The Civil War: A Concise History

by Louis P. Masur

One hundred and fifty years after the first shots were fired on Fort Sumter, the Civil War still captures the American imagination, and its reverberations can still be felt throughout America's social and political landscape.
Louis P. Masur's The Civil A Concise History offers a masterful and eminently readable overview of the war's multiple causes and catastrophic effects. Masur begins by examining the complex origins of the war, focusing on the pulsating tensions over states rights and slavery. The book then proceeds to cover, year by year, the major political, social, and military events, highlighting two important how the war shifted from a limited conflict to restore the Union to an all out war that would fundamentally transform Southern society, and the process by which the war ultimately became a battle to abolish slavery. Masur explains how the war turned what had been a loose collection of fiercely independent states into a nation, remaking its political, cultural, and social institutions. But he also focuses on the soldiers themselves, both Union and Confederate, whose stories constitute nothing less than America's Iliad . In the final chapter Masur considers the aftermath of the South's surrender at Appomattox and the clash over the policies of reconstruction that continued to divide President and Congress, conservatives and radicals, Southerners and Northerners for years to come.
In 1873, Mark Twain and Charles Dudley wrote that the war had "wrought so profoundly upon the entire national character that the influence cannot be measured short of two or three generations." From the vantage of the war's sesquicentennial, this concise history of the entire Civil War era offers an invaluable introduction to the dramatic events whose effects are still felt today.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Civil War, American History, School, Read For School, American Civil War

118 pages, Hardcover

First published January 13, 2011

Reviews

[Grant · Rating 1 out of 5]

Yes I will be counting this on goodreads bc I am SLACKING

[J.M. Wasko · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear scholars, please use this as a model for your next book about the history of the American Civil War. I decided to read Masur's book because I was impressed that a recent two-week institute for teachers assigned it as a reading. There was something ridiculously efficient about this book's sketch of the entirety of the Civil War and its recent scholarship, and I was curious if I could learn anything from it.

The first lesson was a given. This book is an obvious candidate for teaching the American Civil War at the college level because it is shorter than its main competitors in the realm of complete narratives of the war: James McPherson's classic Battle Cry of Freedom or Allen Guelzo's newer Fateful Lightning. This frees up time for debating issues of the era, understandings of the past, and reading more primary and secondary texts on the matter. I don't think the book disappointed on this front. The footnotes and further reading could have been more fleshed out to aid potential student research, but the book doesn't miss much in the war's progression of events or its issues.

I should have expected to learn that the sub-disciplinary approaches to the Civil War could in fact coexist under one cover. Given Masur's interdisciplinary track record, it made sense that in A Concise History he was able to summarize social, political, economic, military, and even cultural aspects of the conflict. Moreover, he wove them together more seamlessly than I have ever seen before. For instance, the oft-quoted visual reference of a New York Times review of Alexander Gardner's photographic depictions of the aftermath of the Battle of Antietam occupies a pleasant new context. By plotting this note in the midst of his account of the fall elections of 1862 and Lincoln's revoking of McClellan's command, this visual cultural detail takes on greater, albeit speculative, significance. (pp. 44-45)

This might be an expansion on the former approval, but I believe that it is also worth applauding Masur's ability to bring intrigue to the more innocuous cultural aspects of the war. Honestly, my eyes rolled when a chapter on 1864 opened with an account of how "In God We Trust" was added to U.S. coins. Little did I know that the author would expertly plot this material's correlation alongside religious revivalism in the war, particularly in the Confederate armies. Again, I could see placing too much stock in this curated connection being problematic, but the questions it raises are important. (p. 62)

Who would have thought that cultural history did not have to exist in a vacuum? If anything, it sometimes feels like a side bar, or an illustration in the margin of the grand narratives of history. I would never want the culture to eclipse the current scholarship's highlights of the war, either. Instead, take a beat from Masur and put in on a level playing field with the other pieces of history. Please.

