Civil War! America Becomes One Nation - Softcover

"Robertson successfully presents the perspectives of both sides and manages to avoid glorifying war." --Booklist

Grade 7 Up-- Taking as his theme the idea that ``the Civil War touched every part of American life'' and ``from it came the strong and united nation the world knows'' today, Robertson presents a concise, balanced introduction to America's bloodiest conflict and its consequences. He doesn't concentrate upon any one topic but expands upon his theme by surveying in chronological order the major events and personalities of the war. This coverage is preceded by discussions of ``King Cotton'' and slavery, abolitionism, Union and Confederate resources, and other background information, concluding with a chapter about ``Why the Civil War Still Lives.'' Robertson offers readers no new revelations or interpretations, but this does not detract from a useful distillation of a great deal of information. Well-designed, informative maps and a chart augment the outstanding selection of captioned black-and-white historical photographs and reproductons--many seldom seen--culled from the collections of the Library of Congress, Harper's Weekly , and other sources. The illustrations are comparable in quality and appropriateness to those in Murphy's The Boys' War (Clarion, 1990) and Ray's Behind the Blue and the Gray (Lodestar, 1991). --David A. Lindsey, Lakewood Junior/Senior High School, WA
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.