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Battle Cry of Freedom Book Summary and Study Guide

Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Battle Cry of Freedom


Perhaps more than any other event in American history, the Civil War is subjected again and again to the historian's microscope and pen; yet for the mountains of words it has engendered, consensus, clarity, and conciseness are hard to find. The reasons are obvious: the war that divided the country in the mid nineteenth century still drives a wedge between some; the war, its causes, and effects were numerous and complex and affected nearly every aspect of American society; and it seems that the bloodier, more divisive, more complex the event, the more words we use to describe, justify, or mollify its events and effects. James McPherson tackles each of these problems in his one-volume history of the Civil War, Battle Cry of Freedom.
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Through a narrative telling of the Civil War, McPherson is able to focus on two major themes, which he carries throughout the book. These themes appear consistently, and act as a thesis, if one is to be defined. The first is to examine “the multiple meanings of slavery and freedom, and how they dissolved and re-formed into new patterns in the crucible of war” (viii). For all of his discussion of politics, economics, the military, and society, we cannot escape McPherson's constant reminders that slavery (and its opposite, freedom) is central to the story.    By using a narrative style, McPherson traces the development of the role of slavery, emancipation, and freedom throughout the period.

A second theme is that of contingency. He is critical of previous literature that he says “lack the dimension of contingency—the recognition that at numerous critical points during the war things might have gone altogether differently” (858). His narrative style allows him to point out such critical moments that a thematic or topical organization would have glossed over. Without venturing into the dangers of counter-factual history, McPherson is careful to identify instances where another outcome was possible, or even probable. By allowing for contingency and not eschewing complexity, McPherson's treatment of both sides in the war is, for the most part, evenhanded.


The review of this Book prepared by Jackie Whitt



Chapter Analysis of Battle Cry of Freedom

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Kind Of History

Time of history:    -   19th century History of military?    -   Yes Armed Forces:    -   Army Nationality?    -   American--General Specific war?    -   Civil War (US)

Subjects of this Historical Account

Is the portrayal sympathetic?    -   Neutral From a certain profession/group?    -   land soldiers

Setting

United States    -   Yes The US:    -   Southeast    -   Northeast    -   Deep South

Writing Style

How much gore?    -   5 () How fast-paced is the book?    -   8 () Accounts of torture and death?    -   generic/vague references to death/punishment Book makes you feel...    -   thoughtful How much focus on stories of individuals?    -   Focuses mostly on history of key players Maps necessary?    -   Necessary maps provided Length of book    -   450 pages+ How much emphasis on small details?    -   8 ()

Books with storylines, themes & endings like Battle Cry of Freedom

James McPherson Books Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s).
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