The American Civil War

By: Gary W. Gallagher, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Gary W. Gallagher

Between 1861 and 1865, the clash of the greatest armies the Western hemisphere had ever seen turned small towns, little-known streams, and obscure meadows in the American countryside into names we will always remember. In those great battles, those streams ran red with blood - and the United States was truly born.

If you've ever wanted to understand the Civil War, this series of 48 startlingly evocative lectures by a leading Civil War historian can serve as both an ideal single course or a solid starting point for further exploration - a richly detailed examination of how this great conflict affected every person in America. For you'll gain not only a deep knowledge of what happened, but new insights into why.

You'll learn how both sides' armies were recruited, equipped, and trained, and about the hard lot of those they took prisoner. You'll hear how soldiers on each of those sides dealt with the rigors of camp life, campaigns, and the terror of combat. And you'll understand how slaves and their falling masters responded to the advancing war, as well as the desperate price paid by the families so many left behind.

Though this series of lectures goes far beyond a simple examination of battles and generals, it also offers detailed analyses of the strategic and tactical dimensions of the Civil War's most important campaigns. At the same time, it never forgets that the conflict involved far more than pins on a map - and indeed claimed a greater cost in human lives than all other American wars combined.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2000 The Teaching Company, LLC (P)2000 The Great Courses

Great for Newbies and Seasoned Students

According to Professor Gallagher, it doesn’t matter whether, as some scholars claim, the North and South had become two separate civilizations by 1860 or, as others claim, they had not. The important thing is that many people on both sides believed they had. It's a fine example of the professor’s method: present both sides of a scholarly controversy, then give his own insightful, commonsense viewpoint. And this course abounds with them.

These 48 lectures touch on every conceivable aspect of the war: social, political, military, economic, diplomatic; the circumstances that led up to it and the reverberations afterward, making it a perfect all-round introduction. With one caveat: maps, so essential to following the military side of the story. The 251-page PDF accompanying this series includes but 4 of them, all very general. Not a problem for those who have the geography of the war embedded in their memories, but a hurdle for newcomers to the subject. But fear not. Cartographically, the Internet is always well stocked.

As outlined above, these lectures will also hold the interest of more well-read listeners, as Gallagher weighs in on the controversies and questions familiar to every seasoned amateur student: how good a general was Robert E. Lee? Did the slaves liberate themselves, as some scholars argue? How close did the South really get to foreign recognition? How effective was the Northern blockade? Was there really, as other scholars argue, a gender-based bond between female slaves and female mistresses that overrode their official relationship? What were the factors that lead Grant to order the frontal assaults at Cold Harbor? How many women donned uniforms and fought in the ranks – and why were they overwhelmingly Northern? You can’t help finding the professor’s viewpoints thought-provoking (if you don’t agree) and clarifying (if you do).

Gettysburg?

Did I miss something or was there no mention of Gettysburg? Deserves to be mentioned...

Great story teller

I enjoyed the passion with which Gallagher shares his research and reflections. I also respect his willingness to take clear positions based on his assessment of the facts. Really good historian AND storyteller, which is not the case with all.

A wonderful lecture series by a bonafied expert

Doctor Gallagher is a wonderful performer and a wealth of knowledge of The Civil War. If you have any interest in this subject, do yourself a favor and listen to this course

highly recommended

great content, engaging author/reader, a must read for any american! Adds color to the history of our country in what is typically told as a very stale tale void of personality and character, well done