Historical Dictionary of the Civil War and Reconstruction

by William L. Richter

Overview

The importance of the Civil War and Reconstruction in the history of the United States cannot be overstated. There was a very real possibility that the union could have been sundered, resulting in a very different American history, and probably, world history. But the union was held together by tough and determined leaders and by the economic muscle of the North. While not always a period to be proud of, it did have higher goals and compelling ends. This one-volume dictionary, with more than 800 entries covering the significant events, persons, politics, and economic and social themes in the U.S. Civil War and Reconstruction, is a research tool for all levels of readers from high school and up. The extensive chronology, introductory essay, dictionary entries, and comprehensive bibliography introduce and lead the reader through the military and non-military actions of one of the most pivotal events in American history. Substantial coverage is given to the time that followed the Civil War: Reconstruction. This was a period construed in many different ways by the individuals involved, many of whom had little concern for the impact of their acts on others, and even fewer who were interested in the plight of the newly enfranchised blacks, for whom the war had supposedly been fought. While the states were once again 'united,' many of the postwar efforts divided different segments of the population and failed to achieve their goals in an era too often remembered for carpetbaggers and scalawags, and Congressional imbroglios and incompetent government. No matter how one looks at it, the Civil War continues to affect the politics, constitutionalism, and societal norms of the United States in an irrevocable way, and it probably always will. It was a very personal war, not fought by machines, but by men, affecting countless Americans who have one or more Civil War veterans hidden in their family trees. It's a war modern enough to be relevant to today's military interests, yet gentlemanly enough to be the last of the great romantic wars.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780810865631
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	05/17/2004
Series:	Historical Dictionaries of U.S. Politics and Political Eras
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	968
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

William L. Richter has researched and written extensively in the areas of the Antebellum South, the Civil War, and Reconstruction. He is the author ofThe Army in Texas during Reconstruction, 1865 - 1870 and he is coauthor of Fascinating People and Astounding Events in American History.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Acknowledgments
Chapter 2 Editor's Foreword
Chapter 3 Select Chronology
Chapter 4 Introduction
Chapter 5 THE DICTIONARY
Chapter 6 Select Bibliography
Chapter 7 Appendix: Documents Related to the Civil War and Reconstruction
Chapter 8 About the Author

Editorial Reviews

This is an excellent library reference book and will also help the American Civil War historian or
scholar who is into a lot of research work on this time period.

The Lone Star Book Review

There is no doubt that the Civil War era is a complex, multifaceted period in U.S. history. In what could serve as a complementary volume to the recently published second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Civil War (2011), Richter ably delves into the political side of the quagmire in his second edition of the Historical Dictionary of the Civil War and Reconstruction. The nearly 1,000-page tome offers a lengthy chronology of Civil War–related happenings covering the latter half of the nineteenth century, an explanatory introduction that serves to prove that there was much more to the Civil War period than the armies and the battles they fought, a dictionary section with in excess of 800 entries, a collection of appropriate primary source documents, and a well-organized, 132-page select bibliography. From Carpetbaggers to Scalawags, Abolitionists to the Ku Klux Klan, and Lincoln to Davis, readers will gain a solid understanding of the political aspects entwined with the Civil War and Reconstruction. Researchers will be able to use Richter’s terrific bibliography as a jumping-off point to a deeper probing of related topics. Although the Civil War was largely a somber period in history, Richteris not averse to infusing a bit of his sense of humor into his writing. For example, in describing Union general and later politician Daniel Sickles, Richter writes that Sickles was “generally an all-around man’s man or a jerk, depending on one’s point of view.” The infusion of apt lightheartedness helps to reinforce the humanity behind the people and events of history. As is the case with the other titles in the Historical Dictionaries series, Richter’s most recent effort is comprehensive and clearly written. It would certainly be a useful resource for anyone with an interest in the political landscape of the Civil War and Reconstruction era.

Booklist

A superb reference on the Civil War...Essential. All academic libraries.

CHOICE

...provides users with data on significant people and events from the late 1840s to 1900. In its several parts, it provides this information through an introductory essay, a lengthy chronology, an extensive bibliography, several documents of the period, and over 800 dictionary-style entries that make up the main body of this work.

American Reference Books Annual

This book should be added to reference collections of academic and large public libraries. The readable style, balanced coverage, and authoritative scholarship make it an important work.

Booklist

A superb reference on the Civil War...Essential. All academic libraries.

Choice

...provides users with data on significant people and events from the late 1840s to 1900. In its several parts, it provides this information through an introductory essay, a lengthy chronology, an extensive bibliography, several documents of the period, and over 800 dictionary-style entries that make up the main body of this work.

American Reference Books Annual (ARBA)