The War That Forged a Nation: Why the Civil War Still Matters

In the opening chapter, McPherson notes that the Civil War addressed issues that the American Revolution left unresolved, namely the balance of power between federal and state governments and the incompatibility between the nation’s ideals and the institution of enslavement. Based on historical events in subsequent years, did the Civil War effectively resolve these issues? Why or why not? Use examples from the text to support your analysis.

In his analysis of the Civil War, McPherson introduces several historical theses to refute them. Choose one of the theses and conduct further research, then support or challenge McPherson’s refutation in a detailed analysis.

How does McPherson articulate his admiration for Lincoln? Analyze his strategic use of tone and diction to superimpose an emotion-based judgment onto a framework of historical fact.