How the South Won the Civil War: Oligarchy, Democracy, and the Continuing Fight for the Soul of America
- Downloads：3622
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-10-31 09:19:09
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Heather Cox Richardson
- ISBN：019758179X
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
Named one of
The Washington Post
's 50 Notable Works of Nonfiction
While the North prevailed in the Civil War， ending slavery and giving the country a new birth of freedom， Heather Cox Richardson argues in this provocative work that democracy's blood-soaked victory was ephemeral。 The system that had sustained the defeated South moved westward and there
established a foothold。 It was a natural fit。 Settlers from the East had for decades been pushing into the West， where the seizure of Mexican lands at the end of the Mexican-American War and treatment of Native Americans cemented racial hierarchies。 The South and West equally depended on extractive
industries-cotton in the former and mining， cattle， and oil in the latter-giving rise a new birth of white male oligarchy， despite the guarantees provided by the 13th， 14th， and 15th Amendments， and the economic opportunities afforded by expansion。
To reveal why this happened， How the South Won the Civil War traces the story of the American paradox， the competing claims of equality and subordination woven into the nation's fabric and identity。 At the nation's founding， it was the Eastern yeoman farmer who galvanized and symbolized the
American Revolution。 After the Civil War， that mantle was assumed by the Western cowboy， singlehandedly defending his land against barbarians and savages as well as from a rapacious government。 New states entered the Union in the late nineteenth century and western and southern leaders found yet
more common ground。 As resources and people streamed into the West during the New Deal and World War II， the region's influence grew。 Movement Conservatives， led by westerners Barry Goldwater， Richard Nixon， and Ronald Reagan， claimed to embody cowboy individualism and worked with Dixiecrats to
embrace the ideology of the Confederacy。
Richardson's searing book seizes upon the soul of the country and its ongoing struggle to provide equal opportunity to all。 Debunking the myth that the Civil War released the nation from the grip of oligarchy， expunging the sins of the Founding， it reveals how and why the Old South not only survived
in the West， but thrived。
While the North prevailed in the Civil War， ending slavery and giving the country a new birth of freedom， Heather Cox Richardson argues in this provocative work that democracy's blood-soaked victory was ephemeral。 The system that had sustained the defeated South moved westward and there
established a foothold。 It was a natural fit。 Settlers from the East had for decades been pushing into the West， where the seizure of Mexican lands at the end of the Mexican-American War and treatment of Native Americans cemented racial hierarchies。 The South and West equally depended on extractive
industries-cotton in the former and mining， cattle， and oil in the latter-giving rise a new birth of white male oligarchy， despite the guarantees provided by the 13th， 14th， and 15th Amendments， and the economic opportunities afforded by expansion。
To reveal why this happened， How the South Won the Civil War traces the story of the American paradox， the competing claims of equality and subordination woven into the nation's fabric and identity。 At the nation's founding， it was the Eastern yeoman farmer who galvanized and symbolized the
American Revolution。 After the Civil War， that mantle was assumed by the Western cowboy， singlehandedly defending his land against barbarians and savages as well as from a rapacious government。 New states entered the Union in the late nineteenth century and western and southern leaders found yet
more common ground。 As resources and people streamed into the West during the New Deal and World War II， the region's influence grew。 Movement Conservatives， led by westerners Barry Goldwater， Richard Nixon， and Ronald Reagan， claimed to embody cowboy individualism and worked with Dixiecrats to
embrace the ideology of the Confederacy。
Richardson's searing book seizes upon the soul of the country and its ongoing struggle to provide equal opportunity to all。 Debunking the myth that the Civil War released the nation from the grip of oligarchy， expunging the sins of the Founding， it reveals how and why the Old South not only survived
in the West， but thrived。
Reviews
Sylvia Stocker
，
