Hi,
I hope my question isn't against any rules, for starters. I know that this is less of a direct question about a certain topic and more a general query on how to get started about learning about the ACW.
I'm a native Brit with absolutely zero connections to the United States, but I recently watched the film 'Cold Mountain' and had my interest piqued. That led to me getting down a bit of a YouTube rabbit hole, eventually ending up on the channel of a YouTuber who mostly makes ACW videos.
That being said, the topic has me fascinated, and whilst I would love to know more, I am worried about finding the 'wrong' source, especially as I'm not American, so some of the more well-known localisms and/or references may go over my head, at least initially.
I also know the ACW can remain a potentially inflammatory topic to this day, so I am absolutely not trying to stir things up. I would just like to know of a good place to start! I'm also painfully aware of how broad this question is, aka. similar to someone asking 'Best place to start learning about WW2,' for instance. The ACW is a giant topic and hugely influential, so apologies if the question is too broad in scope.
Thanks to anybody who replies.
This is a great question, and so far as I know, not against the rules of this sub, so I'll have a go.
So a great primer for the conflict in terms of a good background on the politics, followed by a detailed but not overly-dense reading of the conflict on a macro level can be found in James McPherson's 'Battle Cry of Freedom'. It is well-regarded by historians and casual readers alike, and while a bit hefty, will give you a wonderful introduction to the conflict and the most important moments in all theaters of the war.
From there, you might find that one area of interest or another got your attention, and you might want to branch off into a more focused history. I'm a big fan of historian Bruce Catton, and while his work dates from the 1950s and 60s, he's an indispensable part of the broader historiography (many authors still cite his work), and is very, very easy to read. His trilogy on the army of the Potomac is magnificent, and pairs well with his two-part history on US Grant, which will fill in portions of the western theater that his Potomac trilogy largely side-steps.
Jay Winik wrote a book, 'April, 1865' which is a very detailed and rich text that explores the final months of the war, especially Lincoln's assassination and the plot surrounding that. If you find yourself wanting more info on the waning days of the war, I'd check that out. Likewise, if you get an itch for something specific like Gettysburg, I'd check out Stephen W. Sears' book of the same name, which is a great history of that battle along with the before/after of it.
If you're looking for something with more of a political bent that examines the prosecution of the war at the higher levels, you can't go wrong with Doris Kearns Goodwin's 'Team of Rivals' about Lincoln's run for the presidency, and his struggles with his cabinet (and Lincoln's breathtaking political acumen).
All of these books and their authors pass the sniff test in terms of good historical research, cited evidence, and positive peer review. I might start with McPherson, and if you're digging that and want more reading recommendations on something specific, just check back in and ask.
I bet you will be able to find a lot of amazing books about it under - https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/wiki/books/americas#wiki_united_states :)