The Republic For Which It Stands

Book Summary:

At the end of the American Civil War,  the leaders in the North envisioned a future for the country. One that was a free-labor republic with a homogenous citizenry. They were determined to reconstruct the south and the west in the image of the north. The next three decades were filled with challenges, and the unity the country paid so high a price to achieve was still out of reach. Economic, race, religious, and political differences were pervasive then as they are now. From this text we learn where modern America came from, and where many of the present day issues stem from.

My Thoughts:

The American Civil War is a fascinating time in history to me. I lack a lot of knowledge about what happened in the aftermath of the war. This book gives an easy to comprehend history of this period, and provides a thought provoking scenarios that seem as though they are from current times. I was intrigued by how similar many of the issues seemed to present day, and how easy White made it to know where a lot of current issues in the States came from. If you are at all interested in what is happening in the States now, this might be an interesting read for you.

I think this is a history that many people should read. It will give new understanding to current issues which is always beneficial. People should not be intimidated by how long the book is. You will find yourself drawn into the history and how relatable many of the issues are. I was amazed that the book only covers thirty years of history, yet contains so much information. It also covers Emancipation, Western Expansion, Indian Policy, and Women's Suffrage.

Do not let the size or variety in topics intimidate you or make you dismiss this book as having little depth. It was absolutely fascinating to see history connected(as it is) and how the reader can make connections they might not have been able to before.

If you are interested in American History, the American Civil War, or how some modern issues came about I highly suggest you read this book.

*I received a free copy of this book from the Goodreads First Reads Program in exchange for an honest review.

*Receiving a free copy of this book does not change my review. It simply provides me with a copy of a book sooner than I would have otherwise gotten to it or one I would not have heard about otherwise.