http://www.historynet.com/book-review-drawn-with-the-sword-reflections-on-the-civil-war-james-m-mcpherson-acw.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=book-review-drawn-with-the-sword-reflections-on-the-civil-war-james-m-mcpherson-acw From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:15:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://www.historynet.com/book-review-drawn-with-the-sword-reflections-on-the-civil-war-james-m-mcpherson-acw.htm#comment-44971 O. Spunkmeyer Sat, 21 Mar 2009 14:59:37 +0000 #comment-44971 The fact that every serious issue prior to the Civil War that divided the country was a result of, or related to slavery. The conflicts in Kansas were over slavery. Congress was divided over slavery, the new Republican Party was deeply divided over Abolition and the extent of its implementation. The Democrats were even further divided over slavery. Lincoln agonized over the slavery issue, and lack of victories against the South, before Abolition in 1862. Individually, slavery was certainly not the issue for every soldier. But for the country as a whole, it is very hard to deny the importance of slavery over other issues before the Civil War. States rights, and "other issues" all seemed to lead to the same primary issue, slavery. I don't think McPherson has an obsession, but, rather, provides well researched material. The fact that every serious issue prior to the Civil War that divided the country was a result of, or related to slavery. The conflicts in Kansas were over slavery. Congress was divided over slavery, the new Republican Party was deeply divided over Abolition and the extent of its implementation. The Democrats were even further divided over slavery. Lincoln agonized over the slavery issue, and lack of victories against the South, before Abolition in 1862.
Individually, slavery was certainly not the issue for every soldier. But for the country as a whole, it is very hard to deny the importance of slavery over other issues before the Civil War. States rights, and "other issues" all seemed to lead to the same primary issue, slavery. I don't think McPherson has an obsession, but, rather, provides well researched material.

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