruction. Emphasis was placed on the free-labor ideology than envisaged upward mobility through hard work, and Protestant ethic values. This was an unattainable goal.
b) The ‘labor question’ and the Freedmen’s Bureau: Once it was clear that not land would be given the slaves, the FB tried to patch new relationships between slaves and plantation owners. They tried to regulate wages to keep the Freedmen from being exploited. Southern whites denounced the Bureau
c) Black Codes: The FB also suspended these oppressive codes the Southern states adopted in 1865-66. These codes related to vagrancy, labor, etc and created a virtual new slavery.
B. The problems of peace
1. The aftermath of war: The South was an area of destruction and desolation after the war. 200,000 Yankee troops remained in the South to keep order under martial law.
a) Attitudes of Southern whites: The reports of the attitude of the Southern whites were contradictory--defiance toward Yankees and reports of submission.
b) Attitudes of Northern whites: The Northern whites could not agree on the terms they wanted to impose on the South.
2. Presidential Reconstruction, 1865: Johnson clashes with the Radicals in 2 critical ways. (1) He was a Jacksonian and thus hostile to the use of government to promote economic development. (2) Johnson was hostile to the Radicals view of the Freedmen in society. He issued 2 proclamation on 29 May 1865. (1) Amnesty and restoration of all property (except slaves) to those who would take an oath of allegiance to the union. Exceptions included high-ranking officials. (2) Named a provisional governor for North Carolina and directed him to call an election of delegates to frame a new state constitution. He issued similar proclamations for 6 other Southern states.
a) Republican responses to Presidential Reconstruction: Most supported it but abolitionists and Radicals immediately criticized it. Other Republicans became discouraged with his stance on suffrage.
b) The black suffrage issue in the North: The legislatures of Connecticut, Wisconsin, and Minnesota placed an the ballot an amendment to enfranchise the few blacks in the states. Democrats mounted an anti-suffrage campaign. The ballots were overturned by a narrow margin. Thus, moderate Republicans were unwilling to force a showdown on this issue with the President.
c) Revival of Southern defiance: But, a growing number of assaults on freedmen in the South began to convince the moderates that Johnson’s plan was not working. Ex-Confederates were beginning to hold office again.
d) Johnson and the South: In September 1865 Johnson began to speak of forgiveness for the acts of treason. He gave out 13,500 pardons out of 15,000 that were requested.
3. Land and labor in the post-war South: Some of the freed slaves stayed on the plantations to work for wages. Others left to find family, or just to get away. This created a labor shortage. Many blacks were forced to sign one year work contracts.
a) The issue of land: The slaves wanted their own land. But, this did not happen as the land was returned to the Confederates. Land reform did not become a part of Reconstruction. Emphasis was placed on the free-labor ideology than envisaged upward mobility through hard work, and Protestant ethic values. This was an unattainable goal.
b) The ‘labor question’ and the Freedmen’s Bureau: Once it was clear that not land would be given the slaves, the FB tried to patch new relationships between slaves and plantation owners. They tried to regulate wages to keep the Freedmen from being exploited. Southern whites denounced the Bureau
c) Black Codes: The FB also suspended these oppressive codes the Southern states adopted in 1865-66. These codes related to vagrancy, labor, etc and created a virtual new slavery.
December 3, 2017
This is a textbook I read for class, but if I read it cover to cover why should I not add it to my Goodreads list?
As far as textbooks go, Ordeal by Fire was very readable. The chapters are constructed with enough narrative that you're able to follow along well with the events McPherson is describing, and eventually you find yourself constructing your own workable knowledge of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
As far as textbooks go, Ordeal by Fire was very readable. The chapters are constructed with enough narrative that you're able to follow along well with the events McPherson is describing, and eventually you find yourself constructing your own workable knowledge of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
December 31, 2019
"American Slavery is one of those offences, which, in the providence of God...He now wills to remove [through] this terrible war, at the woe due to those by whom the offence came. Fondly do we hope--fervently do we pray--that this mighty scourge of war may speedily pass away. Yet if God wills that it continue, until all the wealth piled by the bond man's 250 years of unrequited toil shall be sunk, and until every drop of blood drawn with the lash shall be paid by another drawing with the sword, as was said 3,000 years ago, so still it must be said 'the judgments of the Lord, are true and righteous altogether.' " - Abraham Lincoln
I read this textbook on the Civil War for school and it succeeded in giving me exactly what I'd been looking for in choosing this class: a better understanding of the war, race relations, Abraham Lincoln's presidency and the birth of tensions between the North and the South, including the Republicans and Democrats. While the detailed accounts of each major battle mostly went over my head, the heroic and cowardly acts of the men involved were not. I was shocked to learn how much I've always misunderstood, but I'm glad to be able to say I think I see this war in a much less biased way than I did once. But two things didn't change through reading this book--in fact, these two sentiments only grew stronger: 1) slavery is one of the worst evils of our world and 2) (this is my personal opinion after learning more in depth about him) had Abraham Lincoln not become president when he did, America would look very different today. In my humble opinion, he's possibly the best timed, most level-headed, most bold president we've ever had.
