Why did the Confederacy lose the Civil War? Most historians point to the larger number of Union troops; for example; or the North's greater industrial might. Now; in The South Vs. the South; one of America's leading authorities on the Civil War era offers an entirely new answer to this question. William Freehling argues that anti-Confederate Southerners--specifically; border state whites and southern blacks--helped cost the Confederacy the war. White men in such border states as Missouri; Kentucky; and Maryland; Freehling points out; were divided in their loyalties--but far more joined the Union army (or simply stayed home) than marched off in Confederate gray. If they had enlisted as rebel troops in the same proportion as white men did farther south; their numbers would have offset all the Confederate casualties during four years of war. In addition; when those states stayed loyal; the vast majority of the South's urban population and industrial capacity remained in Union hands. And many forget; Freehling writes; that the slaves' own decisions led to a series of white decisions (culminating in the Emancipation Proclamation) that turned federal forces into an army of liberation; depriving the South of labor and adding essential troops to the blue ranks. Whether revising our conception of slavery or of Abraham Lincoln; or establishing the antecedents of Martin Luther King; or analyzing Union military strategy; or uncovering new meanings in what is arguably America's greatest piece of sculpture; Augustus St.-Gaudens' Shaw Memorial; Freehling writes with piercing insight and rhetorical verve. Concise and provocative; The South Vs. the South will forever change the way we view the Civil War.
#454425 in Books Robert C Fuller 2001-12-20Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x 1.00 x 9.10l; 1.17 #File Name: 0195146808224 pagesSpiritual but Not Religious Understanding Unchurched America
Review
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful. Do Americans Still Believe in Religion?By Bryan CareyQuite frequently; when someone talks about religious life in America; it is common to hear news that sounds somewhat negative. "America is not quite as religious as was in the past"; experts say. "They don't have the commitment to religious places of worship like they once did and they don't follow the strict moral code of their ancestors".Author Robert Fuller is a professor of Religious Studies at Bradley University and he has studied extensively about this "flight" away from traditional religion. But what Fuller has found is that Americans are still believers in a higher being and they still consider themselves moral beings. The difference between now and then is that today; Americans tend to express their religious feelings in a more inward way; and they don't participate actively in organized religion. This is the new face of religion in America; and it is examined in this book; "Spiritual; but not Religious: Understanding unchurched America".Fuller points out some revealing statistics that shows the movement of Americans away from tradition houses of worship and over to a more personal relationship with God. Americans don't like the standardized formula that is so prevalent in most churches. They want to express themselves in their own; unique way. And they want to rely more on the power of their own minds to get in touch with spiritual feelings.Fuller writes mostly about the history of spirituality in America and the trends of the past two centuries that have gotten us where we are today. He doesn't dwell much on the present state of spirituality and why Americans are increasingly attracted to this as an alternative to traditional religion. This is one of the drawbacks of the book; in my opinion. It's good to know about the history and how we got where we are. But I would like to know more about the present- day spiritualists and why they feel so strongly about their mode of practice.Fuller presents some good; thought- provoking material on the history of spirituality in America and what we can expect in the future. The nation is becoming more and more diverse all the time; and that includes diversity in religious beliefs as well as in cultural backgrounds. Churches will need to find more and more ways to accommodate these "drifters" who prefer their own method of religious practice to that of customary churches. If churches ignore this; Fuller predicts that they will continue to lose more and more members. Something must be done if American churches hope to grow and thrive in the new century.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Very interesting history - Enjoyable flow from past to presentBy Midwest MikeThere is a very well done review here by Bryan Carey which outlines Fuller's main focus with this book so I won't do the same thing.I am far from an American history scholar; but this is my second read of Fuller's and I find his style to be helpful to someone wanting to learn but not extremely well versed in this field. Plenty of historical background information is provided while supporting his thesis throughout the book.I have seen Dr. Fuller interviewed several times on various shows on The History Channel and that is what initially drawn to his books. I found his detailing of the popularity and role of magic in colonial times to be especially fascinating.I have recommended this book several times to friends.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Finally an inclusive spiritual history of the USBy Eric JenningsThe book was my introduction to the research and thinking of Robert C. Fuller. The confident and competent scholarly writing was very helpful to my research as a clergy seeking an advanced seminary degree. Being an unaffiliated clergy; I seek to have interfaith organizations acknowledge the "unchurched" as part of the total spiritual population. It was refreshing to read a book at last; that seems to also count the unchurched; one written with scholarship; clarity and neutrality. The author has consummate knowledge of his topic; yet writes with the requisite emotional distance few religious scholars enjoy. I believe this book could figure prominently in any seminary program which investigates the spiritual and religious history of America without judgment of each unchurched school of spirituality. Non clergy who lead a spiritually independent (unchurched or nearly unchurched) life; would benefit from reading about the extraordinary and often unsung clergy and spiritually gifted who have added so much to the spiritual landscape of America since colonial times.
