Customer Reviews

Half Slave and Half Free: The Roots of Civil War (American Century Series)

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This is a compact, yet thorough, consideration of U. S. history from the American Revolution to the Civil War. In the acknowledgements Levine states plainly that his book is a "synthesis." The chapters themselves are organized around themes, and are carefully arranged throughout the book serving as building blocks for Levine's argument.

Levine's principal argument is that the essential conflict at the heart of antebellum America is between a free-labor system and a slave-labor system. And it is these systems that subsequently organize and order virtually every aspect of each section-economic, social, cultural, political. In both North and South ideas, beliefs, and mentalities are bundled together and serve to link various, and varied, groups within each section. Consequently, by the outbreak of the Civil War there is widespread support in both the Union and the Confederacy. This book is sometimes densely written, but Levine succeeds in fusing labor history and social history. His bibliography indicates he has drawn on a vast array of sources, tapping into many schools of thought. The argument exists principally in the first half of the book. Subsequently the second half becomes something of a "prelude to disunion" narrative.

Bruce Levine's book, Half Slave and Half Free, is written about the divisions in America from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. The slave based economy of the South and the free labor economy of the North and their differences that ultimately lead America to war. In the revised edition of Mr. Levine's book he has written a new preface and afterward and bibliography. He has added information based on new information made available since the book was initially published in 1992. Levine does not use footnotes, but does explain all of his references by chapter in a new bibliography essay.

In the first five chapters Levine discusses the history of slavery and how the southern slave owners felt about their property. The evolution of crops grown in America, especially the South and how slaves were used to farm them is discussed at length. Levine also speaks of the population statistics of the South and says that only one quarter of the white population of the South are slave holders. The typical slave owner of the period, owned five or six slaves and land valued at approximately $3,000. (pp. 21)

Also in the first five chapters Levine discusses the North and the social and economy setting there before the Civil War. He speaks on how the average household and farm is managed with the families providing most of the labor. Levine also explains the fact that many of the poorer white laborers in the North were put or put their selves in bondage as "Bondsmen" to pay their passage. Typically seven years of labor were required then they were set free and established farms or businesses for themselves.

In chapter six Levine describes the beginning of the antislavery movement. The slaves stated that they had to lie to live. The resistance that the slaves used was very covert, deliberate clumsiness and stupidity, making the overseers explains the simplest task over and over. The women would even feign a pregnancy to get out of the fields for a while. The Planters stated they could never get the truth out of their slaves. (pp. 145)

From the antislavery movement Levine speaks about the various issues of allowing slavery into the new states and territories. Southern leaders in Congress such as John C. Calhoun leading other Carolinians against the federal government. Tariffs on imported manufactures were the main issue. Calhoun stated that the South was left with only three choices: (1) assert the power in the reserved rights of the states - that is, "nullify the federal tariffs; (2) submit to have their domestick (sic) institutions exhausted; or (3) in the end be forced to rebel. (pp.162) South Carolina was the most sensitive to any issues against slavery for it had in its borders some of the largest plantations in the South.

The first half of this book explains the point of view of both the South and the North about slavery. Mr. Levine drew upon many sources for his information and in this edition has updated much of his information. The book explains the history and social history behind both sides of the slavery argument. The second half of the book is dedicated to explaining the steps that were taken to dissolve the union. Half Slave and Half Free arguments and facts seem to make the disunion more predestined than it really was. The afterward that is included in the revised edition analyzes some of the reasons for the war. It also presents Lincoln's and Davis views on the war.

Mr. Levine's book is a very worthwhile read for history students, primarily in college, both undergraduate and graduate students. It is well organized and presents the facts and analysis of the events that took place and led America to Civil war.

"Half Slave and Half Free" discusses American life during the antebellum era. Specifically, he discusses the economies of both the north and the south. He looks at slave labor and free labor. He also looks at the differences between the North and the South and what lead up to the war.

In all honesty, I thought this was a good book and an important read. It was perfect for a classroom setting (which is where I read it). However, I did get a little bored with all the statistics. I can't help it, I am by no means a number person. But the interesting parts of the book far out number the times I was a little bored by it. This was a vital book in understanding what lead up to the Civil War. And it was a valuable source for my term paper.

