Shaara's novel Killer Angels shows the Battle of Gettysburg through a number of unique perspectives. Shaara offers a more intimate view of the battle than other civil war novels. The reader can see the battle through the eyes of the leaders of the Union and the Confederacy. Through the novel, the reader can understand why each character is fighting and what they hope to gain from the war. Readers can also see the effect that the war has on the different characters. I will examine the war through the eyes of several different characters from Shaara's novel. The causes of war and the reasons for fighting are parallel. The main cause of the Civil War was the issue of slavery. The issue of slavery is brought up several times throughout the book. Arthur Fremantle, the British observer, believed that the South was fighting to protect slavery and its way of life. Colonel Chamberlain also mentioned slavery as a reason for the war and said he found it appalling. Despite racism and prejudice in the North, many Northerners still believed that slaves should be freed. They viewed the institution of slavery as contradictory to the Bible and civilized society. Colonel Chamberlain mentioned that he fought for the “dignity of man” (p. 27). The South felt pressure from Northern anti-slavery and abolitionist groups. The South felt that the North was trying to destroy the Southern way of life. The North, on the other hand, had been more successful in industry and did not seem to understand the importance of slavery in the South. The entire society and social structure of the South was based on slavery and they were not willing to end the entire system. The South claimed that slaves belonged middle of paper... generation of politicians too dedicated to their own cause and their own belief system. There were many reasons why the Civil War broke out. . There were differences in the politics, society and economies of the North and South. Each side had its own reasons for participating in the war and not wanting to compromise. The North felt that they must maintain the unity of the Union and end the institution of slavery, while the South felt that their rights were being encroached upon and that secession was the only way for them to be free. Through this book, I was able to experience a variety of viewpoints and examine the Battle of Gettysburg from individual perspectives. The Civil War was a low point in American history, but many valuable lessons were learned from the war as well. You can see the importance of compromise and appreciate those who have kept our country together..