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History of the United States from the Compromise of 1850: Volume 2. 1854-1860
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1893 edition by Macmillan & Co., London.
- GenresHistory
556 pages, Paperback
First published January 15, 2004
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January 5, 2009
This is James Rhodes' second volume of his eight volume "History of the United States - From the Compromise of 1850 to the McKinley-Bryan Campaign of 1896". This volume covers the years from 1854 through 1860, though some of 1854 had been covered in the previous volume. Originally published by "The MacMillan Company" in 1892 this work picks up where volume one left off. As part of the larger work, the chapters also pick up starting with Chapter seven after the first six appeared in volume one.
Chapter seven continues in the coverage of the time of Pierce's administration, this time looking at the political changes which occurred in 1854. These include the creation of the Republican Party, the American Party (who became commonly known as the Know-nothings), and smaller movements such as the temperance movement. The end of the Whig Party is also looked at in relation to these new parties. The discussion also covers the change in power in the Northern states as the Democrats become viewed as the party of slavery. The chapter then looks at Kansas, and the battle between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces within the state, including the "Wakarusa war", the destruction of Lawrence, and the massacre on the Pottawatomie committed by John Brown and his followers.
Chapter eight then finishes of the Pierce administration, covering more of Kansas, and the campaigns, conventions, and elections for the President and other significant offices. Pierce's term in office was less than impressive. He was elected in a landslide, under the idea that the slavery question had been answered, and ultimately the members of his administration contributed greatly to the conflict between North and South and the overturning of the Missouri Compromise. This chapter looks at the nomination of Buchanan. The first Republican candidate for president, Frémont, is also covered as is why he was selected. The return of Millard Fillmore as a candidate of the dying Whig party is also included. Slavery was the dominant issue, but there is an interesting section on the near-war with England when Crampton was dismissed.
Chapter nine starts with the Buchanan administration. It starts with Buchanan's selection of his cabinet, which fell far short of Pierce's cabinet in terms of ability. It then takes a look at the Supreme Court as it is pulled into the slavery conflict with the Dred Scott case, and the decision written by Chief Justice Taney, and the dissent written by Justice Curtis. Buchanan's serving southern interests becomes quite apparent with his endorsement of the Calhoun doctrine and the Lecompton convention. The panic of 1857 is not covered in great detail here, as it is basically only mentioned in respect to the effect it had on the political climate. The Lecompton convention is indeed the key here as it separates Douglas from the southern Democrats which has a snowball effect on other events. The elevation of Douglas' prestige, his flirtation with becoming a Republican, the elevation of Lincoln with their famous debates, and ultimately the ability of the Republicans to win the White House are arguably all a result of the Lecompton convention and the attempt to bring Kansas in as a slave state.
Chapter ten goes into much more detail about Douglas and the possibility of a joining of forces with the Republicans. This chapter covers in great detail the Lincoln Douglas debates and the senatorial race between the two of them. The contrast of Douglas' "popular sovereignty", Seward's Irrepressible Conflict" and Lincoln's "A house divided ..." positions makes for an interesting debate. This chapter continues into the fall elections, and then into John Brown's raid into Virginia, the fight, his capture, trial and execution. Smaller topics which were also important that Rhodes discusses are the continuation of the illegal African slave-trade in which he contrasts southern support for that with northern attempts at bringing those who helped fugitive slaves to justice. He also covers the battle for slavery support in California and how Senator Broderick's death as the result of a duel with the pro-slavery Democrats essentially ended any support for slavery within the state.
Chapter eleven finishes off Buchanan's time in office and ends with the election of Lincoln. The chapter focuses on the political battle for the Presidency and the houses of Congress. All the party conventions are discussed, from the Constitution Union party, to both the Democratic conventions, and of course the Republican convention. Rhodes describes the split in the Democrats and how it ensured Lincoln's victory. The discussion of Seward and his disappointing defeat and yet his strong campaigning for Lincoln is of particular interest, as are factors such as the illegal African slave-trade, and the threat of secession which occurred numerous times along the way.
Chapter twelve looks at the entire decade of the 1850s. It covers everything from the progress in material goods, to the naval improvements, to the rail situation, the effect of the various tariffs on the economy. The economy as a whole figures greatly in this section, with discussions of the Money panic of 1854, the recommendations of Secretary of the Treasury Guthrie, panic of 1857, and the short-lived revival of the economy prior to the war. More general issues are discussed as well, such as the health, and perceived health of Americans as opposed to their European counterparts; manners and customs, and public amusements. Rhodes then looks at American culture in the form of literature, religion (including the large revival in 1858), and the perception of Americans in terms of their being serious, or humorous, and the view of American Morality.
