Divided Nation Rising: The Civil War's Long Shadow

What a great book. I normally don’t go for books like this. Each page had a state with an event. A plot and plots with twists. I really enjoyed reading this book. It also has some humor in it. I also like the fact that it does touch up on different parts of the civil war so yes it will go into that. Some books will have a title stating the book description but the book be about something else. This book doesn’t do that. Each page is impacted with scenes that will have you wanting to know what’s next.

My dad has always been obsessed with the Civil War, so growing up we went to more battlefields than I can probably remember. I also spent a semester studying the Civil War in college, so this is a subject I already knew pretty well going into the book.What I liked about this one is that it doesn’t spend hundreds of pages retelling the battles. It really starts with what happened after Appomattox and looks at Reconstruction, the Lost Cause, monuments, education, Confederate symbols, and the way the war continued to influence the country long after the fighting ended. That made it feel different from a lot of Civil War books I’ve read.There was still plenty here that made me stop and think, especially around how history gets remembered and passed down. You don’t have to be a Civil War buff to follow it, but if you already know the history, there’s enough depth to keep it interesting.

This book gives an interesting look at the lasting impact of the American Civil War. It explores how the divisions created during that time still affect the country today. The topic is thought provoking and gives readers a chance to look at American history from a different perspective.

If you like Civil War history this is the book for you. It is so true that it cast a very long shadow. I grew up in Mississippi I should know. This book gives many details. Some of the truth and such historical details. The dark truths and the dark lies which can tear a nation apart.If you want to know how the nation was divided over 150 years ago and the dark shadow of it and the struggle of the aftermath of it start here. It is well resourced and documented. The book's structure is clear cut and easy to read. The more you read thos the more you will want to know.A great book to read especially the way our nation is divided up so terrible.

Very good understanding of the civil war. A well explained, detailed look into not just the “war” but how it changed the United States. Well written! Great book for the history buff, and for anyone wanting more detailed explanations on the civil war.

I liked how this connected the aftermath of the Civil War to issues and divisions that are still part of American life today. It covered everything from Reconstruction and Confederate monuments to education, voting, and modern political polarization, which gave me a different perspective on how much the past continues to influence the present. It was definitely a heavier read, but interesting and thought-provoking without feeling like just another Civil War history book.

I really enjoyed Divided Nation Rising. It was an interesting read that kept me wanting to see what would happen next. I liked the way it touched on division and conflict without feeling too heavy. Definitely a book I’d recommend if you enjoy stories with a lot to think about.

I appreciated the way the author encourages readers to look beyond the idea that the war simply ended with Lee’s surrender. The historical subject matter is fascinating, and the writing makes these events feel relevant rather than distant. A worthwhile read for anyone interested in American history, the Civil War, and the complicated process of rebuilding a divided nation.

Minarsich has done the research and then some! Beginning with the Civil War and all of the movements and laws since, he thoroughly explains American History and the reasons for the line between northern and southern states to this day. It’s real history, not whitewashed, and unflinching, but in an engaging and conversational tone.

The end of the Civil war was not as easy as it seemed. The freed people didn't know what to do, or where to go.The confederate unions had a hard time also. This book details what really happened when the civil war was over. I think this book could use a little editing, but still was an interesting book to read. I recommend it to any history buff.

This was a wonderful book that explained the Civil War in an easy to understand way. I learned a lot, and I really felt engaged while I was reading it. I even bought a copy for my history, loving husband who also enjoyed it as well. It was worth the money.

This book is fantastic. I liked how the author points out the new struggles that were created by the post Civil War changes and how they continue today. I recommend it.

This book does a great job of explaining why the big war between the states still matters so much today. It shows how the conflict's events created many problems that the country is still trying to figure out. Even though it's about history, the writing is clear and keeps you interested in how the past connects to the present. Anyone who wants to understand American life and challenges should read this fascinating look back in time.

If you struggle to fully understand why Dixie — the southern U.S. — has remained a separate political entity or mindset from the rest of America, here is the Holy Grail of explanations. Minarsich’s “Divided Nation Rising” is chapter and verse on the long-running impact the Civil War has had upon the American psyche. The author offers a near-encyclopedic analysis of how we got where we are today. Each chapter lays out the problem, explores the topic in detail and builds upon the layered, “next steps” process. Thus, Minarsich provides necessary answers on how Americans can bridge this long-running gap, if only to better appreciate both sides of the story. These 300+ pages uncover many truths that have remained hidden for too long. I.e., the 4,400 lynchings memorialized with a steel pole for each respective county at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. That’s not being “woke”. It’s hard history. The tuff stuff.Minarsich is not out to blame, only to provide background. His meticulous research brings to life the facts. It’s all here. The Lost Cause mythology, the Jim Crow laws, the Black Codes, poll taxes, grandfather clauses, Plessy v. Ferguson and much, much more. There is the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC), so passionate about preserving the honor and valor of Confederate soldiers, they had dozens of school textbooks revised to whitewash the central role slavery played in the war. 2025 might ask who is indoctrinating who? The author provides statistic after statistic of how the tensions played out. The reader will come to understand how it was that black voter registration fell by 99% in just two election cycles from 1896 to 1904. Cue the Great Migration. These are the unvarnished sentences of an incredible story — seeking mutual understanding — falling into place.Readers will learn how Jefferson Davis described slavery as a “mild and humane institution.” How the KKK was explained away as “restoring order to lawless negroes.” How the Southern Democrats became staunch Republicans once politicians like Barry Goldwater and Nixon saw the powerful role state’s rights could play in their campaigns. Black civil rights were quietly kicked to the curb.The author throws back the curtain on the history of the confederate monuments and flag preservation arguments. One side claims heritage while the other protests the racist messaging on display. These are the politics these southern states live and breathe today. It is Minarsich who has undertaken a brave, heroic role in striving to present common ground, a meeting place where these two subsets of America can turn down the volume and peacefully share the air together. Kudos to the author. This book is amazing, an outstanding accomplishment.

An out standing and very in depth look at the place the Civil War actually holds in American History, in particular how its shadow does indeed stretch to the present day. It aptly demonstrates that history is a process rather than simply one event upon another, as we tend to think about it. The style is relatively breezy and easy to read, which helps the reader engage.