The American Civil War: Access to History:

Summary:
The Access to History series is the most popular and trusted series for AS and A level history students. The new editions combine all the strengths of this well-loved series with a new design and features that allow all students access to the content and study skills needed to achieve exam success.

This is the fourth edition of 'The American Civil War and its Origins 1848–65', which has been revised and extended to fully cover the 2008 AS and A level specifications for OCR and Edexcel. The book begins by focusing on the westward expansion in America and the problems this caused. It then goes on to look at the rise of the Republican Party and the 1860 presidential election. The causes of the Civil War are traced, as well as the major conflicts during the War, and the conclusion is extended to look both at the Union victory, and the reconstruction period that followed.

Throughout the book key dates, terms and issues are highlighted, and historical interpretations of key debates are outlined. Summary diagrams are included to consolidate knowledge and understanding of the period, and exam-style questions and tips written by examiners for each examination board provide the opportunity to develop exam skills.

• Revised edition for the requirements of the 2008 OCR and Edexcel AS and A2 specifications.
• Study guides written by examiners contain exercises and advice on tackling differentiated exam questions for AS and A2 Level.
• Contains the latest historical interpretations of themes and issues.
• Features include: points to consider, key issues and key dates.
• Features such as key definitions and questions to aid learning.
• More support with assessment and exam skills.
• Designed to allow greater accessibility to a wide range of AS and A2 students.

Table of Contents:
Dedication
Introduction
Chapter 1 - The USA in the Mid-nineteenth Century
1- The US Political System
2- US Social and Economical Development
3- Sectionalism
4- Slavery
5- Key Debate
6- Conclusion
Study Guide
Chapter 2 - The Problem of Western Expansion 1846-54
1- Missouri, Texas and Mexico
2- The Impact of the Mexican War 1846-50
3- The 1850 Compromise
4- North-South Problems 1850-3
5- The Problem of Kansas-Nebraska
Study Guide
Chapter 3 - The Rise of the Republican Party
1- The Collapse of the Second Party System
2- The Situation in Kansas 1854-6
3- The Emergence of the Republicans
4- The 1856 Presidential Election
5- The Presidency of James Buchanan 1857-8
6- The 1858 Congressional Elections
7- John Brown's Raid
Study Guide
Chapter 4 - The 1860 Election, Secession and Civil War
1- The 1860 Presidential Election
2- Secession
3- The Creation of the Confederacy
4- The Search for Compromise
5- The Problem of Fort Sumter
6- Key Debate
Study Guide
Chapter 5 - War on the Home and Foreign Fronts
1- The Confederate War Effort
2- The Economic and Social Impact of the War on the Confederacy
3- Confederate Opposition to the War
4- The Union War Effort
5- The Economic and Social Impact of the War on the Union
6- Union Opposition to the War
7- Britain and the Civil War
Study Guide
Chapter 6 - The War 1861-5
1- Union and Confederate Strengths
2- The Nature of the War
3- The Soldiers' Experience
4- The War in 1861-2
5- The War in 1863
6- Union Victory 1864-5
7- Key Debate
Study Guide
Chapter 7 - Reconstruction
1- The Emancipation of the Slaves
2- The African American War Effort
3- The Problem of Reconstruction
4- Reconstruction in the South 1867-77
5- The impact of the Civil War
6- Key Debate
Study Guide
Glossary
Index

About the Author(s):
Alan Farmer is a successful author of History texts