If there is a For Cause and Comrades Why Men Fought in the Civil War SparkNotes, Shmoop guide, or Cliff Notes, you can find a link to each study guide below. I really appreciated the scholarly effort that went into this piece by a reknowned historian. there was no joining theory tying it together besides men believe fighting for honor is worthy of everything. The most accomplished Civil War historian of today has produced a richly-rsearched, elegantly-written volume that shatters once and for all the illusion that Civil War soldiers lacked an understanding of the monumental idological issues of ⦠Civil War Soldiers Knew Why they were fighting. View Notes - For Cause and Comrades Book Review from HIST 226 at St. Mary's College of Maryland. I really appreciated the scholarly effort that went into this piece by a reknowned historian. Review Essay CHRISTOPHER WALDREP James M. McPherson. In Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Doris Kearns Goodwin's latest book, Leadership: In Turbulent Times, she draws upon... General John A. Wickham, commander of the famous 101st Airborne Division in the 1970s and subsequently Army Chief of Staff, once visited Antietam battlefield. Many of his works on the Civil War are impressive. This was an interesting book but a little dry. Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. He discusses motivations for joining, which were quite similar for men on both sides (except for the southron's view that his 'country' was invaded):: liberty, preservation of freedom, and patriotism. Good book. Wonderful Portrait of Fighting Men in the Civil War, Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2012, Mr. McPherson gives the reader the view of the thoughts and life of soldiers and officers from the North and South in the Civil War through their own letters. One of the things people didn't agree on when it was being fought was why it was being fought. It's a little dry reading a bunch of excerpts of letters, but it's worth it to really understand the soldiers' motivations. In For Cause and Comrades, James McPherson (1997) notes that, unlike . This book was really interesting! A must read for any student of the civil war or of what makes soldiers fight. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. xviii, 237 pp., illustrations, index. the author would give excruciating details as to why one group fought. McPherson has written another great book on the American Civil War, a keen interest of mine. In For Cause & Comrades, McPherson attempts to analyze the reasons men came forth to serve in the causes of the North and South, in a war that was the bloodiest and most destructive in U.S. history. He also took the time to parse opinions of soldiers based on side, and on whether they were volunteers, drafted, or were substitutes. With this approach he paints a very compelling portrait of why soldiers both blue and gray followed their leaders into battle to save their way of life, as slavery brought the nation to a halt until its place in history could be resolved. The initial motivation the union and confederacy sustain throughout the story proves that personal honor is valued more than their lives. Grant and McKinley fought on the same side and in the same regiment. I love just about everything written by James McPherson. Each student will prepare a typed (double-spaced, with one-inch margins, and 12-point, Times New Roman font), 3-4 page summary and review of each of the assigned readings. I finished this study today and have not digested it completely. For Cause and Comrades book. McPherson arrives at a different interpretation because he takes seriously the sometimes ñorid Victorian prose of soldiers about Even though the material sources were relatively small in comparison with the large number of people who fought in the Civil War, the author was very good at analyzing this group and mentioned this limitation in his writings. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997. McPhearson uses first hand accounts from letters and diaries from Northern and Southern soldier. Ho 1 Caren Ho Jonathan Steplyk US History 1301 11/11/19 For Cause and Comrades: Book Review In 1997, James M. McPherson published âFor Cause and Comradesâ, a novel arguing the causes that lead soldiers in the civil war to lay their lives down their respective sides using letters and personal accounts from their time in the battlefield. It's over 150 years since the American Civil War ended and it's still a contentious subject. These men were drawing their weapons against other men that they have known throughout their entire lifespan. Be the first to ask a question about For Cause and Comrades. This book will be a classic for historian and Civil War enthusiasts alike for decades to come. Today we are more judgmental and quick to condemn others due to our political correctness, but this book helps to look past our own shortsightedness. From a large number of his conclusions/summaries, it was clear to me that McPherson was writing from a strongly Yankee perspective, as opposed to a neutral, data driven approach, which was his premise he stated in the beginning of the book. McPherson analyzed causes by separating into why soldiers joined, why they stayed, and why they threw themselves into deadly combat. McPherson also introduced statistical analysis into his work, which provided a starting point for scholars in the future to argue over his conclusions. There's a problem loading this menu right now. His sample Soldiers were remarkably aware of politics and had daily discussions in camp. 10 McPherson, 5. The quotes throughout the book can be quite chilling when trying to explain peoples reason for wanting to join, initial fighting, and their continuing fight. ", Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2019. For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War. Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography. Previous. This is a great book. It had never occurred to me before, but there is more first-hand information about why men fought in the Civil War than there is for any other conflict. While the author does explore how young men were often driven to enlist for reasons of honor, in pursuit of a thirst for adventure, or to avoid a draft, ideology and/or the cause of preserving slavery and the superiority of white southerners played a central role for Confederate troops, especially among leaders. Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2020. Its as if they were from different planets. A refreshing insight into our own prejudices on the Civil War, Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2016. For Cause and Comrades represents one of the most extensive Civil War soldier studies, based on a sample of 1,076 soldiers, 647 Union and 429 Confederate. Those questions and more are answered in this book. A lesser writer might blithely report what Union soldiers "thought" as though the northern army represented an undifferentiated mass. It amazes me to see that the definitions of concepts such as “democracy” and “liberty” vary so much between Union and Confederate soldiers. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. this book scared me because we haven't changed a bit since then, and our polarizations are just as strong. Would highly recommend. I especially liked the last chapter in which McPherson examined Confederate soldiers' views on arming slaves to fight for the south and what cause Union soldiers who's three year enlistments were up in 1864 to reenlist voluntarily. Yes, indeed, the rhat to howl about the threat of "slavery," defined as not getting to own and abuse other human beings. It is my personal recommendation that readers take the time to read and enjoy this fantastic piece of literature. Usually this was not possible, but the letters are presented as the men wrote them in their words. As James M. McPherson's For Cause and Comrades (1997) has documented, in the Civil War many of the fighting men believed the chaplains' message that the Christian soldier made the best soldier. I do recommend the book. Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2019. There is a lot of personal thoughts and how they felt about the war, secession, slavery, courage and misery. What, in other words, did they think they were doing? I would highly recommend this book to all serious students of the Civil War. “Civil War armies were the most literate in history to that time. Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. Although it does feel a little slow at some points, his arguments as to why civil war soldiers fought are very interesting. While the author does explore how young men were often driven to enlist for reasons of honor, in. James McPherson is a fine historian. " For Cause and Comrades is nothing short of an excellent book. In For Cause and Comrades, McPherson offers very balanced and researched approach to the Civil War, typically a very emotionally charged topic. Often the story is ⦠I had to read it for my Military History course as a book review. Why Men Fought in the Civil War. FreeBookNotes found 1 site with book summaries or analysis of For Cause and Comrades Why Men Fought in the Civil War. Welcome back. However, the book really doesn't do much in that direction. The book does give some good insight into the views and motivations of the men involved. Re-read as I approach the Civil War in my military history class, this is a rich collation and analysis of a huge variety of letters and diaries from both sides of the Civil War, showing both a unique 19th century mindset, as well as a kind of universality of experience borne out by WWII social science questionnaires. This book was composed mostly of soldiers' diaries and letters to family and friends. Review of For Cause and Comrades James McPhersonâs For Cause and Comrades was written in an attempt to understand why soldiers of the Civil War fought against each other and why they fought as passionately as they did. Many more soldiers were literate than ever before, and in later wars the letters home were censored. I appreciated the intermingling of letters from north and south on the same subject, and it's all backed up with the sources. The piece, in a way, humanizes the soldiers of both sides, drawing on their personal letters and journals. For Cause & Comrades: Why Men Fought in the ⦠For me, though I have read books about this battle or that one, they are not as compelling as getting. Moreover, the author looks at combat motivation, or what caused men to do what they did during battle. I highly recommend for those with an interest in the history and details of the Civil War. The author points out the irony of soldiers claiming to fight for liberty against the tyrannical Yankees seeking to free the slaves. Preface. For Cause and Comrades Summary Next. If you are interested in the war only in passing and want to read only one nonfiction book on the topic, read his heavy duty Pulitzer winner, Battle Cry of Freedom. For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War is a book by the Pulitzer Prize âwinning author James M. McPherson. And remember, do NOT plagiarize!!! 237 pages. If you take this book in conjunction with other books, you can draw good insight into thoughts and reasons why people went to war, and how their thoughts changed as the conflict matured. Three future presidents fought in the Civil War: Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, and Rutherford B. Hayes. I love the real spelling and wording from their letter's home. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. Good study on why men joined the fight and why they stayed after the initial 'rage militaire' faded, Reviewed in the United States on October 22, 2013. Refresh and try again. I have read over 50 books about America's Civil War. Review For Cause and Comrades For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War. When the sampling was not necessarily representative, the author works to be as transparent as possible, providing invaluable context. Highly recommend if you are interested in the reasons “why” soldiers fought in the civil war. Zoltan Szebeni Mr. Pembleton United States History, 1776 ⦠To see what your friends thought of this book, For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War. Top subscription boxes – right to your door, For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War, See all details for For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. Letters of those who died in the Civil War were largely kept by their families for generations, whereas later biographies and reminiscences could not be as trusted a source. (I forgot to add this book to GR until now, after getting into said argument.). The piece, in a way, humanizes the soldiers of both sides, drawing on their personal letters and journals. I am convinced that [their letters and diaries] bring us closer to the real thoughts and emotions of those men than any other kind of surviving evidence.”, Best Books on African American Studies (nonfiction), Doris Kearns Goodwin Examines Presidential Leadership. Some of the men were not as educated as others and so their spelling is not as good as others. I'd also like to put this in the hands of, or rather, upside the head of, the next person who tells me that Confederates were all about states rhats. But in ''For Cause and Comrades: Why Men Fought in the Civil War,'' the distinguished Civil War historian James M. McPherson, the George Henry Davis '86 Professor of American History at Princeton University, challenges these views. But this was the first one that dwelt on the soldiers themselves. we are going to Gettysburg soon, and I was hoping this book would provide insight for the trip. This outraged some of these mens' family and friends. Three future presidents fought in the Civil War: Ulysses S. Grant, William McKinley, and Rutherford B. Hayes. A fine read, interesting enough to hold attention. McPherson relies of the wealth of information comprised of the letters and diaries of combat soldiers, many of them privates, to explain his conclusions about why men joined the Union and Confederate armies. Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in, ... and Confederate soldiers gave in letters home and the like for for fighting the Civil War, Reviewed in the United States on May 18, 2017, Extremely helpful and even-handed description of the reasons that Union and Confederate soldiers gave in letters home and the like for for fighting the Civil War. Highly recommend if you are interested in the reasons why soldiers fought in the civil war. 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