Turning Points--Actual and Alternate Histories: A House Divided During the Civil War Era (Hardcover) (ISBN-13: 9781851098811)

This work is a creative approach to history that not only recounts what actually happened during the Civil War, but also imagines alternate outcomes had key events turned out differently, and how they might have changed the course of American history.

In colorful, readable prose, this volume provides a full history of the Civil War--including John Brown's raid; the story of the Confederate States of America; the battles of Bull Run, Antietam, and Gettysburg; Sherman's March to the Sea; the Emancipation Proclamation; the Thirteenth Amendment; Lincoln's assassination; Reconstruction; and Andrew Johnson's impeachment.

But more importantly, it offers a range of essays on how events could have turned out differently--militarily, politically, and culturally. It challenges students and general readers alike to remember that the course of history is not preordained. Instead, history is "made " in critical moments of decision by those who choose one course of action over another. Their choices--and the outcomes of those choices--could easily have been different.

Author: Rodney P. Carlisle
ISBN-10: 185109881X
ISBN-13: 9781851098811
Publisher: ABC-CLIO
Language: English
Published: 02/14/2007
Pages: 272
Format: Hardcover
Weight: 1.57lbs
Size: 10.32h x 7.04w x 0.89d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 02/01/2008 pg. 1141
Reference and Research Bk News 05/01/2008 pg. 86