The American Civil War and Reconstruction: 1850 to 1890
Jeff Wallenfeldt, Britannica Educational Publishing
Language: English
Pages: 174
ISBN: 2:00171020
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
While the United States represents freedom to many, much of its history tragically includes the enslavement of a large portion of its population. When the fight for emancipation came to an epic head, civil war ensued and the country was divided as never before. Inflamed passions on both sides of the slavery debate inspired fervent rhetoric, much of which is reflected in the primary source documents interspersed with the text in this thought-provoking volume, which chronicles the events of the American Civil War and the Reconstruction period that followed.
Nothing Gold Can Stay: Stories
Ulysses S. Grant: Memoirs & Selected Letters (Library of America, Volume 50)
Josie Underwood's Civil War Diary
keeping in view the old and unnatural boundary. For that reason, in making the new territories, we formed natural boundaries, irrespective of the source whence our title was derived. In writing these bills I paid no attention to the fact whether the title was acquired from Louisiana, from France, or from Mexico; for what difference did it make? The principle which we had established in the bill would apply equally well to either. … Mr. President … so far as the question of slavery is concerned,
party of the free state men, fitting them out with such weapons as he had; telling them that if the troubles should increase and there should be need of him, he would follow to assist them with his hand and counsel. This, as you all know, he soon after did; and it was through his agency, far more than any other’s, that Kansas was made free. … I should say that he was an old-fashioned man in his respect for the Constitution and his faith in the permanence of this Union. Slavery he deemed to be
under what pretext, as among the gravest of crimes. I now reiterate these sentiments; and, in doing so, I only press upon the public attention the most conclusive evidence, of which the case is susceptible, that the property, peace, and security of no section are to be in any way endangered by the now incoming administration. I add, too, that all the protection which, consistently with the Constitution and the laws, can be given will be cheerfully given to all the states when lawfully demanded,
at the foundation of the fabric of our liberties: you may lop off a branch here and there, and it will survive; we may tolerate that for the sake of a greater good hereafter; but whenever you reach forth your hand to strike at the very vitals of public liberty, then the people must and will determine in their sovereign capacity what remedy the occasion demands. …” Coming immediately from Washington, having witnessed, with the common satisfaction of the people of this country, the expiration of
separation of the states and thereby change the character of the government and weakening its power. Now, what is the change? There is an attempt to concentrate the power of the government in the hands of a few, and thereby bring about consolidation which is equally dangerous and objectionable with separation. We find that powers are assumed and attempted to be exercised of a most extraordinary character. What are they? We find that governments can be revolutionized, can be changed without going