Critical Essay on American Civil War by Terry Jones

Introduction

The American civil war was one of the most definitive occurrences in American history. Lasting between 12th April 1861 and 9th May 1865, the war was more than just a clash. Other issues that influenced the war include divergent economic perspectives at the time, the conflict between opposing political ideologies, the conflict between culture and some sort of recklessness and irresponsibility. In his book titled "The American Civil War," Terry Jones seeks to explore the war in detail, bringing out all the different factors contributing to the commencement of the war, and those that actually fueled the progress of the war.

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In this book, Jones discusses the chronology of the war, examining the details about every aspect of the war. The book further includes a comprehensive thematic approach, analyzing the various themes characterizing the war such as economic control of resources and production systems, social factors, and how the leadership at the time contributed to the war. The book acknowledges that there were both short-term and long-term contributors to the war and their analysis are essential in understanding why Americans went to war. The chronological approach taken by the writer is crucial in understanding the many occurrences of the war. It allows the reader to have some insight into the happenings on the battlefield. The stepwise detailing of the processes thus enhances understanding of the different factors surrounding the war.

At the same time, it can be noted that the organization of the book into topical chapters that detail specific prominent subjects of the war also enhances understanding of the war. Some of the notable themes of the war that are described by the author in the book include politics, prisoners of war and slavery, politics and the role of diplomacy in the war. The book also acknowledges that the battle occurred at a time when slavery was a crucial subject in the country. It details extensively the role that African-Americans played in the war.

Additionally, the book provides an active social and political context for the war. The war was arguably shaped by the socio-political climate at the time. Being at the peak of agitation for the abolishment of the slave trade, political leaders played a significant role in the war. The book discusses the role played by President Abraham Lincoln in successfully prosecuting the war. President Lincoln played a significant role in ending the war hence preserving the country. Furthermore, the book elaborates the part played by Lincoln in the adoption of the Thirteenth Amendment which brought the slavery era to an end. Each chapter in the book includes substantive information regarding the different political personalities shaping the war.

Conclusion

The book is an exemplary analysis of the civil war era and its diverse and long-term impacts on America. The book is easy to read and understand, and the chronological approach makes it easy to understand the different concepts presented. As mentioned above, the civil war era is one of the most impactful occurrences on American soil, and its impacts have the socio-political fabric of the country. The detailed manner in which the different events of the war are discussed, coupled by the fact that the book considers all the little-known facts regarding the war and further seeks to include the testimonies of eyewitnesses makes the book a critical companion for anyone seeking to understand the country's history.

References

Jones, T. L. (2010). The American Civil War. McGraw-Hill.