Winner, 2010 Bennett H. Wall Award, Southern Historical Association In this fresh study Brian Schoen views the Deep South and its cotton industry from a global perspective, revisiting old assumptions and providing new insights into the region, the political history of the United States, and the causes of the Civil War. Schoen takes a unique and broad approach. Rather than seeing the Deep South and its planters as isolated from larger intellectual, economic, and political developments, he places the region firmly within them. In doing so, he demonstrates that the region’s prominence within the modern world―and not its opposition to it―indelibly shaped Southern history. The place of “King Cotton” in the sectional thinking and budding nationalism of the Lower South seems obvious enough, but Schoen reexamines the ever-shifting landscape of international trade from the 1780s through the eve of the Civil War. He argues that the Southern cotton trade was essential to the European economy, seemingly worth any price for Europeans to protect and maintain, and something to defend aggressively in the halls of Congress. This powerful association gave the Deep South the confidence to ultimately secede from the Union. By integrating the history of the region with global events, Schoen reveals how white farmers, planters, and merchants created a “Cotton South,” preserved its profitability for many years, and ensured its dominance in the international raw cotton markets. The story he tells reveals the opportunities and costs of cotton production for the Lower South and the United States. Schoen has written an immensely important history of southern political economy, one that is destined to be prominent in future studies of the Old South. ―James L. Huston, Civil War Book Review Schoen's chronological approach in five chapter develops his arguments and does a masterful job of keeping the focus on cotton, its politics, its exploitation of slaves, and ultimately the self-delusions of the cotton states vis-à-vis the world . . . An excellent book on all counts. Highly recommended. ― Choice A sophisticated, nuanced analysis of elite political-economic rhetoric in the antebellum South. ―Lawrence A. Peskin, North Carolina Historical Review In sure-footed fashion, Brian Schoen guides the reader through overlooked issues in the oft-told account of southern secession. ―Frank J. Byrne, Virginia Magazine of History and Biography Students of the causes of the Civil War should read The Fragile Fabric of Union . It is well written and extensively documented . . . The author brings the issues to life by illustrating how economic self interested colored the views of the South to the point that it was willing to sunder the Union and go to war. ―Stephen Donnelly, Historical Journal of Massachusetts I found myself reading this book in light of current events. Schoen does a good job pointing out that legislative victors may rue their triumph, while losers may inadvertently reap benefits from loathed legislation . . . The book is clearly written. ―David G. Surdam, Journal of Economic History Impressive . . . Adds an intriguing new dimension to ongoing debates about the nature of southern economic development, what motivated southern states to secede, why they seceded when they did, and ultimately what caused the Civil War. ―Beth English, American Historical Review In this provocative book, he forces historians who have not done so already to discount 'Lost Cause' lore and pay greater attention to southerners who thought they could use their monopoly in raw cotton as leverage to advance the interests of their region in the larger world. ―Glenn C. Altschuler, Journal of Interdisciplinary History An important contribution to the reinterpretation of plantation slavery and the origins of the U.S. Civil War . . . A lucidly written, richly researched, and convincing analysis of the global forces that shaped the politics of the southern slaveholders. ―Charles Post , Journal of American History There is much to admire in Brian Schoen's ambitious new book . . . A remarkable scholarly debut that represents one of the most important studies of 'why the South fought' to be released in over a generation. ―Scott P. Marler, Register of the Kentucky Historical Society Schoen's readable prose deserves a wide audience. His explanations of tariffs and other economic issues are clear, and he has admirable command of a wide range of political and economic subjects (both domestically and in foreign relations). This book will be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of any scholar of the antebellum era. ―Aaron W. Marrs, Technology and Culture Schoen extends the transatlantic dimensions of this era; just as the politics of slavery were shaped by developments in the Caribbean and Europe, so too did the political economy of cotton stretch throughout the Atlantic world. This book should be read by all those interested in broadening their und