Submitted by Timothy Boyle
5.0 out of 5 stars - One of the most well researched and documented histories I've read
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2023
Callahan has written a book which has been needed for 150 years. This is not the same old stale Civil War history regurgitated for public consumption. This is a well-researched, well-documented work which brings much new but never taught history to light. It is well organized, and is the type of book which can either be read cover to cover, or nibbled in small bites. A scholarly work which reads like a thriller. I highly recommend!
Submitted by "AR"
Fascinating, Little-Known Content
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2023,
This was a fascinating book to read. It filled several gaps in my knowledge of the situation in Civil War era Maryland, particularly the period between the Secession Crisis and the arrest of the Maryland legislature by the Lincoln administration in September 1861. The author writes in a clear and easy to read style while providing fully sourced information on several important topics, such as:
- The attempt by Maryland's leading political figures to remain neutral in the conflict between the Union and the new Confederate States of America.
- The unwillingness of the Lincoln administration to let Maryland assume a neutral position.
- The planned and ordered attack on Baltimore City in May 1861 despite the fact that Maryland's legislature had signaled it did not intend to call a convention to decide on the secession of the state and that it did not possess the authority to take Maryland out of the Union. The attack did not happen only because the general tasked to carry out the mission refused to do it.
- The Lincoln administration's enacting of draconian policies, such as the arrest of anyone deemed "disloyal," the suspension of habeus corpus, and the suppression of the press.
- The use of misinformation by the Lincoln administration to portray Maryland as a pro-Confederate state attempting to secede from the Union so that federal forces could summarily arrest Maryland legislators.
This book at once clarifies some issues while muddying others. Concerning the former, it lays to rest once and for all the misguided notion that Maryland was a state in "the North." No state that remained in the Union had to endure the type of persecution that Maryland did. Regarding the latter, the portrayal of the Lincoln and his administration is highly disturbing, which flies in the face of the Lincoln-worship so common in many histories of the war. After reading this book, one will find oneself wondering what remaining in the Union actually meant, given the blatantly unconstitutional behavior of Lincoln and his minions.
Submitted by Reed M Fawell 3rd
Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2023
This book, When Democracy Fell, is important. It is seminal. And it is very fine history.
It is important because it describes how easily even Americans can lose their inalienable rights guaranteed by the American Constitution, stripped from them by direct illegal actions imposed intentionally by their own government, or by other American citizens and institutions, such as the press operating in a permissive society encouraged by government that fails to enforce laws. The Book also is important as it shows how this result can be obtained when Americans are divided into faction by leaders of all types who demagogue for political or monetary advantage, or ideology, or for the sheer thrill of action and chaos.
Can you imagine such a grievous loss orchestrated by Abraham Lincoln? Read this book and you likely will not only be able to imagine such a loss, but believe it happened and understand why it happened and take steps to reduce chances of it happening again by changing your behaviors. And this suggests that even the greatest of leaders are only human. And his or her foibles are easily exposed in high-stakes and high-pressure situations tending toward chaos, particularly in the fog or threat of war, with all its paradox and unintended consequences, that radiate outward, particularly when so many individuals are involved, firing chain reactions.
This book in seminal because it is anchored in meticulously researched original and often novel sources writing freely at the time of the events, by people of all sorts, and persuasions, expressing themselves often as witness to those events and/or as actors within those events. Hence a raft of new facts and insights and proofs come to light, busting apart myths, and opening up altogether new territory and histories for our revelation and understanding.
All this results in very fine history particularly when wrought with the obvious skills of this historian’s pen. For example, we learn vast amounts about the culture, emotions, philosophy, and values of the players at the time of their actions, so we see underlying values, fears and ambitions that generate and explain the actions of the players. At the same time, we see the players in action as if in real time, in all their human complexity, and random events that clash across the stage, often amid chaos, as the parties joust for dominance and control, or in self-defense and self-preservation. Or lash out in fear, and anger. Readers of When Democracy Fell often times feel part of the action, vividly alive in ways akin to the Iliad.
