The book offers a scholarly investigation into the rise of war fervor in the North before the Civil War, examining the motivations of various groups, including disunionists, political figures, and businessmen concerned about Southern market losses. It provides a nuanced portrayal of the complex Northern sentiments that contributed to the decision for war in 1861. The author's clear and engaging writing, combined with keen analytical insights, makes for a well-organized and informative read that sheds light on this pivotal historical period.
Kenneth Stampp Book order
Kenneth Stampp was a celebrated historian focusing on slavery, the American Civil War, and Reconstruction. His scholarship delved deeply into pivotal periods of American history. Stampp analyzed these eras, emphasizing their complex social and political ramifications. His writing offers incisive insights into the shaping of the United States.


- 2006
- 1991
The Causes of the Civil War
- 256 pages
- 9 hours of reading
From Simon & Schuster, The Cause of the Civil War is historian Kenneth Stampp's exploration of America's great civil conflict.Was the Civil War inevitable? What really caused it? Drawing on original sources--from Jefferson Davis to Frederick Douglass--and interpretive essays by today's most influential historians, this collection of essays gives a vivid sense of the political, economic, and cultural currents that swept the nation to war.