Book Review: The Election of 1860 Reconsidered

Archives

by A. James Fuller, editor

Kent, Oh.: Kent State University Press, 2013. Pp. xii, 272. Illus., map, notes., index. $49.95. ISBN: 1606351486

Seven historians throw fresh light on what arguably was the most portentous election in American history.

Historian Fuller (Indianapolis) and his of his colleagues to take a fresh look at the most important election in American history.  The first four essays look at Lincoln as political organizer, Douglas’s personal campaign style, Breckinridge’s goal in the election, to throw the election into the House of Representatives, and John Bell as the last gasp of Whigism.  Other essays explore the ambivalent perspective of Frederick Douglass and other abolitionists on Lincoln and the Republicans, the relationship between ideology and turnout, a case study of Indiana that argues the election there was decided on local issue, the European – primarily British – perception of the campaign, and the historiography of the campaign.  The essays help throw new light on the dynamics of the election, and on the evolution of presidential campaigns.

This is a particularly useful work for anyone interested in the slavery/anti-slavery debate, the politics of the Civil War era, and the origins of the war itself.

---///--

Reviewer: A. A. Nofi, Review Editor   


Buy it at Amazon.com

X

ad

Help Keep Us From Drying Up

We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling.

Each month we count on your contribute. You can support us in the following ways:

  1. Make sure you spread the word about us. Two ways to do that are to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
  2. Subscribe to our daily newsletter. We’ll send the news to your email box, and you don’t have to come to the site unless you want to read columns or see photos.
  3. You can contribute to the health of StrategyPage.
Subscribe   contribute   Close