Stephen A. Douglas, Western Man : The Early Years in Congress, 1844-1850.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Ankrom, Reg.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

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

United States.

United States. Congress. House--Biography.

United States. Congress. Senate--Biography.

Democratic Party (U.S.)--History--19th century.

Democratic Party (U.S.).

Douglas, Stephen A. (Stephen Arnold), 1813-1861.

Douglas, Stephen A.

Douglas, Stephen A. (Stephen Arnold), 1813-1861--Political and social views.

Legislators--United States--Biography.

Legislators.

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

Democracy.

Legislators--Illinois--Biography.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (380 pages)

Place of Publication:

Jefferson : McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers, 2021.

Summary:

"It didn't take long for freshman Congressman Stephen A. Douglas to see the truth of Senator Thomas Hart Benton's warning: slavery attached itself to every measure that came before the U.S. Congress. Douglas wanted to expand the nation into an ocean-bound republic. Yet slavery and the violent conflicts it stirred always interfered, as it did in 1844 with his first bill to organize Nebraska. In 1848, when America acquired 550,000 square miles after the Mexican War, the fight began over whether the territory would be free or slave. Henry Clay, a slave owner who favored gradual emancipation, packaged territorial bills from Douglas's committee with four others. But Clay's "Omnibus Bill" failed. Exhausted, he left the Senate, leaving Douglas in control. Within two weeks, Douglas won passage of all eight bills, and President Millard Fillmore signed the Compromise of 1850. It was Douglas's greatest legislative achievement. This book chronicles how his popular sovereignty doctrine moved the issue of slavery from Congress to the ballot box"-- Provided by publisher.

Notes:

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

1-4766-4228-1

OCLC:

1247841507