Together with Volume I, the history of the United states from 1850-1860 is fairly complete, though there are some more details which the author has promised in future volumes on some of the events which occurred during this time. Once again Rhodes does an excellent view of the history of the time, not only his own perception from having lived through it, but the historical perception. I feel this is the better of the two volumes, for it does not have the major flaw in discussing race which was featured in an entire chapter in Volume I, but of course both volumes are highly recommended.
Chapter seven continues in the coverage of the time of Pierce's administration, this time looking at the political changes which occurred in 1854. These include the creation of the Republican Party, the American Party (who became commonly known as the Know-nothings), and smaller movements such as the temperance movement. The end of the Whig Party is also looked at in relation to these new parties. The discussion also covers the change in power in the Northern states as the Democrats become viewed as the party of slavery. The chapter then looks at Kansas, and the battle between pro-slavery and anti-slavery forces within the state, including the "Wakarusa war", the destruction of Lawrence, and the massacre on the Pottawatomie committed by John Brown and his followers.
Chapter eight then finishes of the Pierce administration, covering more of Kansas, and the campaigns, conventions, and elections for the President and other significant offices. Pierce's term in office was less than impressive. He was elected in a landslide, under the idea that the slavery question had been answered, and ultimately the members of his administration contributed greatly to the conflict between North and South and the overturning of the Missouri Compromise. This chapter looks at the nomination of Buchanan. The first Republican candidate for president, Frémont, is also covered as is why he was selected. The return of Millard Fillmore as a candidate of the dying Whig party is also included. Slavery was the dominant issue, but there is an interesting section on the near-war with England when Crampton was dismissed.
Chapter nine starts with the Buchanan administration. It starts with Buchanan's selection of his cabinet, which fell far short of Pierce's cabinet in terms of ability. It then takes a look at the Supreme Court as it is pulled into the slavery conflict with the Dred Scott case, and the decision written by Chief Justice Taney, and the dissent written by Justice Curtis. Buchanan's serving southern interests becomes quite apparent with his endorsement of the Calhoun doctrine and the Lecompton convention. The panic of 1857 is not covered in great detail here, as it is basically only mentioned in respect to the effect it had on the political climate. The Lecompton convention is indeed the key here as it separates Douglas from the southern Democrats which has a snowball effect on other events. The elevation of Douglas' prestige, his flirtation with becoming a Republican, the elevation of Lincoln with their famous debates, and ultimately the ability of the Republicans to win the White House are arguably all a result of the Lecompton convention and the attempt to bring Kansas in as a slave state.
Chapter ten goes into much more detail about Douglas and the possibility of a joining of forces with the Republicans. This chapter covers in great detail the Lincoln Douglas debates and the senatorial race between the two of them. The contrast of Douglas' "popular sovereignty", Seward's Irrepressible Conflict" and Lincoln's "A house divided ..." positions makes for an interesting debate. This chapter continues into the fall elections, and then into John Brown's raid into Virginia, the fight, his capture, trial and execution. Smaller topics which were also important that Rhodes discusses are the continuation of the illegal African slave-trade in which he contrasts southern support for that with northern attempts at bringing those who helped fugitive slaves to justice. He also covers the battle for slavery support in California and how Senator Broderick's death as the result of a duel with the pro-slavery Democrats essentially ended any support for slavery within the state.
Chapter eleven finishes off Buchanan's time in office and ends with the election of Lincoln. The chapter focuses on the political battle for the Presidency and the houses of Congress. All the party conventions are discussed, from the Constitution Union party, to both the Democratic conventions, and of course the Republican convention. Rhodes describes the split in the Democrats and how it ensured Lincoln's victory. The discussion of Seward and his disappointing defeat and yet his strong campaigning for Lincoln is of particular interest, as are factors such as the illegal African slave-trade, and the threat of secession which occurred numerous times along the way.
Chapter twelve looks at the entire decade of the 1850s. It covers everything from the progress in material goods, to the naval improvements, to the rail situation, the effect of the various tariffs on the economy. The economy as a whole figures greatly in this section, with discussions of the Money panic of 1854, the recommendations of Secretary of the Treasury Guthrie, panic of 1857, and the short-lived revival of the economy prior to the war. More general issues are discussed as well, such as the health, and perceived health of Americans as opposed to their European counterparts; manners and customs, and public amusements. Rhodes then looks at American culture in the form of literature, religion (including the large revival in 1858), and the perception of Americans in terms of their being serious, or humorous, and the view of American Morality.
Together with Volume I, the history of the United states from 1850-1860 is fairly complete, though there are some more details which the author has promised in future volumes on some of the events which occurred during this time. Once again Rhodes does an excellent view of the history of the time, not only his own perception from having lived through it, but the historical perception. I feel this is the better of the two volumes, for it does not have the major flaw in discussing race which was featured in an entire chapter in Volume I, but of course both volumes are highly recommended.
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