The political style of conspiracy : Chase, Sumner, and Lincoln / Michael William Pfau.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Pfau, Michael, 1945-2009.

Series:

Rhetoric and public affairs series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874.

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873.

Rhetoric--Political aspects.

History.

Conspiracies.

United States--Politics and government--1815-1861.

United States.

Politics and government.

Slavery--Political aspects--United States--History--19th century.

Slavery.

Slavery--Political aspects.

Conspiracies--United States--History--19th century.

Chase, Salmon P. (Salmon Portland), 1808-1873--Language.

Chase, Salmon P.

Sumner, Charles, 1811-1874--Language.

Sumner, Charles.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865--Language.

Lincoln, Abraham.

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865.

Rhetoric--Political aspects--United States--History--19th century.

Rhetoric.

English language--Discourse analysis.

English language.

Political culture--United States--History--19th century.

Political culture.

Physical Description:

vii, 248 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

East Lansing : Michigan State University Press, [2005]

Summary:

The turbulent history of the United States has provided a fertile ground for conspiracies, both real and imagined. From the American Revolution to the present day, conspiracy discourse--linguistic and symbolic practices and artifacts revolving around themes, claims, or accusations of conspiracy--has been a staple of political rhetoric. Some conspiracy theories never catch on with the public, while others achieve widespread popularity. Whether successful or not, the means by which particular conspiracy theories spread is a rhetorical process, a process in which persuasive language, symbolism, and arguments act upon individual minds within concrete historical and political settings. Conspiracy rhetoric was a driving force in the evolution of antebellum political culture, contributing to the rise and fall of the great parties in the nineteenth century. One conspiracy theory in particular--the "slave power" conspiracy--was instrumental in facilitating the growth of the young Republican Party's membership and ideology. The Political Style of Conspiracy analyzes the concept and reality of the "slave power" in the rhetorical discourse of the mid-nineteenth-century, in particular the speeches and writing of politicians Salmon P. Chase, Charles Sumner, and Abraham Lincoln. By examining their mainstream texts, Pfau reveals that, in addition to the "paranoid style" of conspiracy rhetoric that inhabits the margins of political life, Lincoln, Chase, and Sumner also engaged in a distinctive form of conspiracy rhetoric that is often found at the center of mainstream American society and politics.

Contents:

Problems of interpretation : approaching conspiracy in text and discourse

The slave power according to Salmon P. Chase : entering the mainstream of partisan rhetoric, 1845-1854

Charles Sumner's "crime against Kansas" : conspiracy rhetoric in the oratorical mold

Lincoln, conspiracy rhetoric, and the "house divided" : assessing the judgment of history

Lessons of the slave power conspiracy : conspiracy rhetoric at the center and fringe.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 231-243) and index.

ISBN:

0870137603

OCLC:

61758542