Preface -- Civil war timeline - Key events, 1860-1865 -- Fiery trial - Civil war in historical perspective: Brief historical overview of the civil war -- American ways of life, north and south -- Documents: North and south prepare for conflict -- Early exuberance gives way to steady determination -- Warring sections persevere through weary months of struggle -- War's concluding phases bring triumph and sorrow -- Reflecting: Ideas for exploration -- Suggestions for further reading -- Index.