Slavery, capitalism, and politics in the antebellum Republic. Volume 2, The coming of the Civil War, 1850-1861 / John Ashworth.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ashworth, John, 1950- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

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

Slavery.

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

Capitalism.

Working class--United States--History--19th century.

Working class.

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

United States.

United States--Economic conditions--To 1865.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (ix, 683 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2007.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The second and concluding volume of Professor Ashworth's study of American antebellum politics, this book offers an exciting new interpretation of the origins of the Civil War. The volume deals with the politics of the 1850s and with the plunge into civil war. Professor Ashworth offers a new way of understanding the conflict between North and South and shows how northern free labor increasingly came into conflict with southern slavery as a result of both changes in the northern economy and the structural weaknesses of slavery.

Contents:

Cover; Half-title; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Acknowledgments; Introduction: Explaining the Civil War (1); I; II; III; IV; PART I Slavery versus Antislavery; 1 Combating the weaknesses of slavery: Southern militants, 1850-1861; 2 The antislavery challenge: The Republicans, 1854-1861; PART II Polarisation and Collapse; 3 The disintegration of Democratic hegemony: Northern Democrats and their southern allies, 1850-1861; 4 Political realignment: Collapse of the Whigs and neo-Whigs, 1848-1861; Conclusion: Explaining the Civil War (2); I; II; III; IV; V; VI; VII; VIII; IX

Appendix: A review of some major works on the reasons for Confederate defeat(1) Economic Factors; (2) Diplomacy; (3) "Died of Democracy"; (4) Presidential leadership; (5) Confederate loss of will; (6) Generals, military strategy; (7) Soldierly commitment; (8) The role of African Americans; (9) Contingency; (10) Conclusion; Index

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

1-107-18667-6

1-281-94444-0

9786611944445

0-511-81542-5

0-511-39401-2

0-511-39188-9

0-511-39466-7

0-511-39070-X

0-511-39319-9

OCLC:

476208140