Heather Cox Richardson traces a great paradox in American history from the founding of the nation to 2018: one， a vision of a nation ruled by an oligarchy of white men who， paternalistically， believe they have the knowledge and skills to rule everyone else （ who qre vastly inferior to them）， and， two， the vision of a nation governed by equality and self-determination enjoyed by all。 The roots go back to the （white male） forefathers of the nation with their glorious vision of equality， despite th Heather Cox Richardson traces a great paradox in American history from the founding of the nation to 2018: one， a vision of a nation ruled by an oligarchy of white men who， paternalistically， believe they have the knowledge and skills to rule everyone else （ who qre vastly inferior to them）， and， two， the vision of a nation governed by equality and self-determination enjoyed by all。 The roots go back to the （white male） forefathers of the nation with their glorious vision of equality， despite the fact that many of them owned slaves and none of them believed women were equal in any sense of the word。 The belief in oligarchy， experienced in full force in the south， might seem to have been stamped out by the Civil War， yet it simply moved west。 Yet the vision of equality took center stage in The New Deal， in the nation banding together to fight fascism during World War II， and in the liberal social legislation that followed for a few decades in the wake of the war。 Those liberal directions led to the launch of Movement Conservatism， which again brought oligarchy to the fore and has been steadily gathering steam over the last 40 to 70 years， depending on how you look at things。This book is not a quick read， but it is an important wakeup call to all Americans who believe in the vision of equality and self-determination。 Given our current state of affairs， where states are tripping over themselves to disenfranchise black voters and where the Republican party operates by blatantly and shamelessly trumpeting lies and threats， this book is a good guide to how we got here and a cautionary tale as to how perilous the situation is。 It is an alarming and discouraging book， but not one entirely without hope。 。。。more
John F
，
A REAL reading of American historyI rate this book at five stars because it is well written and makes a persuasively articulated argument。 In fact， the correct rating should be 4。5 because there are occasional passages where the passion of Cox's ideology results in overstatement。 These instances are few and far between， however; Cox lays out the political pressures behind a culture that has always struggled to live up to its founders ideals。 The founders themselves failed to live up to them; so A REAL reading of American historyI rate this book at five stars because it is well written and makes a persuasively articulated argument。 In fact， the correct rating should be 4。5 because there are occasional passages where the passion of Cox's ideology results in overstatement。 These instances are few and far between， however; Cox lays out the political pressures behind a culture that has always struggled to live up to its founders ideals。 The founders themselves failed to live up to them; so it is hardly a stretch to imagine that the country as a whole would engage in this endless struggle。 In the United States and worldwide， the brutal reality persists: political and economic ideologies that sound beautiful in theory and are based on scientific reasoning， often fail to underestimate the malign power of human nature which bends toward the drive of a few to assume control over the many。 Marxism is a case in point; it is viable only as a theoretical construct。 As for fascism， it doesn't even pretend to ideological control; it is simply the naked pursuit of power for its own sake。 。。。more
Ann Smith
，
I will admit that I gave up reading less than half way through then skimmed the rest。 The fundamental argument that the US was based on， and still suffers from inequality is not a new one。 This book read like a history survey course。 It was devoid of nuance and major actors and events。 From what I read and skimmed， she never integrated the role of the robber barons exploitation of the west， their role and that of the Industrial Revolution in general in perpetuating and profiting off inequality， I will admit that I gave up reading less than half way through then skimmed the rest。 The fundamental argument that the US was based on， and still suffers from inequality is not a new one。 This book read like a history survey course。 It was devoid of nuance and major actors and events。 From what I read and skimmed， she never integrated the role of the robber barons exploitation of the west， their role and that of the Industrial Revolution in general in perpetuating and profiting off inequality， the role of European immigrants who settled directly in the west， the origins or impact of the Progressive movement or the western labor movement。 。。。more
Jarred Goodall
，
A magnificent read！
Victoria Peters
，
Thought provoking and forced the reader to take another look at the history she was taught and exposed to as a child - a history taught from textbooks and myths， a history portrayed in programs on television and movies， a history celebrated during national holidays。。 A book well worth reading because further understanding of the formation and workings of the United States is imperative to making wise choices as a citizen of the United States of America。
