The Schlager Anthology of the Civil War & Reconstruction
A powerful, document-driven journey through the most defining crisis in American history.
The Schlager Anthology of the Civil War and Reconstruction is an authoritative reference work that traces the conflict and its tumultuous aftermath through the eyes of those who lived it. Edited by Dr. Tom Lansford (University of Southern Mississippi), this collection features approximately 100 critical primary sources, including speeches, letters, legislative acts, and historic images. Organized into eight thematic chapters, the set features expert scholarly introductions that place the documents in direct conversation with one another. Tailored for high schoolers, undergraduates, and general researchers, each chapter includes targeted short-answer questions to build critical analytical skills, along with comprehensive bibliographic sections for further study.
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Description
Biographical note
Deconstruct the Ideologies, Battles, and Legacies of America’s Deepest Divide Through the Voices of the Past.
The Civil War and the era of Reconstruction that followed represent the pivotal crucible of the American republic—a period that fundamentally redefined freedom, citizenship, and federal power. The Schlager Anthology of the Civil War and Reconstruction provides students and researchers with a vivid, unfiltered window into this transformative era. This comprehensive reference work compiles around 100 critical historical documents, making it an essential acquisition for high school, university, and public libraries.
Expertly edited by distinguished scholar Dr. Tom Lansford of the University of Southern Mississippi, this anthology captures the full political, military, and human scope of the conflict. Rather than relying on standard textbooks, readers engage directly with the primary evidence of history: fierce political speeches, raw personal letters, landmark legislative acts, and evocative period images.
The set is meticulously organized into eight comprehensive thematic chapters that guide readers chronologically and conceptually through the era. Among these key chapters are:
- "Slavery and a Divided Nation": Unpacking the deep-seated moral, economic, and political fractures of the antebellum period.
- "Secession": Mapping the collapse of the Union and the arguments used to justify the split.
- "The Turning Tide (1863–1864)": Tracking the pivotal military shifts and policy changes on the battlefield.
- "The War At Home and Abroad": Exploring the social pressures on the home front and the global diplomatic stakes.
- "Reconstruction": Examining the fraught, complex struggle to rebuild the nation and secure civil rights in the war's wake.
Each of the eight chapters contains a curated selection of 10 to 15 primary sources, anchored by an invaluable scholarly introduction. These masterfully written overviews do not merely summarize the timeline; they actively put the documents in conversation with one another, highlighting conflicting viewpoints and shared historical realities.
Designed specifically to meet the needs of high school AP classes, college undergraduates, and general researchers, The Schlager Anthology of the Civil War and Reconstruction emphasizes active historical inquiry. The chapter introductions feature built-in, evidence-based short-answer questions engineered to sharpen primary-source analysis and critical-thinking skills. Additionally, each chapter concludes with a robust "Further Reading" bibliographic section, providing an excellent roadmap for deeper independent research. Bring this vital chapter of American history to life with the ultimate primary source companion.
Deconstruct the Ideologies, Battles, and Legacies of America’s Deepest Divide Through the Voices of the Past.
The Civil War and the era of Reconstruction that followed represent the pivotal crucible of the American republic—a period that fundamentally redefined freedom, citizenship, and federal power. The Schlager Anthology of the Civil War and Reconstruction provides students and researchers with a vivid, unfiltered window into this transformative era. This comprehensive reference work compiles around 100 critical historical documents, making it an essential acquisition for high school, university, and public libraries.
Expertly edited by distinguished scholar Dr. Tom Lansford of the University of Southern Mississippi, this anthology captures the full political, military, and human scope of the conflict. Rather than relying on standard textbooks, readers engage directly with the primary evidence of history: fierce political speeches, raw personal letters, landmark legislative acts, and evocative period images.
The set is meticulously organized into eight comprehensive thematic chapters that guide readers chronologically and conceptually through the era. Among these key chapters are:
- "Slavery and a Divided Nation": Unpacking the deep-seated moral, economic, and political fractures of the antebellum period.
- "Secession": Mapping the collapse of the Union and the arguments used to justify the split.
- "The Turning Tide (1863–1864)": Tracking the pivotal military shifts and policy changes on the battlefield.
- "The War At Home and Abroad": Exploring the social pressures on the home front and the global diplomatic stakes.
- "Reconstruction": Examining the fraught, complex struggle to rebuild the nation and secure civil rights in the war's wake.
Each of the eight chapters contains a curated selection of 10 to 15 primary sources, anchored by an invaluable scholarly introduction. These masterfully written overviews do not merely summarize the timeline; they actively put the documents in conversation with one another, highlighting conflicting viewpoints and shared historical realities.
Designed specifically to meet the needs of high school AP classes, college undergraduates, and general researchers, The Schlager Anthology of the Civil War and Reconstruction emphasizes active historical inquiry. The chapter introductions feature built-in, evidence-based short-answer questions engineered to sharpen primary-source analysis and critical-thinking skills. Additionally, each chapter concludes with a robust "Further Reading" bibliographic section, providing an excellent roadmap for deeper independent research. Bring this vital chapter of American history to life with the ultimate primary source companion.
Tom Lansford is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Southern Mississippi, Gulf Coast. His research interests include foreign and security policy, and the U.S. presidency. Dr. Lansford is the author, coauthor, editor or coeditor of more than 60 books, and the author of more than one hundred essays, book chapters, encyclopedic entries, and reviews. His sole-authored books include: A Bitter Harvest: U.S. Foreign Policy and Afghanistan (2003), the Historical Dictionary of U.S. Diplomacy Since the Cold War (2007) and 9/11 and the Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq: A Chronology and Reference Guide (2011). His edited collections include: America’s War on Terror (2003; second edition 2009), Judging Bush (2009), The Obama Presidency: A Preliminary Assessment (2012) and A Transformation in American National Politics: The 2012 Presidential Election (2016). Dr. Lansford has served as the editor of the Political Handbook of the World since 2012.
