Victor Nuovo: Reflections on the Civil War

Editor’s note: This is the 50th in a series of essays on the history and meaning of the American political tradition. Normally, I try to write the essays in this series in the third person, as anyone should when writing history. Impartiality is the rule. One’s person should not intrude. But I confess that, when reading and thinking about the Civil War, I am constantly overcome by feelings of unease, disappointment, sadness, anger and shame. With apologies to Julia Ward Howe, whatever glory the Civil War evo … (read more)

Editor’s note: This is the 49th in a series of essays on the history and meaning of the American political tradition. The term “Reconstruction” when applied to the aftermath of the Civil War has several uses. The South suffered the loss of its infrastruct … (read more)

Editor’s note: This is the 42nd in a series of essays on the history and meaning of the American political tradition. Was the Civil War inevitable? On the face of it, the answer is obviously no. We label events “inevitable” when we believe they cannot be … (read more)