Lauren Abrishami
，
I consider myself a moderate democrat， and I see the appeal in demonizing the other side。 However， If pointing out the flaws of the conservatives refered to in this book， such can be done without such blatant bias and narrow reasoning。 Furthermore， such a subject has been covered countless times， and this book does not seem to provide any originality。
Corrine
，
For a better understanding of the hierarchy and caste system embedded in our society and culture this is a must read！！！ We also need to stop pretending that those what have harmed and acted treasonously "learned their lesson" and enact justice。 If we truly want to live up to our American ideals。 For a better understanding of the hierarchy and caste system embedded in our society and culture this is a must read！！！ We also need to stop pretending that those what have harmed and acted treasonously "learned their lesson" and enact justice。 If we truly want to live up to our American ideals。 。。。more
Susan
，
Excellent book that lays out the roots of the politics we are coping with today more than 100 years later。
Lori
，
Excellent book explaining the history of American politics and the racist white men that leads。 Also explains American pop culture that represents the American western heroes set on limiting government regulations that cater to dependent minorities and women。 The best American history book I have read。
Kirk Hanley
，
I recently read American Rule by Jared Yates Sexton， and this book covered some of the same ground。 Still， I liked Heather Cox Richardson's take on the story of America。 She frames a lot our early history through the myth of the independent farmer， which then later changes to the myth of the independent cowboy。 Neither persona ever really existed， but have been used to cover up for the real people in charge - a small group of rich white men who constantly seek to increase their power and wealth。 I recently read American Rule by Jared Yates Sexton， and this book covered some of the same ground。 Still， I liked Heather Cox Richardson's take on the story of America。 She frames a lot our early history through the myth of the independent farmer， which then later changes to the myth of the independent cowboy。 Neither persona ever really existed， but have been used to cover up for the real people in charge - a small group of rich white men who constantly seek to increase their power and wealth。 。。。more
Toni Edson
，
Richardson is a gifted historian and writer and whether you are reading the words on the page or listening to an Audible presentation by the author， herself， you are fascinated how Richardson disassembles the past and helps show the reader how linear history leads you to the present。 I will grant that history seen as a backwards glance from the present is easier than predicting the future， but even there Richardson lays out the map work for those who care to follow it。
Hal
，
It’s a worthwhile view of American history with some details I’m sure you didn’t learn in school。 What surprised me the most is how little the views of Americans and the tactics of American politicians have changed in the last several hundred years。
Tara
，
Listened to the audiobook - the author narrated which detracted from my enjoyment。
Brad Dexter
，
Richardson lands her main idea， but casts the net wide to do it。 There's no debating that she has demonstrated her hypothesis by the end， but the road to get there is at times too winding。 This book reads at times like she had a page requirement she had to hit and so more （and less pertinent） information got shoved in。 Even despite this， the overall thrust of the book shines through the occasional haze。 Richardson lands her main idea， but casts the net wide to do it。 There's no debating that she has demonstrated her hypothesis by the end， but the road to get there is at times too winding。 This book reads at times like she had a page requirement she had to hit and so more （and less pertinent） information got shoved in。 Even despite this， the overall thrust of the book shines through the occasional haze。 。。。more
Lois
，
The subject matter of Cox Richardson's work would be spell binding for some who have been trying to understand constitutional law and politics during our Country's present raucous impasse。 She doesn't give us reason to calm down， but does seem to be saying that we knuckleheads shouldn't be surprised。 After all， the "Central Paradox" has been a tenant of our constitutional democracy from our Country's inception。 "Freedom" and upward mobility for some has always depended on racial， gender and clas The subject matter of Cox Richardson's work would be spell binding for some who have been trying to understand constitutional law and politics during our Country's present raucous impasse。 She doesn't give us reason to calm down， but does seem to be saying that we knuckleheads shouldn't be surprised。 