Description
Book SynopsisThe 1850s offered the last remotely feasible chance for the United States to steer clear of Civil War. Yet fundamental differences between North and South about slavery and the meaning of freedom caused political conflicts to erupt again and again throughout the decade. This book looks at one of the pivotal decades in US history.
Trade ReviewEric Walther's The Shattering of the Union is an accessible, very readable account of the turbulent 1850s. This lively survey juxtaposes political, social, and cultural history with the voices and stories of the famous and the obscure in ways that should appeal to many different kinds of readers. -- George C. Rable, University of Alabama, author of Fredericksburg! Fredericksburg!
In this vivid narrative, Eric Walther brings to life the passionate and violent debate over slavery that shook the American Republic to its foundations in the 1850s. Rendering understandable the complex events of this period whie avoiding simplification, Walther's lively and compelling text recaptures the tenor of the political upheaval of this most critical decade. -- Brooks D. Simpson, Arizona State University, author of Ulysses S. Grant
With The Shattering of the Union, Eric Walther has given us an engaging, fast-paced narrative covering the last decade of the American journey to Civil War. Drawing on the best recent scholarship and his own insights, Walther's volume is a quick read that is perfect for classroom use. It is a compelling tale, well told. -- Lacy Ford, University of South Carolina
Walther's narrative and analysis of the growing sectional crisis of the 1850s is a masterful blend of the general and particular, and although the events in the book are familiar, Walther's telling of the story is fresh, insightful, and cogent. This is a major contribution to the history and historiography of the coming of the Civil War. Highly recommended. All levels and collections. * CHOICE *
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Prologue: After the Compromise Chapter 3 1852: "The Vile Wretch in Petticoats" Chapter 4 1853: "Frank, I Pity You" Chapter 5 1854: "It Will Raise a Hell of a Storm" Chapter 6 1855: "Kansas Has Been Invaded" Chapter 7 1856: "The Rape of a Virgin Territory" Chapter 8 1857: "A Northern Man with Southern Principles" Chapter 9 1858: "It is an Irrepressible Conflict" Chapter 10 1859: "When I Strike, The Bess Will Swarm" Chapter 11 Epilogue: The 1860s and Beyond Chapter 12 Bibliographical Essay Chapter 13 Index
