The Civil War and Reconstruction

by James G. Randall, David Herbert Donald

This is a revised edition by David Herbert Donald of his former professor J. G. Randall’s book The Civil War and Reconstruction, which was originally published in 1937 and had long been regarded as “the standard work in its field”, serving as a useful basic Civil War reference tool for general readers and textbook for college classes. This Second Edition retains many of the original chapters, “such as those treating border-state problems, non-military developments during the war, intellectual tendencies, anti-war efforts, religious and educational movements, and propaganda methods […] bearing evidence of Mr. Randall’s thoroughgoing exploration of the manuscripts and archives,” whilst it expands considerably on other original chapters, such as those relating to the Confederacy. Still other portions have been entirely recast or rewritten, such as the pre-war period chapters and Reconstruction chapters, reflecting factual updates since Randall’s original publication. A must-read for all Civil War students and scholars.

Genres: History, Civil War, American Civil War, American History, Textbooks, Military History

820 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1937

About the author

Named after U.S. President James A. Garfield, James Garfield Randall was an American historian specializing on Abraham Lincoln and the era of the American Civil War. He was known for his systematic, scientific methodology based on thorough study of primary sources, his mastery of constitutional issues, and his neutrality regarding North and South.

Randall earned a B.A. degree at Butler College (1903), and a Ph.D. in history at the University of Chicago (1912). He taught at the University of Illinois, (1920–1950), where David Herbert Donald was one of his students. His multi-volume biography of Abraham Lincoln remains a major resource for scholars. He was president of the Mississippi Valley Historical Association 1939-1940. His wife Ruth Painter Randall wrote Mary Lincoln: Biography of a Marriage (1953). His The Civil War and Reconstruction (1937) was for many years the most important history of the era.

Reviews

[Timothy Riley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Since this was such a long book I will pick a few things that I found interesting. One, the south was hardly unified prior to the civil war. In some cases the majority of counties voted in referendum to remain part of the union and representatives went and voted to secede anyway.

The hypocrisy of the south is even more shocking then I thought. As soon as they split in the name of a decentralized government, the first thing they did was form a strong central government. The rights of the individual were trampled upon, food, supplies, crops were stolen from individual citizens in a way that left morale crushed in the south. A government that many got behind to protect the "property" of citizens was now systematically thieving from the populace at will. Towards the end of the war they actually considered and began the process of arming slaves and sending them in to battle.

The level of violence against blacks is not surprising but still disturbing. These were war crimes that should be mandatory reading all through the south.

Lastly, the parallels between Lincoln and Obama are sometimes startling. Both are grossly misunderstood by huge sections of the country to the point of total paranoia. Both were open to compromise to the point where they disappointed their more radical parts of their party. Both took the same approach to cabinet appointments-often filling them with people of the opposing party. Both saw their main achievements ground down by not just the opposition but moderates looking to get reelected instead of passing wise legislation for the country.

[Brandon T. Wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best book to read and reference on Civil War and Reconstruction, especially reconstruction. We have for so long focused on the war itself and forget about the Fallout and atrocities afterward. A must read and a permanent reference volume for any student of the Civil War and government.

[Andrew Price · Rating 4 out of 5]

Defense, serious history, but well worth the trouble. If you want to be able to have an informed opinion of the effects of the Civil War this is a great place to start.

[Bill Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best, most comprehensive one volume history of the Civil War and especially Reconstruction I have read

[Pericles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dense, quality information. But I’ll be damned if it’s not painfully dull.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though the American Civil War ended in 1865, the revenge on and control of the South continued until 1876. The Republican party sought to punish white Southern Democrats for trying to secede from the Union. This helped give rise to the Klu Klux Klan which was founded by these Democrats to keep control over the new black Republicans.

[Jonathan]

None