Why the South Lost the Civil War

by Richard E. Beringer, Archer Jones, Herman Hattaway, et al.

Book Overview

In this widely heralded book first published in 1986, four historians consider the popularly held explanations for southern defeat--state-rights disputes, inadequate military supply and strategy, and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0820308153
• ISBN13: 9780820308159
• Release Date: January 1986
• Publisher: University of Georgia Press
• Length: 608 Pages
• Weight: 1.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Review of Academic Research on Civil War, 1861-1865

Four professors authored an excellent comprehensive analysis of the Civil War, "Why the South Lost the Civil War" (1986), still pertinent today. Over generations, many military, political, diplomatic, and social factors have been evaluated for impact on Civil War developments. I regard their synthesis of historical writings and their researches have been very commendable, concluding logically that the South lacked the will to win in the Civil War. That the South lacked the will to win is "quite a firm consensus" by scholars although not accepted by the dean of academic historians, Gary Gallagher, recorded in his "Lee and His Generals in War and Memory" (1998), page 20, footnote 28. "Why the South Lost the Civil War" related analyses of academic historians on the collapse of the Confederacy: major military battles, noting if generals followed, ignored, or were oblivious to the military theories of Karl von Clausewitz and Baron Antoine Henri Jomini, in particular; a modest naval blockade and combined army-navy operations; the industrialization of the South; the diplomacy of the South; the frequent states-rights disputes ameliorating key political issues in the Confederacy; the inability of combatants to crush an army in battle; Grant seeking to break the military stalemate in the eastern theater; the roles of religion, Southern nationalism, and political will; and the policy to arm the slaves in early 1865. "So the Confederacy succumbed to internal rather than external causes." (Page 439) "Why the South Lost the Civil War" is comprehensive of, and very relevant to, an understanding of the Civil War.

An Enduring Classic

_Why the South Lost the Civil War_ was hailed as a classic at its first appearance in 1986, and it continues to remain a useful survey of the Civil War and an exploration of the reasons for the Confederacy's defeat. I have regularly assigned it to my undergraduate and graduate students at both the University of Central Arkansas (where I taught until 1999) and Temple University, and most have never failed to get a lot out of it (including those who are professional military officers). In many ways, the book is a reflection of America's experience in the Vietnam War, where the side with the larger armies, greater wealth, and technological advantages failed to win. To say that the Confederacy lost the Civil War simply because it was outnumbered and outgunned is only half the story. Why did Confederates choose to quit when their forebears in the American Revolution persevered against even more formidable odds? While some may question this book's insufficient nationalism thesis, it is delineated with such grace and authority that the effort demands respect. The book begins by providing a comprehensive overview of previously offered theories explaining the fall of the Confederacy. That historiographical survey alone makes this book worth the price of admission and makes it an invaluable tool for the serious Civil War student.As some of the other reviews here attest, this is not a book for those who prefer their Civil War history as vapid entertainment. If you are just interested in killing, there are plenty of good battle and campaign histories to read. But if you are the kind who wonders why nations rise and fall and how wars are won and lost, you will find this a rewarding and thought-provoking experience.

Pretty complex book......

I considered this book to be an interesting and quite a complex book which integrated all facets of Civil War elements to explained why the South lost the Civil War. To fully appreciate this book, you have to be pretty well knowledgable about Civil War and understand it without regional bias. This is a military history book and probably not geared toward the casual reader. I have read the previous reviews and they tell me that these folks probably didn't understand what the authors were trying to do. A good example would be how one of them would complaint about how the authors would compared things with the Napoleonic armies and tactics. Well, to anyone who knows anything about the American Civil War, most of the miltiary commanders who were West Pointers were heavily influenced by the Napoleonic Wars and concepts. The southern commanders especially were heavily influenced by this. Its only logical that some cause and effect reasonings must be shown between the Confederate military effort and Napoleonic influence. Others complaint about lack of nationalism in the Confederacy that book explain. Yes, nationalism was very high at the beginning of the war but it wane considerably by the end. Like the Third Reich, Confederacy fought on beyond a reasonable limit and led to a devastating effects to the region as result. Lack of nationalism definitely made it easier for the North to overcome the south in the end as southern armies were bleeding men who were just walking away from their unit (see that movie Cold Harbor for small example). The hard core Confederate soldiers was heavily outnumbered by the southern population who just wanted the war to end. Was the authors bias against the south? I don't think so. I think the authors were pretty straight forward on the facts why the south lost the war. In defeat, the picture is never very pretty.Overall, I found the book to be interesting. I supposed it could have been written so it might be easier for the casual readers but since it wasn't intended for such readers, it leaves folks like me to enjoyed what the authors had to say and to understand their perception even if I may agreed or disagreed at my option.

A Must Read for Serious Students of the Civil War

Beringer, et. al. provide a remarkable synthesis of military, social and cultural factors contributing to Confederate defeat. While much of their material may seem dry to young readers, this work is solid history written by consumate professionals. Although I disagree with their central thesis that a lack of will brought about the South's defeat, I do believe this had a significant effect along with the other factors. Perhaps, Beringer's thesis was a product of the era in which he wrote--the Post-Vietnam Era.

Excellent expanation of why the confederacy lost

Clearly the above reviewer has no clue to the value of the scholarship in this book. The authors clearly explain the complex combination of factors leading to the confederate defeat. They avoid the easy, single explanation. The discussion is well-organzed and lucid as the four authors write as a single voice. They remind us that the tragedy of the civil war cannot be simply explained.