After all， the "Central Paradox" has been a tenant of our constitutional democracy from our Country's inception。 "Freedom" and upward mobility for some has always depended on racial， gender and class inequality。 She shows （repeatedly） how Oligarchs use archetypes of the yeoman farmer and the western cowboy to polarize citizens and consolidate their power。 Cox Richardson gives us a parade of crooks and scoundrels down through the ages。 Since May 4， 1970 I have always had the flavor of what our Country was really doing- how it really worked， but she's given me some more nasty details to chew on。 Encouragingly some of our national leaders actually had good intentions so I was glad to give Teddy Roosevelt， Eisenhower， JFK and Lyndon Johnson a little more credit。 Yet she seems to be unequivocally saying that the parade of scoundrels， the machinations of these "movement conservatives"， have been arranged to "remand the vast majority of Americans to positions from which they could never rise。" No solutions here， she seems to be saying it's up to us。This read was hard going， time periods and issues jumped around， so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it， even though the history she's describing is completely relevant。 。。。more
Samantha Seldon
，
This is a 200 page op-ed that gives a cursory retelling of American history with the aim of delineating how part of the confederacy's legacy can be directly connected to contemporary American politics。 Cox Richardson argues that despite the Confederacy losing the civil war and failing to secede， its ideas and legacy still won the day。 Some themes she finds in American history are the paradox of "all men being created equal" despite glaring inequalities between people of different races， genders， This is a 200 page op-ed that gives a cursory retelling of American history with the aim of delineating how part of the confederacy's legacy can be directly connected to contemporary American politics。 Cox Richardson argues that despite the Confederacy losing the civil war and failing to secede， its ideas and legacy still won the day。 Some themes she finds in American history are the paradox of "all men being created equal" despite glaring inequalities between people of different races， genders， and origins; The United States' repetition of allowing power to be concentrated among the few to rule the many; and how they myth of the American cowboy/rugged individualism continues to galvanize voters and thus elected officials。 I think the book is incredibly cursory -- she covers about 400 years of history in barely 200 pages and it's hard to know whether she came up with her thesis and then found evidence to support it or vis versa -- my gut says it's the former -- so it's certainly not the most comprehensive or objective take。 However， she does successfully connect confederate views of prioritizing an individual's self-interest to the mythos of Western American cowboy and Ronald Reagan capitalizing on this ideology to become president and spread it across the US。 The connections between Reagan's legacy and Trump are implied and logical。 I wish she spent a little more time making more explicit connections between Confederate points of view and the American West and then to presidents like Teddy Roosevelt， Reagan， George W。 Bush， and Trump， who seem to have benefited most from these ideas。 It's an interesting take but ultimately felt a little superficial。 。。。more
Georgene
，
An historical review of how the ideology of the antebellum Southern plantation owners who believed only they should run the country spread west after the Civil War and continues in our country today。 The ideas of these white men who prided themselves on their individualism and just wanting the government to leave them alone created a western mythology that did not include people of color or women。 Their aversion to paying taxes that would help to support poor people and to keep people of color a An historical review of how the ideology of the antebellum Southern plantation owners who believed only they should run the country spread west after the Civil War and continues in our country today。 The ideas of these white men who prided themselves on their individualism and just wanting the government to leave them alone created a western mythology that did not include people of color or women。 Their aversion to paying taxes that would help to support poor people and to keep people of color and women from voting continues today in the policies and beliefs of the Republican party。 This book was eye-opening for me and recommended for anyone who wants to know more about why things are the way they are in our country today。 。。。more
Melissa
，
A enlightening read that compliments Wilmington’s Lie and brings forward to present day the struggle for equality in the United States。 It also addresses the false narrative which instills hate among us。
Diane
，
