10 Big Questions of the American Civil War

De: Caroline Janney, The Great Courses

Narrado por: Caroline Janney

In 10 Big Questions of the American Civil War, join noted author and Civil War historian Dr. Caroline E. Janney, a professor at the University of Virginia, for a pointed examination of some of the most intriguing, provocative, and enduring questions about the Civil War era. The aim of these 10 eye-opening lectures is to separate myth from memory. Students will learn...

• Why the Southern states actually seceded
• The reasons that soldiers on both sides of the conflict chose to fight
• How conscription of soldiers promoted the idea that the Civil War was a “rich man’s war”
• Why emancipation wasn’t defined by the Emancipation Proclamation but by a process that unfolded over years
• What social, political, and economic implications arose as the Civil War generation choose how to remember their experiences
• What various relief efforts, performed by women, existed on both sides of the war
• Whether the Battle of Gettysburg really turned the tide in favor of the Union

Dr. Janney will help you to sort through topics that still confound both scholars and students of the Civil War. What’s more, the author reveals the deep, intense, and sometimes violent nature of Civil War memory that still permeates throughout the United States of America.

©2019 Audible Originals, LLC (P)2019 Audible Originals, LLC.

A myth buster of a book.

Janney's "The Great Courses" lecture (which sort of counts as an audiobook) is easily the best short overview of key questions and facts surrounding the Civil War. It'd be the one audiobook I'd recommend to folks who need to disabuse themselves of various myths surrounding the conflict.

Janney pokes holes into the "Lost Cause Myth" and its attendant fictions--such as the lie that war wasn't fought because of slavery, or that slaves on the plantation were a happy and contented lot (they weren't). She also explores the role of women during the war and after it.

Janney's lecture, as well as TGC's Civil War lecture by Gary Gallagher, are superb introductions to the Civil War, and may break new ground for fans of Civil War history.

Excellent, Short

I thought I knew a lot about our Civil War, but these "10 Big Questions" are well worthy of the name. Janney's exploration of each of them was insightful and seemed balanced to me, making good use of recent scholarship. These questions are not just of historical interest. Americans, consciously or not, are likely to have opinions on all of them already. I know I did, and some of them had to change after Janney's series.

Dull, flat delivery

Based around some major conceptions or misconceptions of the Civil War. Delivery was flat and dull. Almost like she was reading it.

Very Relevant

this subject never grows old and this book covers most of the key guestions. that still fuel controversy

AMAZING! Fantastic book, super recommended!!

A nice way to learn about the USA civil war in details chapter by chapter.

By golly, I learned somthing!

This course is one that anyone who thinks they know All About the Civil War. You will find that you don't. Study this course more than once and contemplate.

Professor Needs to Teach An Entire Civil War Course

This was an excellent 10-class course. It made me really think more clearly about many Civil War subjects. The professor should be approached about doing a complete course on the entire Civil War!

Great summary

This is a very effective summary of the cultural and political dimensions of the Civil War and its impacts.

Very informative. Favorite was the first lecture on the war aims summary.

Very smart, both sides and detail provided. Generally speaking I know a lot about the Civil War. Now I know more!

Good but...

There were some excellent lectures in this book. There was a thorough and unbiased approach and I felt that the level of detail was just right. My only issue was that many of the lectures concerned topics that I just wasn’t that interested in. I would’ve preferred to hear about the strategies employed by the two sides and answered questions like “could the union have shortened the war by employing a different strategy?”, “is there a scenario out def which the south could have won?”, or “what if the south had taken a defensive posture in the war?”. Instead there was a lot of discussion of things that I felt was less important.