Reading this book is like watching a first-rate debating society. (In fact, the book began as a conference of five guys at Gettysburg College in November, 1958.) I wish there were more anthologies like this: “Why the Roman Empire Fell” or “What Happened to Last Year’s Yankees?”
I’m sorry to say that after all the arguments I remain a neo-Marxist, seeing industrial strength as crucial. But ultimately you can’t separate these causes (which are divided into the political, diplomatic, military, economic). Understanding history, in this analytical way, is a bit like trying to CHANGE history. If only we could go back and re-formulate Lee’s strategy, while keeping all the other factors constant – we’d know for sure.
I opened the book at random to the section on “Northern Diplomacy and European Neutrality” by Norman A. Graebner:
“Through Adams in London, Seward warned the British government, ’If any European power provokes war, we shall not shrink from it.’”
In other words, William H. Seward (Lincoln’s Secretary of State) had the balls to threaten all of Europe with war, in the midst of our fratricidal bloodbath (if they sided with the South)! No wonder the North won!
Another question: “DID the South really lose the Civil War?” After “losing,” they’ve held the nation politically hostage these 150 years. They are particularly adept at finding allies through the skillful use of racism. Race-hatred, it turns out, is stronger than muskets and Gatling guns.