@ It was no coincidence that the Civil War occurred during an age of violent political upheaval in Europe and the Americas. Grounding the causes and philosophies of the Civil War in an international context, Andre M. Fleche examines how questions of national self-determination, race, class, and labor the world over influenced American interpretations of the strains on the Union and the growing differences between North and South. Setting familiar events in an international context, Fleche enlarges our understanding of nationalism in the nineteenth century, with startling implications for our understanding of the Civil War. “This book is a welcome addition to a small but rapidly expanding shelf in the massive library of the Civil War.” — Journal of Southern History “The Revolution of 1861 has much to recommend; it combines clear writing with a successful argument for an international interpretation of the war.” — West Virginia History Join us on the Watkins Museum Facebook and YouTube pages for a live online discussion with Andre M. Fleche, author of The Revolution of 1861: The American Civil War in the Age of Nationalist Conflict. You’ll be able to post questions and comments! This event is part of America at 250 and Civil War on the Border. CWB 2026 is sponsored by the John Nalbandian Gift Fund.