Simply, Levine's work is thoroughly researched and well written. It is worth checking out!

This is a wonderful book that is great in the classroom. It is readable with terrific statistics to show the divergences between the North and the South before the Civil War. I have used it in class and my students got a lot out of it.

Rarely, do I get excited about classroom readings however, Bruce Levine's Half Slave and Half Free is an insightful look at a pivtoal time in the history of the United States.
Levine's argument in the text is that the deep regional divide which came to inspire the Civil War, was not founded on the principle of slavery but rather the contrast in the socioeconomic structures.
An excellent look at the post revolutionary and pre Civil War United States.

This is a well-written book, well researched and detailed. Well suited to either a serious student or someone who just wants to know a little more about what made us who we are today.

A great read if your looking to further your education on Economic and Racial precursors to the Civil War. Bruce Levine presents a fantastic look into the differences between the North and South that eventually led to the Civil War. "Half Slave and Half Free" is a wealth of information regarding the pre Civil War economies of the North and South, the History and origination of slavery in North America, and the ways Slavery was accepted and rejected by the two opposing regions over time which lead to the polarization of the Antebellum United States.

I think that Bruce Levine's book "Half Slave and Half Free" did a great job presenting the roots of the Civil War. I felt that I came away from reading the book with a better understanding to the antebellum years and the indirect causes of the American Civil War. His representation of the differences in the society and economy of the industrialized and urban North, and the slave based prosperity of the South, truly showed the reason for the division of the United States prior to the Civil War. Levine offers great insight to the history of slavery, and the evolving attitudes towards slavery. The book then discusses the abolitionist movement, and the South's fears and reactions towards the movement. Levine draws on an abundance of secondary sources, which make his book very credible.


As a college student, I found this book very refreshing as an assigned reading. Not only does it convey much information about the roots of the Civil War, teaching me something new, but it also was able to hold my attention. I found this book actually enjoyable to read, much unlike most of the other books I am assigned as a college student. I would definitely recommend this book to Professors to assign to their students.

Bruce Levine's Half slave half free is a interpretation of the main causes behind the civil war. Levine does a fine job of covering most of the events leading up to the war. Levine brings his reader into his argument with several chapters built to show what the Southern reliance was on the slave as well as the religious and cultural differences between the Southern and Northern states. By mid book Levine begins to put forth his main argument that Americas "incomplete revolution" must be finished. Levine finishes his books with the political drive that tore the U.S. apart.

Levine's Half Slave Half Free is well written (unlike my review) and easy to follow. His buildup of Southern and Northern differences throughout the first several chapters allows the reader to fully understand the argument as well as both the Northern and Southern prospective. Not only is Levine's work easy to follow due to his buildup, his use of Primary sources throughout the book allows the reader see the pages of history first hand as they unfold. Which give the reader true insight into the argument.

Overall Levine's book is well worth the read for any scholar interested in the causes of the American civil War.

In Bruce Levine's Half Save and Half Free, Levine studies the antebellum period of the Civil War. Bruce Levine does a very good job showing the divisions growing between the North and the South. He denotes an entire chapter to the study of the economic conditions of the South, where the labor was helplessly dependent on slavery in order to sustain the economy. He then shifts to the North to explain the Northern rationale where every man works for himself and how the Northern industry was thriving in the absence of slavery. Going into even greater detail between the two, Levine shows how culture differences were growing in both the North and the South, in relations to the increase of the abolitionist movement in the North. Levine fully shows how diverse the two sides were by the Civil War.

Bruce Levine, in the beginning chapter, also does a very good job of justifying his claim to the origins of the Civil War during the Revolutionary times. He makes the claim that America boasted to be the freest nation in the world and yet they were bound by the growing problem of slavery. Thomas Jefferson, one of the most famous founding fathers, was opposed to slavery morally but did nothing. Levine demonstrates how he believed the issue with solve itself eventually, a fatal flaw. It was this failing of founding fathers that led to the near collapse of the nation. Bruce Levine, while only focusing on the antebellum period, gives great insight into the tensions of the nation and the root causes of the Civil War.