In "What They Fought For," James McPherson presents us with his study of the correspondence of Confederate and Union soldiers during the Civil War as an examination of what these men believed they were fighting war. According to the quotes shared, the Confederates fought for Liberty and independence, viewing the North as tyrants and invaders. This is a slender volume (part of a larger research project and the basis for a lecture) that is based on an interesting thesis: that soldiers, both north and south, fought to a considerable extent for ideology, and not solely as brothers in arms with other troops, for ideals of manhood, for the notions of honor and duty, and so on.. What They Fought For, 1861-1865 was written, in the author's words, to dispel "the general impression that Civil War soldiers had little or no idea of what they were fighting for." As far as I know, this is the only work which has tried to compile the letters of ordinary officers and men and to measure statistically the opinions held by them. Essentially, the novel is composed of thousands of letters of officers in the Civil War. ", See 2 questions about What They Fought for, 1861-1865…, Doris Kearns Goodwin Examines Presidential Leadership. I don't want to give any spoilers but it veers away from the modern "popular romanticization of the Civil War" and suggests that the South had not fought for slavery nor had the North fought for its abolition. A rather feeble book. It was very interesting to read. what effect did slavery and emancipation have on union troops? Although it is a short book of less than one hundred pages, quite a lot is packed into the book. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Walter Lynwood Fleming Lectures in Southern History: What They Fought for, 1861-1865 by James M. McPherson (Trade Cloth) at the best online prices at eBay! Mr. McPherson notes that the florid intensity of many of the soldiers’ political sentiments might strike a false note with today’s readers. What They Fought For, 1861-1865. I enjoyed this short read very much. Black Union soldiers fought to free their race. This isn’t to answer the question about broader political causes, nor is it designed to obfuscate the causes of the Civil War. The author analyzed the letters and diaries of close to 1000 soldiers to answer 3 questions: I had to read this book for my U.S History course in college, which was not a big deal to me because I enjoy reading history books. There is constant debate about what the Civil War was about and why these men chose to fight, and McPherson presents us words straight from the horse's mouths. Best to read the words straight from the soldiers themselves. I gave it 3 stars because personally I felt it got pretty confusing at times. The book written by James M. McPherson, What They Fought For 1861-1865, describes the views of the soldiers that fought in the war. The author uses actual journal writings as proof to back up his generalized statements, however I would have liked to see him use the actual statements more instead of paraphrasing so much. During the American Civil War, soldiers were far more motivated by ideology and politics on the battlefield than scholars have acknowledged. Still good, but just read for Cause and Comrades. “What They Fought For, 1861-1865" “If I fall Let me fall for I will fall in a good cose for if I can not git Liberty I perfer death” -- a Confederate soldier writing to his wife. What they fought for 1861-1865. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1994. Welcome back. The first chapter covers the correspondence of Confederate soldiers, while chapter 2 that of Union soldiers. “Themes of liberty and republicanism formed the ideological core of the cause for which Civil War soldiers fought,” he writes in What They Fought For, 1861-1865 (Louisiana State University Press; 88 pages; $16.95), a book based on the 1993 Walter Lynwood Fleming Lectures he delivered at Louisiana State. McPherson uses letters left behind written by different civil war soldiers to portray a more round view of actions that took place on the battlegrounds. It was interesting to read actual accounts from soldiers' journals and understand the reasoning behind why they fought. These entries shed a light on why the individual soldier fought in this bloody war. McPherson deservedly won acclaim with The Battle Cry of Freedom, which was a good synopsis of the Civil War, but he's gone badly downhill ever since. 