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read this book as part of a graduate-level history course on the Civil War. Once again, I am impressed by Masur's ability to quickly summarize not only the Civil War itself, but more importantly the social, political, and economic features of the period. His excellent and concise history covers the most important battles, the most notable figures, and the central questions of the period. It is surprisingly interdisciplinary, allowing those not interested in drum-and-trumpet histories to still find material they're interested in.

Of course, you can only do so much in a short history like this. More extensive histories are better at providing more comprehensive, detailed accounts of the period. However, as an overview, this remains a wonderful resource, and I was excited when I saw it was assigned for our first week of class. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get a quick and basic understanding of the Civil War, and then they can follow whatever interest emerges through other works.

[De Ongeletterde · Rating 4 out of 5]

In dit overzichtelijk en bondig boek weet Louis P. Masur niet alleen het verloop van de Amerikaanse burgeroorlog helder te schetsen, maar ook de achterliggende drijfveren en breuklijnen in de toenmalige VS. Voor wie goed tussen de regels leest en de actualiteit volgt, zijn die breuklijnen ook vandaag en de voorbije decennia herkenbaar (in de anti-regeringsbewegingen die o.a. Timothy McVeigh voortbrachten, in de raciale spanningen in de VS,...). Heel verhelderend en leerrijk dus!

[Charlie Yale · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a history of the civil war, and by golly is it concise

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wanted to expand my knowledge on the civil war. Prior to this book, the only information I knew was what I thought I remembered from high school. This was a very (as the title suggests) concise history. It was concise enough that it was not overwhelming. It covered a lot in a short period of time and the amount I learned for the amount of time I spent was well worth it.

History can be a dry topic, but I found myself interested to keep reading which was a pleasant surprise.

Would recommend this book for anyone looking to learn a little about history in a facts only book. There is no bias towards either side it is simply presented as what happened.

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

As the subtitle suggests this is a (very) concise history of the civil war. This book gives the reader a glimpse into what transpired, the difficulties the country faced, and the many lives that were lost. The author does an admirable job of describing the events that lead to the start of the war, the war itself, the important people that played a role, and some of the fallout and aftereffects of the war.

If you are looking for a short history of the civil war - this may be a good starting point.

[Bookluvr7 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Considering the Civil War is my favorite period of history to learn about and since I want my future job to be at a Civil War sight, this was right up my alley. Even though I already know a lot of stuff about the Civil War is till learned a couple things in this book and that’s exciting. This book is a very easy way to learn history if you don’t want to spend a lot of time considering it’s only 100 pages long. I definitely recommend this book to any history lover or anyone who just wants to know more. 5/5 stars!

[Mike Lockwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic bird’s eye view of the Civil War that never leads you too far into the weeds of either political or militaristic theory. Masur tows a taut line all the way from the whisperings of war through the failed attempts at reconstruction with rich contextualization of historic events and cultural commentary from the era. This is obviously not a definitive picture of the Civil War, for that title will always belong to McPherson’s seminal text, Battle Cry of Freedom, but Masur has assuredly delivered a superb traveler’s guide to perhaps the most consequential era of American history.

[Paul Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have recently been visiting National Park Sites dedicated to The Civil War so I was looking for a book that provided a time-line and summary of key persons and events. This book delivers nicely on that front. It's readable and I got through it quickly. Better for the novice than the buff however it is written with style and sophistication - a lot more satisfying than your typical textbook on the subject.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great entrance book for those who are looking for a brief introduction to the Civil War and Reconstruction. At less than 100 pages, it's a quick read, but will give the reader a great starting point for future study. It also contains a "further reading" section to allow readers to continue their study. Would highly recommend.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very concise history of the Civil War. He reviews the causes of the war and also the aftermath. It's great to get a good, and interesting, overview of the Civil War. For more details, he has a list of recommendations at the end of the book. There are lots of books about the Civil War so it's good to have one that gives a good outline of it.

[Rory Graves · Rating 4 out of 5]

A pretty good book for someone looking for a quick look into the Civil War without dredging through every battle!

