Crime in the Wake of the Civil War: Rhetoric Versus Reality, 1865-1880, (Paperback)

<p> Did everyday violence surge after the Civil War? Newspapers of the era reported an unprecedented "carnival of crime," describing a massive upsurge in domestic violence, murder, and sexual assault. Through a wealth of primary sources, this book exposes a profound gap between the perception and the reality of crime during these years. Focusing on common crimes from 1865 to 1880, the book meticulously analyzes census data, prison registers, arrest records, and pension files alongside dramatic criminal cases. These sources reveal that serious interpersonal violence remained surprisingly constrained. Instead, property crimes and public order offenses preoccupied the criminal justice system. The defining crisis of the Postbellum era was one of rhetoric, not violent crime, fueled by media sensationalism, societal fears about returning soldiers, concerns over eroding social values, and unresolved war trauma. This book's systematic reassessment fundamentally reshapes our understanding of post-Civil War America, showing how fear often eclipses fact in shaping public perceptions of violence.</p>

• Crime in the Wake of the Civil War: Rhetoric Versus Reality, 1865-1880, (Paperback)
• Author: R Gregory Lande
• ISBN: 9781476659657
• Format: Paperback
• Publication Date: 2027-07-09
• Page Count: 170