Expectations

This chapter focuses on wartime expectations of death and destruction. Instead of anticipating a glorious war that would revitalize the nation, many Americans expected a ruinous conflict that would bring death to their doors. Women understood how a future beyond their control would arrive with letters, newspapers, and telegrams. Meanwhile, African Americans prayed for a conflict that would endure long enough to destroy slavery. Instead of imagining a future shaped by historical actors, these Americans believed impersonal or supernatural forces would determine their future. Diverse people felt this way, from women at home to refugees on the road, from former slaves to Wall Street speculators, from generals and statesmen to common soldiers.