The Stormy Present: Conservatism and the Problem of Slavery in Northern Politics, 1846–1865

Civil War America

by Adam I.P. Smith

In this engaging and nuanced political history of Northern communities in the Civil War era, Adam I. P. Smith offers a new interpretation of the familiar story of the path to war and ultimate victory. Smith looks beyond the political divisions between abolitionist Republicans and Copperhead Democrats to consider the everyday conservatism that characterized the majority of Northern voters. A sense of ongoing crisis in these Northern states created anxiety and instability, which manifested in a range of social and political tensions in individual communities.

In the face of such realities, Smith argues that a conservative impulse was more than just a historical or nostalgic tendency; it was fundamental to charting a path to the future. At stake for Northerners was their conception of the Union as the vanguard in a global struggle between democracy and despotism, and their ability to navigate their freedoms through the stormy waters of modernity. As a result, the language of conservatism was peculiarly, and revealingly, prominent in Northern politics during these years. The story this book tells is of conservative people coming, in the end, to accept radical change.

Genres: History

344 pages, Paperback

Published February 1, 2020

Reviews

[Andrew Pratley]

I have been reading books about the American Civil War nearly all my life. It is a conflict which has an enduring fascination not just for me but for each new generation of historians as they come along. One of its central mysteries is simply why was it fought in the first place? Was it to abolish slavery or was it to preserve the Union? Was it a bit of both or was there something else at play?

This book concentrates on exploring the quite divergent views of self-styled American Conservatives before & during the conflict. They were always in the majority, especially in the North, & they most always sought to settle the disagreements that led to war & then way the war was then prosecuted by some sort agreement or compromise.

Conservatism has a quite different meaning in America. It is, after all, about conserving the settlement of revolution which is indeed a somewhat odd & seemingly contradictory notion.

I could go on at length about this book & that is why it is worth reading not just by Civil War enthusiasts but by those seeking to make sense of American politics today.

[Richard G.]

Better your understanding of the Civil War

Well explains the factors leading to the American Civil War. Especially interestingly written from a British perspective. Worth a read.