So, the consequences of this book are profound. Abraham Lincoln, the most studied President in American history, his character, soul, actions, and decisions are given whole new dimensions, nuances and shades, heretofore hardly imagined by the great majority of us, much less proven. So too, with a raft of lesser but important and fascinating characters who are shown in new circumstances and angles – Justice Tawney, Gen. Tench Tilghman, Judge Carmichael of Talbot to name just a few among the many.
In this book War becomes a character in surprising, profound and refreshing ways. Its kaleidoscope of emotions brings out the worst and best of people and human nature, put under a microscope or blown all out of normal proportion. The fragility of the law, and civilization itself, on the brink of tribal warfare. Cities and town under attack or the threat of it. Unintended consequences unravelling. Misconception of realities. Fog of war. Human nature, institutions, laws, and emotions in all of their complexity are stretched to the limits by a gigantic impending war. It is all there, vividly and profoundly, in this book When Democracy Fell.
The tribute page cites Fredrick Douglas - Truth is proper and beautiful, at all times and at all places – The very same tribute applies to Paul W. Callahan’s fine book “When Democracy Fell, The Subjugation of Maryland During the Civil War.”
It ranks among the best books of history I have read in past 60 years.
Submitted by Capt. Stephen Dial: It was a tough time in our fragile union. One element believed its culture was superior, possessed of the truth. The other principal element believed it possessed those factors that made the United States strong. Not talking the PRIDE movement versus what’s been termed the heartland here…but we could be. Both elements believed their rubrics alone would determine the future of our country. And what we hear in the never-ending news cycle today is nasty…lies, accusations and meanness. Paul Callahan says nasty rubrics are not new.
Paul Callahan ‘s book, When Democracy Fell, chronicles an earlier time when the push and pull of society, not unlike today, threatened to rend our democracy and undo our wonderful political experiment. This uncivil Civil War cost 850,000 American lives. The elements existing today sound a lot like those of the 19th century. Read what Paul says and juxtapose what you heard on today’s news. Is Paul warning us…read his great book and see. Warning…can be scary.
Submitted by John McGarry
5.0 out of 5 stars - Setting the record straight, Maryland’s pivotal role in the Civil War
Reviewed in the United States on October 12, 2023
I found “When Democracy Fell” to be intriguing and very thought provoking. There is a lot of enlightening Civil War history to unpack and believe me it gets unpacked in this book. You want surprise? Start reading the book. Having studied the Civil War at both the University of South Carolina in Columbia and the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, I thought I was fairly well versed on events of the Civil War. I now know this is not the case. This book presents detailed historic events identifying numerous violations of the constitution and countless atrocities that occurred in Maryland throughout the Civil War. Prior to reading this book, I have never read or heard of any such events having occurred during the Civil War.
Although this book examines events that took place mainly in Maryland, you have to assume similar events and injustices were occurring throughout the country during this time. The author thoroughly documented, referenced, and cross referenced President Lincoln’s unconstitutional and unconditional actions in an effort to preserve the union, no matter the means or cost. The book outlines Lincoln’s willingness to use the full force of the military to ensure this, lawful or not. The presented facts are eye opening. The author, on several instances, was able to literally reveal unwritten history and actually correct the record. My favorite and perhaps the most fascinating chapter in the book is The Battle for Baltimore. The chapter details several extraordinary events; including, the probable bombardment of Baltimore by the federal government, suspension of Habeas Corpus, illegal arrests, and the complete disarmament of Maryland.
Every chapter in this book has been painstakingly researched and the results are undisputed. I was thoroughly fascinated with “When Democracy Fell”. It is not another dry history book. If you are a Marylander, a Civil War history buff, or just a Patriotic American, “When Democracy Fell” is a Must Read!
Submitted by Dr. Darrin Lowery
5.0 out of 5 stars - A major contribution to US History, US Civil War, and US Politics
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2023
In 1989, Ronald Reagan stated in his farewell speech to the nation.... "If we forget what we did, we won't know who we are." Like the news media today, we are fed "facts". Many of these "facts" cause us to redirect our thoughts and manipulate our mind in a certain way. In writing this book, Mr. Callahan teaches us that leading up to and during the American Civil War our society was being fed "facts" in a direct attempt to manipulate our thoughts during this pivotal time in US history. It is an eye-opening treatise showing that media manipulation was being supported by deified politicians of that era. In other words, our present has deep roots early on in American history. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the US Civil War, US history, and US politics. This book reminds us about "what we did" and enlighten us about "who we are"!