The book gives an excellent overview of American history， starting with background from Europe in the early 1600s， through 2018 after Trump's electoral college win， focusing on the constant struggle between oligarchy and democracy， between hierarchy and equal opportunity。 "The world of 2018 looked a lot like that of 1860。" Now， like then， it is our job to defend democracy， in the battle between white male supremacy and equality for all。 The book gives an excellent overview of American history， starting with background from Europe in the early 1600s， through 2018 after Trump's electoral college win， focusing on the constant struggle between oligarchy and democracy， between hierarchy and equal opportunity。 "The world of 2018 looked a lot like that of 1860。" Now， like then， it is our job to defend democracy， in the battle between white male supremacy and equality for all。 。。。more
Kim Haltiwanger
，
Very interesting review of American history from the Civil War to the present day。 I enjoyed the audiobook version， read by the author。
Jeff Carpenter
，
This is a must-read， from one of our most articulate voices who reports daily with historical analysis in her newsletter， Letters from an American。
Martin io parlo italiono
，
A frightening book on how America is not what was。 The rich and religious zealots have taken over our country。 The Blacks， browns women and other minorities are all subservient to white man。 The old south’s ideas have taken over the Republican Party。 We are a nation that is close to crumbling。
Rob Hamer
，
A thought provoking proposition supported by a brisk canter through American history。 Presents a useful overview of the mega trends which have got us to where we are today。 Unashamedly biased in its analysis but the facts quoted seem empirical enough。 Helps explain today’s vehement polarization of views ， the ideological backlash to state involvement in society and the drivers behind the explosion in inequality。 Highly informative and thought provoking。
Diana
，
Left off with 32。0% "Chapter 4 Cowboy Reconstruction" Left off with 32。0% "Chapter 4 Cowboy Reconstruction" 。。。more
Deb Newman
，
This book helped me to understand the historical context from which the Trump presidency emerged， and from which others like it will emerge in the future if those of us who believe in a truly representative are not continuously vigilant and engaged。
Caren
，
Very illuminating A worth while history of the various influences that have gotten the US to where it is todayWorth reading
Signora
，
This is not the history I was taught in school。 HCR presents a researched account of the post Civil War politics that help explain what the US is dealing with today。 History may not repeat itself but it certainly rhymes。 Very worthwhile book。 Read for an Omnilore class。
Hunter
，
Oddly， it doesn't do a great job explicitly laying out the thesis of the title， in my mind， yet that doesn't actually detract （if anything it perhaps increases its broad appeal and accessibility， so might even be a plus）。 Going in I would have expected it to be more intimately intertwined with Lost Cause ideology in how it traces 20th c。 US history， but it nevertheless provides an excellent history of the intertwining of the issues left unresolved in the wake of the war， and how they have led to Oddly， it doesn't do a great job explicitly laying out the thesis of the title， in my mind， yet that doesn't actually detract （if anything it perhaps increases its broad appeal and accessibility， so might even be a plus）。 Going in I would have expected it to be more intimately intertwined with Lost Cause ideology in how it traces 20th c。 US history， but it nevertheless provides an excellent history of the intertwining of the issues left unresolved in the wake of the war， and how they have led to the fucked up situation we live in today。 Well worth the read。 。。。more
Jerry
，
No question as to where Professor Cox believes the United states is today in terms of rising political anarchy and the very real possibility we could soon be entrapped in an oligarchy。 She is correct in her analysis。 I was torn between 3 and 4 stars as the book is jam packed with important historical events and people involved in them， and it would make a fine scholastic classroom tome when guided by a knowledgeable instructor。 My problem， however， is the back and forth date hopping of chronolog No question as to where Professor Cox believes the United states is today in terms of rising political anarchy and the very real possibility we could soon be entrapped in an oligarchy。 She is correct in her analysis。 I was torn between 3 and 4 stars as the book is jam packed with important historical events and people involved in them， and it would make a fine scholastic classroom tome when guided by a knowledgeable instructor。 My problem， however， is the back and forth date hopping of chronology。 As a result， connecting the dots to make sense of why things happened （and whom is responsible） is muddled at best and leaves a somewhat muddy trail to understanding。 。。。more
Stephanie
，