History's lesson is clear—political deals on fundamental human rights don't preserve the Union, they poison it. Two failed presidents proved that appeasement of racism only deepens division.

That is not to say, however, that the division between North and South was only rooted in the matter of slavery. One of the most interesting chapters in the book explores the differences between the ...

When Lincoln became president, the first problem he had to face – after Confederate Secession itself – was what to do about the slave-holding “Border States” – Delaware, Maryland, Kentucky, Missouri, ...

"In our youths, our hearts were touched with fire." This quote from a speech given by Oliver Wendall Holmes demonstrates the profound effects the Civil War had on our ancestors. Up to 80% of those who ...