An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List

200: American Civil War: The Causes (Part 1)

June 27, 2022

Description

Welcome to The Rest Is History 'American Civil War' series. The release schedule of the four episodes is as follows: The Causes (Monday 27th June) Outbreak (Tuesday 28th June) Gettysburg (Thursday...
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Books Referenced

Uncle Tom's Cabin

Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe

Context:

Discussed in the context of how Northerners were being radicalized against slavery. The hosts mention Lincoln supposedly meeting Stowe and saying 'you're the little lady who made such a big war.' The book is described as a 'publishing sensation' that confronted middle-class Northeastern Americans with the reality of slavery breaking up families and violating Christian principles.

The Impending Crisis of the South

Author: Hinton Rowan Helper

Context:

Referenced as a book written by a high-profile white Southerner in the late 1850s arguing that 'the real problem with slavery is what it does to poor white people.' The book was taken up by northern anti-slavery people and the author was 'hounded out of the South.' This refers to 'The Impending Crisis of the South' though the title is not explicitly stated.