New Perspectives on Civil War-Era Kentucky

Kentucky's position as a Unionist but pro-slavery state during the American Civil War left it in a cultural no-man's land, with its nationalistic and Southern identities constantly negotiating. Lincoln called it the crown jewel of the Union slave states, but its relationship to both the Union and slavery ultimately impacted the outcome of the war. New Perspectives on Civil War–Era Kentucky offers ten essays that paint a rich and complex image of Kentucky during the Civil War, covering topics from women in wartime to Black legislators in the postwar period.

Format: Hardback
Length: 360 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2023
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky

Kentucky, a Unionist state during the American Civil War, faced a complex political and geographical landscape. Its pragmatic approach to compromise left it in a cultural limbo, with many Kentuckians feeling alienated and conflicted. Lincoln praised Kentucky's significance as a Union slave state due to its sizeable population, agricultural resources, and strategic location. However, the state's relationship with both the Union and slavery had a significant impact on the war's outcome. Despite its central role, little has been written about the aftermath of the Civil War in Kentucky and how the conflict shaped the commonwealth we know today. New Perspectives on Civil War–Era Kentucky offers ten essays that provide a rich and complex image of Kentucky during the Civil War. These essays cover various topics, including women in wartime, Black legislators in the postwar period, and the state's diverse identities. The contributors, with diverse perspectives, shed light on the complex identities of Kentucky and its citizens during this defining moment in American history.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780813197463