[Gabriel]

good!

[Jackie Muske · Rating 5 out of 5]

Factual facts about the Civil War.

[Elizabeth Pecoraro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, readable & concise telling of the Civil war. The letters are so small tho so it’s a lot longer than it looks. But, like I said, it was very readable & a great summary/overview.

[George Brownfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting way to present the causes and end results of a very involved period of history. Well done to run through causes to consequences in such a tight, well written book.

[Abby]

Read for my US History to 1865 class

[Alan Thacker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book explaining how the Civil War started, unfolded and ended as well as how it tied in to the history of Abraham Lincoln’s presidency.

[Matt Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book #1 for Civil War and the Midwest! Good, quick refresher of the Civil War and Reconstruction era.

[Jennah Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I promise we read this chapter my chapter for a class I’m not that dumb

I really loved this!! I liked the Thomas Nast shoutout at the end!

[Wesley York · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how a well rounded history of the Civil War was pulled off in so few pages but Masur did it.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written - much communicated in such a concise book. Interesting to me was the delicate balancing act between states rights, the balance of power and slavery as the root causes for the war. Per Masur, the South felt it must defend itself and they viewed the North as the aggressors, even though it was the South which shot the first shot and it was the South that advocated disunion and set up its own separate government. Masur clearly exposes the true basis for this southern 'defense' - the South was defending white supremacy. This Confederate government, said its Vice President has its foundation and cornerstone based on a "great truth" that the negro is not equal to the white man and by natural condition is subordinate to the superior race. He lauded the Confederacy as being the first 'nation' in history to be based on what he calls a "great physical, philosophical, and moral truth."

The run, as Lincoln called it is that the North disagreed and found slavery immoral. Lincoln also had to determine what role government in shaping the character of the nation. Were we to be united states? Or merely a compact of independent sovereignty?

Of interest too is Maur's contention that the bulk of Union soldiers, especially the growing immigrant population fought not so much to end slavery as to preserve the Union. The lands of the South were lucrative. Cotton was king, said James Calhoun from SC. The profits from the South offered the promise of American prosperity and competitiveness on the global stage. One can almost understand the resentment of the South at their will, their land, their way of life being controlled and defined by Washington. Did they not have rights? Should Washington dictate how they lived? For the South, this was a fight for liberty and self determination.

The same arguments are being held today, which says, at least to this reviewer, that the arguments have not been settled, even though slavery is no longer on the table. It is perhaps one of the confounding things, or perplexities of the founding ideals. Whose rights and what is the resolution when rights are pitted against another. If not race, is it money? Is it military might? Is it at the barrel if a gun?

I enjoyed the book. I'll read more of Masur.

[Charles Phillips · Rating 4 out of 5]

Masur is a well-respected cultural historian whose breadth of interests in American Studies is really impressive. This book is as advertised; it is a concise history of the ACW.

What the title does not tell you is that the book has a nicely done cultural history slant. It recounts, but it does not focus all it attention, on the battles in the ACW. Context is important to Masur, as it is to all cultural historians. He attempts, and usually succeeds, in placing each battle in its proper place amidst fortunes of the war and the society living through this horrible struggle.

It was a quick, informative read that tied various dimensions of the ACW together nicely. Masur is one of those who believes, like many more modern historians, that Lincoln's attitudes toward slavery were ever in a state of "being and becoming." This is a conclusion that I find very reasonable and consistent with my knowledge of the historical record.

To my mind, this books is a counterpoint to the many pieces on the ACW that focus on the minutiae of each battle. For example, one might read.

"Company C of the 12th Regiment of the 14th Louisiana Volunteers, inducted April 12, 1862 in Baton Rouge under the command of L. and Beaufort, attacked at 4:22 in the morning. The attack was repulsed, L Beaufort lost two fingers no his right hand to Union solid shot. He was an accomplished and well-known pianist prior to the war. The loss of those two fingers ended what might have been a brilliant musical career as a pianist. He compensated for his loss by playing the trombone left-handed and found some modest success in New Orleans during post-war years."

