Introduction
Civil war is a catastrophe far more terrible than a war with an external enemy. It divides a united nation into different sides of the barricades, splits families, and even the individual’s personality. Moreover, a civil war is always total and leaves severe mental trauma, which has a lasting impact on the life of society. Therefore, the U.S. Civil War lasted from 1862 to 1865 and is one of the most complex events in U.S. history.
Scholars are still endeavoring to establish what factors caused its outbreak. Charles B. Dew has likewise made such an attempt in his book Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners and the Causes of the Civil War. The U.S. Civil War is a striking illustration of how ethnic divisions can influence crises that endanger the survival of major powers. Dew masterfully uses historical documents to demonstrate that slavery and race are the phenomena that provoked the secession of the Southern states.
How Apostles of Disunion Depicts the Civil War
The Civil War is undoubtedly a more complex conflict of multiple forces with different interests and ideals. In his book, however, Dew has moved away from considering the causes of the Civil War solely in economic and material interests, although they certainly played a significant role. At the same time, the author looked at this phenomenon in the light of the civilizational approach since the fracture of society often occurs not based on class but following ideological positions, beliefs, and attitudes (Dew 34). Public opinion has an enormous role in shaping the parties’ positions; otherwise, explaining the terrible bitterness and length of the American Civil War of 1861-1865 is challenging. The author reveals the process of shaping this opinion by carefully examining the rhetoric of the commissioners and the vivid public letters and speeches of these reunification ministers.
The Civil War had numerous causes and consequences that are still at the heart of the debate. Traditionally, some American scholars have attributed and continue to attribute responsibility for the outbreak of the Civil War to abolitionist zealots. However, Dew’s book is quite different and unique in that it reveals the activities of extremist fanatics. The U.S. Civil War is one of the most compelling examples of how ethnicity influences crises that threaten the very existence of great powers (Dew 13). In Apostles of Disunion, the author critically examines the arguments of all the neo-confederates and rationally refutes them.
The book is structured logically, and facts support each claim. Charles Dew analyzes the rhetoric of the commissioners and comes to the undeniable conclusion that it is built on an ideology of white supremacy (121). Although the commissioners sometimes tried to hide their genuine intentions by covering their motives with political slogans, the essence has not altered. Through critical analysis, the author proves that political postulates or constitutional interpretations were never the reason for secession. The commissioners had an entirely different motive, and they were trying to convince the population that the election of Lincoln would lead to the abolition of slavery, without which the South could not exist (Dew 118). Thus, it becomes clear to every reader what role the issue of slavery played in the war.
The United States of America has been involved in numerous wars throughout its relatively short historical journey. Nevertheless, it is no exaggeration to state that the Civil War, in all respects, was unparalleled. Dew makes a strong case for why the race problem was at the heart of this most difficult conflict. As a summary of the author’s words, it is no exaggeration to say that Negro slavery was a focal point in which the vital interests of all the major classes crossed (Dew 90). The arguments presented by the commissioners are the most reasonable statements utilized in the book and lead one to believe the validity of the author’s remarks.
Furthermore, although slavery and race are the primary causes of the war, the author adds the inextricably linked economic factor to these. It is indisputable that the agrarian question was most closely related to the problem of slavery. Indeed, the agrarian question, the problem of free land in the West, could only be solved by destroying the slave-owning class.
Dew points out that slavery could only exist if constantly extended to new, fertile lands (130). Undoubtedly, this claim is valid, for the connection between the agrarian problem and the slavery of the Negro was reflected in the fact that most enslaved people were employed in agricultural production. It was the issue that had to be addressed in the Civil War in the first place.
Conclusion
Therefore, Apostles of Disunion is a truly revealing masterpiece. Dew was unafraid of the widespread debate among scholarly constituencies and bravely challenged the neo-Confederates who dismissed race as a significant cause of the Civil War. Through a detailed analysis of historical documents and commissioner statements, the author argues that slavery and race are the foundation of the war and the beginning of the civil crisis. The book is a must-read for anyone trying to make sense of the complex history of the United States and comprehend why equality is significant.
Work Cited
Dew, Charles B. Apostles of Disunion: Southern Secession Commissioners and the Causes of the Civil War. University of Virginia Press, 2017.