ABSTRACT

The Civil War is one of the most defining eras of American history, and much has been written on every aspect of the war. The volume of material available is daunting, especially when a student is trying to grasp the overall themes of the period.

Jonathan Wells has distilled the war down into understandable, easy-to-read sections, with plenty of maps and illustrations, to help make sense of the battles and social, political, and cultural changes of the era. Presented here is information on:

  • the home front
  • the battles, both in the East and the West
  • the status of slaves
  • women’s role in the war and its aftermath
  • literature and public life
  • international aspects of the war
  • and much more!

Students will also find helpful study aids on the companion website for the book. A House Divided provides a short, readable survey of the Civil War and the Reconstruction period afterward, focusing not only on the battles, but on how Americans lived during a time of great upheaval in the country’s history, and what that legacy has meant to the country today.

chapter 2|27 pages

The Sectional Crisis, 1830–1850

chapter 3|29 pages

The 1850s, Secession, and the Start of War

chapter 4|28 pages

The War Begins

chapter 5|27 pages

Organizing and Mobilizing for War

chapter 6|24 pages

In the Grip of War

chapter 7|30 pages

Turning Points

chapter 8|23 pages

War on the Home Front

chapter 9|25 pages

The Union Grinds Toward Victory

chapter 10|23 pages

Union Victory and African American Freedom

chapter 11|30 pages

Reconstruction Begins

chapter 12|24 pages

Collapse of Reconstruction

chapter 13|27 pages

America in the Late Nineteenth Century