I read this textbook on the Civil War for school and it succeeded in giving me exactly what I'd been looking for in choosing this class: a better understanding of the war, race relations, Abraham Lincoln's presidency and the birth of tensions between the North and the South, including the Republicans and Democrats. While the detailed accounts of each major battle mostly went over my head, the heroic and cowardly acts of the men involved were not. I was shocked to learn how much I've always misunderstood, but I'm glad to be able to say I think I see this war in a much less biased way than I did once. But two things didn't change through reading this book--in fact, these two sentiments only grew stronger: 1) slavery is one of the worst evils of our world and 2) (this is my personal opinion after learning more in depth about him) had Abraham Lincoln not become president when he did, America would look very different today. In my humble opinion, he's possibly the best timed, most level-headed, most bold president we've ever had.
August 31, 2016
After reading a goodreads friend's review of another McPherson book, I remembered I had read Ordeal By Fire during my undergrad studies at the University of Scranton. This is the definitive text on the Civil War (I read this book over the span of a semester when I took a course entitled "Civil War & Reconstruction"). McPherson writes clearly and concisely without glossing over any key facts or points. After all these years, I still have this book on my bookshelf.
March 1, 2016
This book is incredible. Outstanding background on the history leading into the civil war, the war itself, and reconstruction. It is done in a more traditional style, i.e. less journalistic in nature than many of today's history books. I would recommend it to anyone wanting detailed, yet approachable material on the time period.
September 18, 2019
Like a few other reviewers on this page, I used this textbook for a course on the Civil War. I will start off by saying that the book is definitely a comprehensive work that covers a pivotal time in American history. I did not see any subject concerning the war or the Reconstruction era ignored in the book. McPherson, who has devoted many years of his life in academia to this subject, no doubt put the maximum effort in writing this book. My only issue with this book as with other McPherson books is that I wish he was more neutral in his writing, you can definitely see the pro-Union viewpoints. Although the same could be said with Shelby Foote having pro-Confederate viewpoints in his trilogy. It just goes to show you that the Civil War is still divisive, even in the literary world.
November 26, 2021
Though overshadowed by his much more famous Battle Cry of Freedom, Ordeal by Fire remains a solid survey of the Civil War and Reconstruction period. That being said, given its broader scope than Battle Cry of Freedom, Ordeal By Fire is at times too brief for my liking in McPherson's attempt to cover about 40 of the most consequential years in US History (as opposed to the ~17 years covered in Battle Cry) in 800ish pages. Nonetheless it's a good general introduction for a person new to the period and its excellant bibliographical essay at the end provides a great place to jump off into more in-depth areas of Civil War scholarship.
June 13, 2021
I read for class (*cough*) about 20 years ago and wanted to revist it with fresh eyes. It was a lot more fun when I could take my time and just take it all in. It is always enjoyable to see where we've been, so we can see where we might be going. This was a very readable textbook, one that I think the average lay person could enjoy as well. He wrote for the every-man intellectual, none of the elitist snobbery from Dr. James M McPherson. If you love history, and the War of Northern Aggression, then this book is for you!
July 9, 2021
Any single volume account of such a huge episode is an ambitious undertaking, but Mr MacPherson delivers the goods in an absorbing and well structured history. His command of English is exemplary throughout, making the book a joy to read.
I have withheld a fifth star only because my main interest was in the political story rather than the military one, there being a plentiful supply of books on the latter already available, and I found some of the blow by blow battle stories too detailed for my taste.
Highly recommended.
I have withheld a fifth star only because my main interest was in the political story rather than the military one, there being a plentiful supply of books on the latter already available, and I found some of the blow by blow battle stories too detailed for my taste.
Highly recommended.
March 4, 2018
I have a BA in world history and a MA in American History and i have yet to find a Civil War book as good as Ordeal by Fire. If you believe you know of a better American Civil War book, then please let me know.
July 17, 2018
4 stars. Battle Cry of Freedom is the longer more detailed book, and this is more of a textbook version of it with some chapters devoted to Reconstruction.
October 10, 2014
As part of our Humanties series this fall at the Library, We read this one, and learned that it is
considered the definitive text about the Civil War. Written with so much information, in fact, that it is often divided in three parts, called Vol I, II or III. Our book group met to discuss the Volume II part. Much good information, and it is written in an easy to understand form. Includes some some maps, diagrams, and photos.
The author James McPherson has taught on the Civil War history since the 1960s. Since he carries the name of a Civil War era general, I wondered if he is a descendant of that man. If you must read about the un Civil War of American history, then read McPherson and Catton.
