Aaron Sheehan-Dean delves into the complexities of the American Civil War, examining its profound causes and consequences. His work offers a penetrating look at the motivations of individuals alongside the broader societal forces that shaped this tumultuous era. By emphasizing the authentic voices of those who lived through these events, he brings the raw reality of the conflict to readers. His current editorial endeavors further solidify his standing as a leading scholar of this pivotal period in American history.
Focusing on Virginia soldiers and their families during the Civil War, the study reveals the personal experiences of rank-and-file soldiers through new statistical evidence and first-person accounts. It examines how these soldiers, including nonslaveholders, redefined their understanding of the war's purpose to maintain their commitment to the Confederate cause. The work provides a nuanced view of the social and emotional landscape of the time.
Discarding tidy abstractions about the conduct of war, Aaron Sheehan-Dean shows that the notoriously bloody US Civil War could have been much worse. Despite agonizing debates over Just War and careful differentiation among victims, Americans could not avoid living with the contradictions inherent in a conflict that was both violent and restrained.