Book excerpt: America's Civil War provides a detailed overview of the cultural and ideological landscape of post-colonial America that set the stage for war, and vividly describes the course of the conflict that took more American lives than any war in history and altered the course of the nation. Emphasis is placed on the fierce cultural and economic rivalry between the industrial North and the agricultural South and the pivotal rift concerning slavery that led to this irrepressible and bloody fight. The lives of common soldiers, the weapons and methods of warfare, the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, and the role of other significant political and military leaders are among the topics discussed as well as the abolitionist movement, the underground railroad, and dramatic figures such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, and John Brown. Challenging review questions encourage meaningful reflection and historical analysis. Maps, tests, answer key, and extensive bibliography are included.