Okay, that's an exaggeration. But, those of you who haunt these corners of American history know what I mean. Yes, this book zips thru the ACW at 20,000 feet. But, that is fine with me. I have focused so much on the details of the minor slice of the ACW about which I write that it is nice to again remember the bigger picture.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

A really excellent and, true to its name, concise history of the Civil War. I found the entire format and chronology of the book to be very efficient as a whole, and I definitely enjoyed the extra tidbits Masur sprinkles across the book to give the history a bit of flair and grace.

I didn't mind the brief glimpses of the battles because ultimately, I found that a lot of what was happening off the battlefield was just as, if not, more important in the context of the war and beyond. As a student who's never been big on American history, this book really captured my attention and kept me interested. The quantities of information in the short amount of space are not overwhelming as one might expect.

My only problems were that I would have liked a little more "connect" within chapters (though it's understandable why I felt this way because there was a lot of content covered in the five major years/chapters) between different events that occurred. Also, there seemed to be some pretty important Lincoln moments that were glossed over, like the Gettysburg Address's importance and Reconstruction topics. Nevertheless, very impressive and accessible book. Highly recommend, especially if you are a high school student like myself and want to learn a bit more about many different aspects of the Civil War without frustration or confusion.

On a sidenote, Mr. Masur came to my school to talk to us about the Civil War and some of Reconstruction, and he's great! Very funny, down-to-earth guy, and he was very approachable and knew his stuff. I would have loved to sit down and have a conversation over dinner with him, haha.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

[Got this book in the mail from a mystery giver for my birthday last year. Still trying to figure that one out. :D]

4 stars, not because I agreed with everything he said (spoiler alert: he softened Reconstruction--aaarrrgh), but because I really am impressed at how well he accomplished writing an overview of The War in just 94 pages. Wouldn't have thought it possible to do as good a job as he did. Of course he left out some things (have to say, I would've put in at least a sentence about the Battle of Franklin), but he managed to give a good sweeping overview that touched all the high points and somehow didn't feel shallow. Plus, he was actually pretty even-handed on most things, aside from Reconstruction, as mentioned, John Brown, and the whole usual spiel on NBF/Fort Pillow/the Ku Klux Klan.

Good afternoon read, and I'm inspired to get back going with some of the big WBTS tomes that I never completed last year.

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was exactly as advertised, a concise (95 pages!) history of the civil war. I couldn't believe someone managed to lay out the motivations, major events and important quotes in that little space. I (and everyone else in my high school) read Masur's earlier book (1831: Year of Eclipse), and I really didn't like it. I found it boring and the premise contrived so I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did.

Masur focuses on the cultural and political aspects of the war, and only barely touches on military strategy and the battles. The only thing the book could have used was a map. An excellent first introduction to the civil war.

[Kristīne Līcis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent starter book on the vast subject of the Civil War. In just over 100 pages it manages to highlight long and short term causes, triggers, major players and major events. The prose is straightforward and unbiased in explaining the internal logic of both the Unionists and the Confederates, the quotes from letters and diaries give the reader a sense of presence and prevents objectifying of those involved in hostilities on either side.

The the text mostly feels like bullet points though, with the down side of skimming over some major issues, like Lincoln's Gettysburg address. But, to be fair, the book never promises extensive and in-depth analysis. Title says "concise", and that's exactly what it is.

[Sasha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad. Obviously a book of such a concise nature would gloss over what I'm sure are a lot of pertinent details about the Civil War, but for the most part this was a great, concise way to learn what happened on the surface. I've also read another of Masur's books for another course, and he is an engaging-enough author that, like his other book, I never felt stifled by the dryness of the topic.

[Dale W · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just like the title says, a concise history of the Civil War. The author spends a good amount of time in the events leading up to the war, even going back to the founding of the country, and devotes some time to the aftermath of the war. The details of the war itself are sketchier than I expected but the it did give a good overall view of the events.