American civil wars A continental history, 1850-1873

This sweeping account from Pulitzer winner Taylor (American Republics) examines the Civil War in a wider North American context. America's conflict forms the backbone of Taylor's narrative--he moves through the war's epochal events with striking conciseness--while his explorations of developments in Canada and Mexico reveal how the fates of all three nations were intertwined. After Mexico's defeat in the 1846--1848 Mexican-American War, the country was "bitterly divided" between conservative and liberal factions and defenseless against regular incursions by American raiders. Meanwhile, Canadian leaders worked to bridge divisions between Francophone and Anglophone states in hopes of forming a confederation--eventually established in 1867--that would be "better prepared to resist American invasion," a perceived likelihood at the time. Strife on the continent heightened further with the French invasion of Mexico in 1862 and the 1864 elections, which were riven with tension in all three countries, especially in Mexico, where the French held votes structured to prove that Mexicans welcomed French rule. Taylor trenchantly observes that the situation in Mexico further spurred America's Unionists, who feared similar European incursion into their own divided country. He also provides fresh analysis of Mexican and Canadian leaders Benito Juárez and John A. Macdonald, liberals whom he credits with holding their countries together in the face of out of control conservative revanchism. This penetrating study is a must for Civil War history buffs. (May)

An authoritative, comprehensive history of two key decades in the history of the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Continuing the series that began with Taylor's American Colonies, this book explores the period that included the American Civil War, the French invasion of Mexico, and Canada's transition from a British colony to a unified dominion. Given the momentous events and delicious cast of characters, as well as the two-time Pulitzer winner's masterful storytelling skills, it's no surprise that the book is nearly impossible to put down. Many American readers will likely learn more about Mexican and Canadian history than they ever knew. The author begins in the 1850s, when the U.S. debate over slavery and its possible expansion heated to the boiling point. The West, especially California, was a coveted prize for both the free and slave states, and Kansas and Missouri were the sites of open conflict as early as 1855. Along the southern border, lands newly acquired from Mexico were viewed by the pro-slavery states as legitimate territory for expansion. At the same time, Mexico was caught in a struggle between ultraconservative landowners, predominantly white, and villagers, mostly Indigenous or mixed-race people, who comprised the majority of the population. The result was a running series of civil wars. Canada, meanwhile, tried to maintain balance between its French- and English-speaking populations, while keeping a wary eye on the U.S., which many Canadians suspected of wanting to expand north. Taylor adeptly weaves together the myriad narrative strands, focusing on the leaders most involved in the resolution of the conflicts--Lincoln, Grant, Jefferson Davis, John A. Macdonald, Benito Juárez, and others. Packed with vivid incidents and characterizations, the text is expertly written and exhaustively researched. A richly detailed, compulsively readable history of perhaps the most dramatic period in the history of North America. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.