Conviction Against Convention

About the Book

The U.S. Civil War is not only the history of Americans killing Americans on the battlefields, but also a drama of cause and effect and how the conflict perpetually changed the lives of the people, communities, and a national conscience. But do people have the awareness and understanding of the overall nature and upshots of it? Aimed at providing readers with valuable information on the Civil War, the rise and spread of slavery, and other relevant issues, author Walter F. Urbanek presents his book entitled Conviction Against Convention. Quick-witted and neatly written, Conviction Against Convention is an educational tool that offers a plethora of information on the Civil War. Urbanek’s major goal is to provide the readers with a comprehensive description of the institution of slavery that led up to the war. He points out the mobilization for war, a soldier’s life in camp, their music, the naval warfare, the battles they fought, and their weapons. He also shares about the life of the prisoners of war and how they suffered from various inhumane conditions. In this book, Urbanek offers a vivid portrayal of how economics encouraged not only the use of slavery, but also provoked a certain belief related to racism and bigotry. Serving as a mirror into the past, this book is also designed for the veterans to be able to relate to the fears, sorrows, and joys of those who had stepped forward to accept the challenge. It provides a glimpse of the lives of the commanding generals responsible for organizing, equipping, training, planning, implementing and leading their command in war against the enemy. “It is my hope that when the reader completes the book, he or she will have a better understanding and appreciation for the soldiers who participated in America’s bloodiest and most costly war – a war fought not against nations, but rather pitting brother against brother and conviction against convention,” Urbanek stated adding to his hope that Conviction Against Convention will open the minds of the people to prevent the failures and sins of their ancestors from recurring.

About the Author

I can't recall a time when I did not want to be a teacher. Some kids grow up wanting to be lawyers, doctors or firemen. I wanted to teach. After completing my tour of duty as a U.S. Marine in 1963, I returned to college and earned a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and began my career as a history and social studies teacher at Edgar High School. Over the next 33 years I felt honored to teach so many remarkable minds. To the credit of my students, I earned an M.S. in Education and received several special awards including Master Teacher, Wisconsin Social Studies Teacher of the Year, National Social Studies. Teacher of the Year, and TIME Magazine Education Program Advisory Board member. Through the Fulbright Scholarship Program, I was fortunate to travel and learn about diverse cultures and societies in Sierra Leone, The Gambia, The Netherlands, Egypt and Zimbabwe, Senegal, South Africa and Uzbekistan. While the history of the U.S. Civil War has been written by countless historians and biographers, it is my desire to help make the journey through the pages of history easier, enabling each student to feel the passions on both sides of the social lines while attempting to understand the emotions of those involved in the conflict. This book is an effort to provide recognition for the men and women who fought and died, those who cared for the sick and wounded and those who helped rehabilitate the handicapped. It is a tell-all about the Civil War. I retired in 1999 and moved to Florida where I live with my wife, Patti, and three dogs.