For many, the Civil War, like all conflicts, raised profound questions about how war could be waged, and victory achieved, but in a “just” way. The McCormick Civil War Institute’s spring 2024 conference–“Is the Vindictive Spirit… Just?”: Waging “Civil” War—will explore a variety of topics related to this question including what soldiers thought about waging war on civilians and private property and how those perspectives transformed as the conflict progressed, how political leaders’ perspectives about the “rules of war” evolved throughout the conflict and how those views laid the foundation for the modern laws of war, how allegiances became blurred in a battle’s aftermath as individuals who were once enemies offered aid and comfort, and investigate the complexities of lives for Unionist civilians behind Confederate lines.

To register for this all-day conference, copy and paste this link into your browser: https://www.su.edu/mcwi/upcoming-mccormick-civil-war-institute-events/mccormick-civil-war-institute-spring-conference/