For the amount of lives lost, I had to consider whether I could give those five stars, but I think the writing deserves them, if not the subject matter.
considered the definitive text about the Civil War. Written with so much information, in fact, that it is often divided in three parts, called Vol I, II or III. Our book group met to discuss the Volume II part. Much good information, and it is written in an easy to understand form. Includes some some maps, diagrams, and photos.
The author James McPherson has taught on the Civil War history since the 1960s. Since he carries the name of a Civil War era general, I wondered if he is a descendant of that man. If you must read about the un Civil War of American history, then read McPherson and Catton.
For the amount of lives lost, I had to consider whether I could give those five stars, but I think the writing deserves them, if not the subject matter.
February 14, 2021
I didn't read this for some class as a textbook, or because I was forced to because of school. I read this book simply because I wanted to know more about the Civil War. As the author started in 1770 about a book about the American civil war, I was a little intimidated by the sheer weight. James McPherson writes this book with the structure of one that can be read in multiple sittings, and you can't stop reading. He doesn't present it as boring historical facts and lists, but as analyzing those facts and showing his readers what happened because of those events that impacted this country's direction and course because of the war. Any person interested in history or war needs to read this incredible book.
June 30, 2007
Pretty solid history. Long and detailed. It reads like a text book and weighs just as much too. A very matter of fact style (which I like)...I abhor historical fiction, fiction set in certain time periods is fine but history doesn't need dressing up or dumbing down. This is a good book for both Civil War and Reconstruction, that is if you want to read just one book on these topics...otherwise go to Eric Foner's "Reconstruction". That's the 'money'. I don't know the best purely Civil War book, besides this one...This also covers the Antebellum, and early 19th century industry. Great for research but not poetic.
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August 4, 2011This was a very well researched book for what was included. This was the "textbook" for my 4730 History class. I have never liked textbooks so this one was nice because it is in normal book form. Although like most history books that cover the Civil War it failed to include many of the historical facts leading up to the firing upon Fort Sumter by the south. To fill in this gap I would recommend "A Century of War" by John V. Denson.
June 22, 2016
I picked this up at a college bookstore in 1983; I read it shortly after graduating from college; soon thereafter, Battle Cry of Freedom appeared which I devoured and enjoyed as well. It is less-scholarly and thus more appealing to a wider audience.
Ken Burns say Battle Cry of Freedom was the inspiration for his Civil War series. Can't say I learned anything from that wonderful series, which I enjoyed nonetheless, that McPherson didn't cover in either of these two books.
Ken Burns say Battle Cry of Freedom was the inspiration for his Civil War series. Can't say I learned anything from that wonderful series, which I enjoyed nonetheless, that McPherson didn't cover in either of these two books.
November 7, 2014
Ordeal by Fire is a great book about the strategies and battles of the Civil War. It shows throughout the civil war, everything from view of the North and the South and the breakdown of the war. It is a very interesting book and I would recommend it to anyone into the Civil War as much as I am. Spoiler: The North wins the war!
July 22, 2015
Ordeal by Fire was the last of my 4000-page foray into American Civil War history in celebration of its sesquicentennial. It was also the most “textbook-y,” which I suppose makes sense because it actually was the textbook for my Civil War history class in college. Still, I had hoped it would be a little more like Battle Cry of Freedom, but was so much drier.
March 20, 2008
Jimmie Mac is a fabulous professor. But this is of course a textbook so I did fall asleep quite a bit. Good for Civil War buffs. I enjoyed reading the diaries of a bunch of Civil War women spies a little bit better.
October 27, 2008
I really enjoyed Battle Cry for Freedom until I read McPherson's book on the causes and results of the Civil War. This is probably my favorite general history on the Civil War. His explanation of the economic aspects and seperation is superb.
November 17, 2008
We used this as a text book in college for a history class called "Civil War and Reconstruction". It was a fantastic starting point for the class and the conversations that we had in telling the story of the Civil War.
May 5, 2011
Long...what a long text book. I never truly thought you could learn so much "detail" about the Civil War. All in all, I enjoyed the book. I enjoyed how the chapters were set up, the sections were small which helped to move along this "long" book.
May 17, 2012
I had to read this book for my Civil War undergrad class and I actually enjoyed it. It gives tons of information but it wasn't dull, like many textbooks you read nowadays. Surprisingly enough, I liked this one!
January 14, 2013
Good single volume survey of the causes of the Civil War and the events leading up to it, the war itself, and Reconstruction. I use this for my Civil War class and receive positive feedback from my students.
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September 27, 2007probably best single book to date covering the civil war.
October 23, 2015
Best Civil War book I've read -- still a textbook
September 5, 2008
An excellent and thorough history of the Civil War.
January 23, 2015
Best single volume work on the Civil War. Better than the author's own Battle Cry of Freedom.
June 19, 2011
One of my favorite books on the Civil war that I have read and I have read hundreds.
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August 9, 2011I spent a lot of time with this book last semester, it's great
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews