Book SummaryBattle Cry of Freedom, by James McPherson

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of Battle Cry of Freedom

The escalating strain between the Northern and Southern states.

The divisive debate over slavery led to the collapse of the bipartisan political framework.

As the United States expanded its borders into the west in the mid-19th century, the intense argument about allowing slavery in the newly acquired territories deepened the country's division. The intensifying disputes led to the disintegration of the established bipartisan system, with regional disputes overshadowing the traditional allegiance to the Democratic and Whig parties. McPherson highlights a series of critical events and calculated political maneuvers that exacerbated divisions between regions, culminating in the formation of political groups that had regional goals, setting the stage for the Civil War's inception.

The initiation of hostilities with Mexico and the proposal of the Wilmot Proviso were early signs of the growing divide between regions.

The initiation of the Mexican War (1846-1848) by Democratic President James K. Polk resulted in a substantial increase in the land area of the United States. The discussion regarding the extension of slavery into new territories, reflecting the Democratic Party's perspective on Manifest Destiny, quickly intensified into disagreements between regions. In 1846, Congressman David Wilmot of Pennsylvania introduced a measure known as the Wilmot Proviso, which sought to address the concerns of northern Democrats who felt overshadowed by the influence of their southern counterparts in the party, by calling for a ban on slavery in any new territories acquired from Mexico. The initiative, despite gaining enough backing to pass in the House multiple times thanks to a bipartisan alliance of Northern legislators, was repeatedly blocked in the Senate, where Southern power held greater sway. The division of votes by region foreshadowed the crumbling of significant political parties, turning party loyalties into conflicts based on geographic divisions, a transition that McPherson depicts with precision.

The concept of allowing the people to decide on slavery revealed the futility of attempts at compromise to manage the territorial disputes over this issue.

In the lead-up to the 1848 presidential election, the Whigs and Democrats both strategized to maintain...

Battle Cry of Freedom Summary The moral quandary posed by the practice of enslavement.

Growing disdain for slavery in the Northern states stemmed from a blend of ethical indignation, political factors, and economic forces. McPherson highlights how religious beliefs, various reform movements, and the vigorous opposition to slavery were intertwined, noting that the North's population increasingly resonated with the ethical condemnation of human bondage, becoming more convinced of its inherent cruelty.

Yankee Protestant reformers and abolitionists expressed a moral disapproval of slavery.

McPherson attributes the growth of resistance to slavery to the fervent reformist spirit prevalent among Protestant Northerners, sparked by the powerful religious revivals of the early 19th century. The determination to end slavery resonated strongly throughout New England and the regions colonized by its descendants, driven by a common sense of ethical duty and the belief that every person is fundamentally equal under the gaze of the divine. For these Northern activists, the institution of slavery transcended mere political or economic concerns; it represented a moral transgression, an affront to divine principles, with figures like William Lloyd Garrison leading the charge....

Battle Cry of Freedom Summary The conversation focused on the economic dimensions of slavery and the South's attempts to expand its territories.

Moral objections to slavery grew stronger within communities in the North, while those in the South continued to defend it as an essential element of their social framework. McPherson delivers a thorough examination of the debates that contrast the economic efficiency of enslaved workers against free workers, with proponents of both sides asserting the supremacy of their respective labor systems as the primary engine for prosperity and progress. The writer also emphasizes the South's assertive efforts to secure additional territories for slavery, believing that such expansion was crucial to maintain its political and economic influence.

Debates centered on the viewpoint that, from the Northern conviction in the merits of unfettered labor, slavery was deemed an ineffective system.

Opponents in the North vehemently denounced slavery as an outdated practice that hindered economic growth, suppressed creativity, and obstructed progress within society. The concept, which praised the virtues of free labor and was first introduced by the Whigs in the 1840s and 1850s, subsequently became a cornerstone of the emerging Republican party, portrayed free wage labor as a system offering...

Battle Cry of Freedom Summary The secession of the southern states from the union.

Before Lincoln's inauguration in March 1861, seven southern states had proclaimed their secession from the Union after his victory in the 1860 presidential election. Proponents of secession defended their stance by emphasizing the protection of Southern constitutional entitlements, underscoring their concern over Northern dominance, and proclaiming the authority of states to secede from a Union they considered no longer beneficial, even though the central matter was related to slavery. The founders of the Confederacy, recognizing the pivotal importance of the upper South to the fledgling country's endurance, adopted a measured strategy during the secession winter, seeking to alleviate the worries of conditional unionists and convince them to support the cause of the South.

The Southern states initiated their withdrawal from the Union to protect their freedoms and interests.

Southern leaders justified their action in terms of rights, liberties, and their heritage from the Revolution. They argued that with Lincoln's rise to the presidency, the constitutional checks on federal power were substantially weakened, leading them to initiate a secession from the Union to prevent the...

Battle Cry of Freedom Summary The formation of the Confederacy.

After initially seceding on an individual basis, delegates from the seven states that had left the Union by February 1861 met in Montgomery, Alabama, to form a new nation. McPherson chronicles the swift formation of a provisional government, the appointment of an interim head, and the drafting of an initial governing document. Following these achievements, a durable constitution was put in place and the term of an elected president began without delay. The Constitution of the Confederacy, while echoing the United States' version, incorporated specific changes designed to protect rights unique to the southern states and to enforce a strict construal of national power.

The Confederacy ended its search for a political leader by selecting Jefferson Davis to serve as President.

The assembly in Montgomery swiftly appointed Jefferson Davis as the provisional leader, thus creating a primary liaison for the Confederate States of America in matters of international relations. McPherson argues that the strategy was intentionally selected to project a traditional and cautious attitude towards the influential states of the South. Davis, a West Point graduate and former Secretary of War...

Battle Cry of Freedom Summary The evolution of the Union's military strategy and key occurrences

In 1862, the Union transitioned from a strategy of restrained military action to an all-encompassing approach designed to restore national unity. McPherson outlines the transformation of military strategies, emphasizing that the combination of political guidance and the mood of the populace transformed what was expected to be a short clash into an all-encompassing war that demanded the full commitment of resources and personnel from both the Union and the Confederacy. The author of "Battle Cry" emphasizes the critical role of pivotal battles and military operations, noting how the Union's successes in the western theater were instrumental to their ultimate victory, and points out that Sherman's march to the sea greatly demoralized the Confederate troops and depleted their ability to wage war.

The transition to total warfare was profoundly influenced by the combination of political guidance and public opinion regarding military strategies.

At the onset of conflict, the North did not aim to abolish slavery nor did it intend to disrupt the Southern way of life. During the first year of the conflict, most people in the North supported Lincoln's use of military action to...

Battle Cry of Freedom Summary The importance of the Western theaters of combat.

McPherson emphasizes the critical role that the Western theater played in determining the outcome of the Civil War, despite the focus of the Northern populace and its political institutions being largely on the clashes between the Confederacy and the Union in Virginia. The Mississippi River was crucial for the movement and distribution of supplies and intelligence throughout the Confederate states. Control of the waterways could strategically segment the Confederacy. The Union's triumphs at Shiloh, Perryville, Murfreesboro (Stones River), and Chattanooga, along with the adept maneuvers orchestrated by Grant in the Vicksburg Campaign, significantly drained the resources and morale of the Confederacy, paving the way for the Union's eventual success.

Under Grant's command, the Union forces achieved early victories in Tennessee and later established dominance over the Mississippi River by seizing Vicksburg.

McPherson emphasizes the importance of Grant's ability to learn and evolve from his initial setbacks, especially during the confrontations at Fort Donelson and the Battle of Shiloh, which were crucial to the success of the Union's strategies in the western theater. Halleck's...

Battle Cry of Freedom Summary The area designated as the Eastern theater became the main arena of conflict.

In the Eastern regions, the battle continued with intense brutality, while in the West, over three years, the North gradually achieved victories, though none were singularly decisive. Robert E. Lee's leadership and character, arguably their most skilled commander, had a considerable influence on shaping the military tactics of the Confederacy.

Lee showcased his superior tactical skills by employing a strategy that took advantage of the weaknesses in the leadership of the Union forces.

The extended length of the conflicts in the east can be attributed significantly to the strategic prowess of Robert E. Lee, who commanded the Southern troops. Lee recognized the significance of safeguarding Virginia against invasion and was aware that by blending tactics of attrition with bold counteroffensives, he could transform the Union's superiority in manpower and supplies into a liability by taking advantage of the Union leadership's deficiencies. Lee and his adept subordinates, Jackson and Longstreet, undermined the Union soldiers' spirits and disrupted their strategy to capture Richmond by swiftly altering their tactical emphasis and boldly dividing their forces to engage various...

Battle Cry of Freedom Summary The conflict's impact on communities throughout both the North and the South.

The impact on the economy

Both sides strategically created new economic and financial entities to secure their victory in the conflict. McPherson highlights the challenges that the Southern economy endured, which were exacerbated by the Union's naval blockade and the widespread destruction brought about by the conflict, in contrast to the Northern economy that prospered by modifying its diverse industrial capabilities to meet the needs of the war effort, leading to considerable economic growth.

The South's economy was deteriorating, in contrast to the North, which experienced expansion in both its industrial and agricultural capacities.

The war's effects resulted in markedly different consequences for the economic systems of the North compared to those of the South. During the war, the Union experienced a significant increase in production, resulting in economic growth, while the Southern states faced acute shortages of food, military supplies, and manpower, which were exacerbated by devastating inflation. McPherson argues that the Southern states' dependence on cotton, which was severely hampered by naval blockades, combined with their lack of industrial resources,...