"A solid work and expression of the press during this extraordinary period in our history. It would be, without a doubt, an excellent supplement for journalism students as well as students studying media relations." —Gemma Puglisi, Journalism and Mass Communication Educator “Eighteen essays that . . . bring a fresh perspective on the role of newspapers during the Civil War. Based mainly on content analyses, the essays are roughly divided into three areas: coverage of the 1860 election and the subsequent secession crisis, newspaper accounts of the conflict itself, and dissension and suppression in the North and South. . . . The strength of the collection lies in its readability and diversity. A number of the essays challenge popular misconceptions or shed light on little-known aspects of the newspaper coverage of the Civil War.” —Elizabeth Atwood, Journalism & Mass Communication Quarterly “American newspapers have been divided since their first appearance in the colonies in 1690. The Civil War intensified the sharp political divisiveness, which lasted well into Reconstruction. Newspapers were divided between North and South and within the North and the South, and they served as an outlet for editors to openly support their causes. Papers on both sides feared that the power of the press would subvert national unity. Editors on both sides were arrested, and hundreds of newspapers were suppressed. In discussing matters related to newspapers and the Civil War, the authors (all Civil War scholars) of these 18 essays treat such topics as the Missouri crisis, Lincoln and the Southern press, newspapers and the rise and election of Lincoln, Civil War cartoons, "Copperhead Christians," female war correspondents, Confederate nationalism, and the First Amendment. Sachsman (communication and public affairs, Univ. of Tennessee, Chattanooga) has put together a volume that will be an enlightening read for Civil War scholars and enthusiasts and for those interested in the history of the 19th-century press. . . . Highly recommended.” —R. Ray, Choice “A Press Divided represents an important and impressive addition to the literature about the Civil War and newspaper reporting of the conflict. It includes well-researched contributions by some of the leading experts on the press of the Civil War era, as well as insightful chapters by emerging scholars in the field. The volume is skillfully edited and well-organized. It's a must for scholars of the era.” —W. Joseph Campbell, professor, American University “This book’s purpose is not to offer a comprehensive analysis of the American press or Civil War era. Nevertheless, it uniquely accentuates the complex political climate permeating the nation. Following a strong introduction, 18 well-wrought analyses by 14 authors unearth much history long obscured in generalities while suggesting a seemingly insurmountable, pervasive divisiveness. The sheer variety and range of contentious opinions, issues, and events in every area treated will startle many readers. Problems besetting seven states discussed, for example, and multiple divisions in government (especially in the South, where top leaders espoused divergent ideologies) raise anew questions about how a viable union survived. The book underscores the continuing value of this era as a site for study of a nation in crisis, as well as for study of solutions and of the human condition.” —Hazel Dicken-Garcia, professor emerita, University of Minnesota “David B. Sachsman and his band of journalism historians have done it again! A Press Divided: Newspaper Coverage of the Civil War goes deep into the causes of the conflict, the coverage of it, and the interplay of news and politics. Once again, Sachsman has produced an important and monumental work that captures the climate and complexities of the era. From a revealing chapter on civil war photographers to other fine ones on northern and southern journalism, women, Civil War law, and other topics, the book is an important contribution to the field as well as a great read.” — David Mindich, professor, Saint Michael’s College “This is an outstanding collection of articles examining the critical role of the press during the Civil War era. Students of the war years can learn a great deal about how the press editorialized and reported on the most significant event in American history.” — Ford Risley, professor, Pennsylvania State University “The Civil War did not just split a young republic; it revealed fissures within the North and South. Uniquely, newspapers portray tensions of that great struggle for human freedom and union stretching far beyond the bloody battlefields of Gettysburg and the Wilderness. Newspapers . . . such powerful echoes.” — Donald L. Shaw, professor emeritus, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