1994-XX-XX. At first I thought it was like reading an appendix crammed full of facts and figures but then I discovered its structure. His theme is that, in fact, Civil War soldiers knew why they fought and he rejects those historians' views who assert that Civil War soldiers had no idea for what they fought or that they just fought … This conviction that they fought for their homes and women gave many Confederate soldiers remarkable staying power in the face of adversity. "What They Fought For, 1861-1865, by the renowned historian James M. McPherson, is an exceptional discourse on the Civil War, a colloquy among the very men who risked their lives in that conflict. This is a printing of three lectures that the author gave at a conference. I liked the book overall. The first chapter covers the correspondence of Confederate soldiers, while chapter 2 that of Union soldiers. McPherson describes exactly what the title says "What They Fought for", he gives reason other than slavery but still discusses. This is a small monograph of three chapters and an introduction that seeks to answer the question: What did the soldiers of the American Civil War fight for? This is a supplementary text for McPherson's classic text on the Civil War, "The Battle Cry of Freedom." Start by marking “What They Fought for, 1861-1865” as Want to Read: Error rating book. This book gives an insight to what the soldiers of the CSA believed when they were fighting in the Civil War. This is a supplementary text for McPherson's classic text on the Civil War, "The Battle Cry of Freedom." James McPherson is an eminent historian, who has written some classics, such as "Battle Cry of Freedom." Interview with McPherson on What They Fought For, 1861–1865, Booknotes May 22, 1994 Interview with McPherson , In Depth March 4, 2001 "Tried by War: Abraham Lincoln as Commander in Chief" Lecture at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library on March 13, 2008 What They Fought For, 1861-1865 James M. McPherson, Author Louisiana State University Press $16.95 (0p) ISBN 978-0-8071-1904-4. McPhereson argues convincingly that, in the case of soldiers fighting in American Civil War, ideology also served as a significant motivating factor. For James M. McPherson, the Princeton University historian, reading those lines, and thousands of others like them, led to something of a revelation. About What They Fought For 1861-1865 In Battle Cry Of Freedom, James M. McPherson presented a fascinating, concise general history of the defining American conflict. According to the quotes shared, the Confederates fought for Liberty and independence, viewing the North as tyrants and invaders. Instead, using the letters, journals, and other personal documents of Civil War soldiers of both sides, James McPherson simply wants to better understand the personal motivations of the soldiers. I gave it 3. In James M. McPherson’s What they fought for: 1861-1865, he analyzes the Union and Confederate soldier’s morale and ideological components through the letters they wrote to love ones while at war. There is constant debate about what the Civil War was about and why these men chose to fight, and McPherson presents us words straight from the horse's mouths. I would still support the Union. McPherson seeks answers in the letters of average soldiers. James McPherson the author of What They Fought For 1861-1865, thesis states that the soldiers from both the North and South fought for a large extent for ideology, and not exclusively as brothers in war with other soldiers, for principles of strength or courage, and for the nations of honor and duty. Southerners fought to protect their homes, institutions and way of life. The greatest work of James McPherson, one of the best historians who has managed to capture the moment of great events, is worth reading at any time of the century. This book had a different take on the causes of war and thoughts of the soldiers. A country that could have been, but was discarded in the post war hustle for a buck, a desire for normality, and a spurious, exclusionary search for "unity". It is roughly divided into three chapters presenting the Southern view, the Northern view and the issue of slavery. A great hour long read that helps you understand the reasons the North and South went to war. AbeBooks.com: What They Fought for 1861-1865 (WALTER LYNWOOD FLEMING LECTURES IN SOUTHERN HISTORY) (9780807119044) by McPherson, James M. and a great selection of similar New, Used and Collectible Books available now at great prices. This novel gives readers a true look into the insight of what soldiers who were on the battle lines were going through. Expertly curated help for What They Fought For, 1861-1865. McPherson explores the reasons Union soldiers fought, the reasons Confederate soldiers fought, and attitudes of both sides towards slavery. More By and About This Author. … please should you provide me book summary "what they fought for, 1861 - 1865? Why white Union troops fought is harder to understand. The author conveys that most of these men had senses of commitment to patriotism. What They Fought For 1861 - 1865 This book was a good analysis of Civil War soldiers’ diaries, and letters to their loved ones. Americans were largely literate and soldiers were encouraged to write home. Blog. Americans were largely literate and soldiers were encouraged to write home. Plus easy-to-understand solutions written by experts for thousands of other textbooks. An easy read while still being very informative. Libraries)] -- What They Fought For, 1861-1865, by the renowned historian James M. 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