Submitted by Mark Wade
5.0 out of 5 stars - Maryland civil war history revisited
Reviewed in the United States on October 5, 2023
Great book! I’ve studied civil war history all my life especially the effects of the war on the Border states. Most people don’t realize how Maryland and her civilians were treated by the Lincoln Administration. The author has done an admirable job combining all the depredations Marylanders suffered. From Judge Carmichael being pistol whipped and dragged out of his courtroom for protesting the arrest of civilians by Union troops to the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus to the declaration of martial law. A whole military department was created to watch over Maryland. House to house search for weapons, militias forced to disband, leading citizens of Maryland arrested and thrown in jail. Obviously the stakes were high, if Maryland seceded then Washington DC would be surrounded by the Confederacy. But one could argue Lincoln’s heavy hand actually drove up to 20,000(Maryland Confederate Officer Randolph McKim’s estimate)-25000(Confederate General Issac Trimble’s estimate) men South to fight for the Confederacy (approximately 12,000 have been documented by Daniel Hartzler in his book Marylanders and the Confederacy). Grab this book to learn Maryland’s history you weren’t taught.
Submitted by Catherine V. Hill
5.0 out of 5 stars - Fascinating newly revealed Civil War History
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2023
“ When Democracy Fell” by Paul W. Callahan answered so many questions I’ve had about why my 16 year old great grandfather chose to leave St. Michaels, Maryland in 1861 to cross the Chesapeake Bay on a Log Canoe sailboat to make his way south to enlist in the Confederate Army. This book is so well documented with actual public records from that era there is no question Maryland was under siege by Pres. Lincoln’s federal government at that time. This is new history that has been hidden in the archives for decades! The book is fascinating and anyone who reads it can’t help but compare it to the politics of our present time. It’s a great read!
Submitted by Tim R.
5.0 out of 5 stars - A New Unexpected Spin on History
Reviewed in the United States on October 4, 2023
This book shows that history and what we thought to be true, can and was manipulated. It sheds a whole new light on President Lincoln, who has been portrayed as a great American hero. Anyone denying Americans their constitutional rights, no matter whether it’s the 1860’s or 2023 is not worthy of acclaim. Either history didn’t care or these facts were not known.
The book starts a bit slow but then becomes riveting after the first several chapters. The research was done in great detail with citations from original sources such as newspaper articles, letters, etc. I highly recommend “When Democracy Fell”, you will be amazed at the depth and scope of this book.
Submitted by "Fred the Fixer"
5.0 out of 5 Stars - Very Important Book!
Reviewed in the United States on November 9, 202
Mr. Callahan's well annotated book reveals a great deal about Maryland's forgotten and or manipulated history. The author's rigorous examination of contemporaneous documents reveals to the reader that corrupt elections, suppression of free speech, and wholesale abuse of numerous rights listed in our Constitution are nothing new.
Submitted by Donna 63
5.0 out of 5 stars - A must read!
Reviewed in the United States on November 20, 2023
This book was very well researched and the writing was superb. It was laid out in an easy to follow format.
Anyone interested in the history of Maryland should most definitely read it.
Submitted by RandScholar
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2023
The official poem and song of the State of Maryland, "Maryland, My Maryland", written in 1861, refers to Lincoln as a tyrant and a despot. The Marylander who shot him in 1865 called him a tyrant, quoting from that song, as he leapt from Lincoln's box. If you want to know what Lincoln put Marylanders through, trampling upon the U.S. Constitution in the process -- denying them all of their rights under its Bill of Rights -- imprisoning many without trials or hearings in military fort prisons, aiming cannon at Baltimore's City Hall for four years, threatening to destroy every building in that city, this book thoroughly and objectively details them all.
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