Using the Internet for research
The American
Civil War Homepage
This site gathers together in one place links to some
of the most useful sites about the Civil War. The usefulness and
quality of the sites vary, but there are some extensive links to both personal
and public documents, as well as graphics. In particular check the
letters, diaries, and memoirs page. Be wary of the extensive personal
and family histories as the basis for research.
Internet
Modern History Sourcebook: U.S. Civil War
A very extensive set of links and a good starting point for almost any topic
connected to the Civil War.
Causes
of the Civil War
This site contains some of the major party platforms of the 1850s, secession
documents of the southern states, and miscellaneous speeches and correspondence.
Civil
War Resources on the Internet (Rutgers University)
A very comprehensive linking site which covers available
material for events leading up to the war, the war years, abolitionism,
military histories, and state studies. The links to the manuscript
collections of diaries, letters, and other papers is particularly good.
The
American Civil War (Dakota State)
An eclectic list of links to almost anything to do with
the Civil War. There are some good links but they need to be sifted
through to determine their usefulness. Of particular value is the
diaries, letters, and memoirs link.
Nineteenth
Century Documents Project
(Furman University)
A very rich primary source site on selected topics which
include Slavery and Sectionalism, the Kansas-Nebraska Bill, Dred Scott,
the 1860 election, Secession and War.
Virginia
Military Institute Archives
A good source for full text manuscripts online, such
as letters, diaries, and other collected papers.
The
United States Civil War Center (Louisiana
State University)
An excellent collection of links. In particular
check out the diaries link and the documents link.
The
Valley of the Shadow: Two Communities in the American Civil War
A very comprehensive site which compares the impact of
the war on two communities, one from the North and one from the South.
A wide selection of source types with search capabilities.
Civil
War Women: Primary Sources on the Internet (Duke University)
A very good site with primary documents (diaries, etc.)
as well as further links.
DOUGLASS: Archive of American Public Address
A very good site from Northwestern University with some material which is applicable to topics on the 1850s and 1860s.
Rutherford B. Hayes Diary and Letters Collection
A view of the Civil War years by a future president of the U.S. If looking at the diary go to volume II which covers the secession crisis and the war years.
African American Perspectives: 1818-1907
This is part of the American Memory Collection from the Library of Congress. The chronological range is extensive, but there is some useful material on the Civil War years here.
Historical United States Census Data Browse
This site allows you to search by subject each census from 1790 onwards. This is particularly useful in providing a statistical context for understanding the nature of American society in the 1850s and the 1860s
A Documentary History of Emancipation, 1861 to 1867
A site which links to primary documents related to slavery, black soldiers, emancipation, etc. Some interesting documents available here.
Photographic Time Line of the Civil War
A very extensive photographic collection from the Library of Congress, which can be searched by year and subject.
This site at Virginia Tech has an interesting collection of letters and diaries, memoirs and homefront letters from both Union and Confederate soldiers.
A Library of Congress resource guide for the study of black history and culture. The abolition section may have some relevant material for those examining the questions of slavery and abolition.
Civil War Richmond (currently unavailable)
A good site which covers all aspects of life in the Confederate capital during the war. Of particular value are the prison and hospital sections. In the hospital section look at the Carrington Papers which provides inspectors reports on Richmond hospitals which discusses facilities, patients, etc. The reports on the individual hospitals also have links to other official papers on prisoners of war and prisons. A slow site but well worth the wait.
Civil War Battlefield Medicine
A site with some good links to primary documents concerning hospitals, the nature of battle casualties, and other aspect of a soldier's life.
The Confederate Site of America
This is probably the most comprehensive site devoted to all aspects of the Confederate war effort.
Documenting the American South: The Southern Homefront 1861-1865
Personal Letters and Memoirs
The collection of letters and other personal papers online is extremely large. The following represent only a sample of some of the better collections (there are far too many to link) from the above general links collections and should be considered only as a starting point for further research.
Miscellaneous Materials
Uncle Tom's Cabin and American Culture
Been Here So Long: Selections From the WPA Slave Narratives