The History of Wisconsin, Volume II: The Civil War Era

The History of Wisconsin #2

by Richard Nelson Current

This volume introduces us to the first generation of statehood, from the conversion of prairie and forests into farmland to the development of cities and industry. In addition, this volume presents a synthesis of the Civil War and Reconstruction era in Wisconsin. Scarcely a decade after entering the Union, the state was plunged into the nationwide debate over slavery, the secession crisis, and a war in which 11,000 "Badger Boys in Blue" gave their lives. Wisconsin's role in the Civil War is chronicled, along with the post-war years. Complete with photographs from the Historical Society's collections, as well as many pertinent maps, this book is a must-have for anyone interested in this era of Wisconsin's history.

660 pages, Hardcover

First published December 15, 1973

About the author

Called "the dean of Lincoln scholars", Richard Nelson Current earned a B.A. in 1934 from Oberlin College, and M.A. from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 1935, a Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1940. Among the institutions at which Current taught over the course of his career was Rutgers University, Hamilton College, Northern Michigan University, Lawrence University, Mills College, Salisbury State University, the University of Illinois, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Reviews

[Mark Patton · Rating 4 out of 5]

It took me about three years and several hundred other books intervened, but I am finished with volume II. At this rate, I should finish the series in 2030.

[Tom · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read Volume 1 last year, and plan on buying and reading all 5 because I just love Wisconsin.