French Newspaper Opinion on the American Civil War

(Hardback)

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During the American Civil War, political ideology was the most important determinant of French journalistic attitudes. Conservatives usually supported the South while Liberals usually supported the North. Provincial newspapers, however, less consistently followed ideological patterns than their Parisian and big-city colleagues. Slavery was not a determinant of French attitudes, since all French were opposed to slavery; rather, both Conservatives and Liberals used the issue of slavery as a device to garner support. While Conservatives remained firm in believing that the South would prevail until the very end, Liberal journalists sometimes despaired of a Union triumph in the face of Northern military defeats.

Reviews

"The author has thoroughly researched his topic and cites a great many newspapers representing all mainstream currents of opinion, from those supporting the government (Imperialist) to Legitimists supporting the restoration of the Bourbon family, the more liberal Orleanists, and Republicans on the left....[I]t is readable and useful to students of French politics and...to those interested in diplomatic issues surrounding the Civil War."-H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences
The author has thoroughly researched his topic and cites a great many newspapers representing all mainstream currents of opinion, from those supporting the government (Imperialist) to Legitimists supporting the restoration of the Bourbon family, the more liberal Orleanists, and Republicans on the left....[I]t is readable and useful to students of French politics and...to those interested in diplomatic issues surrounding the Civil War.-H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences

Author Bio

GEORGE M. BLACKBURN is Professor Emeritus of History at Central Michigan University.