[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1855-1860: Seminar and Discussion Forum
Bleeding Kansas, Dred Scott, Lincoln-Douglas, Harper’s Ferry, the election of 1860, secession – all the events leading up to the Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: Sometime in the future.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed. To add this class to or drop it from your schedule notify Admissions and Records (Attn: Homer_J_Simpson) by reply or freepmail.

Link to August 1857 thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Monthly Record of Current Events * – 2-6
Editor’s Drawer – 7-15
Fashions for September – 16-17

* Section opens with a disclaimer that it was a slow news month.

News of New Granada; U.S. diplomatic appointments; more grumbling from Utah. “A Convention for forming a State Constitution for Minnesota assembled at St. Paul, July 13.” Let’s hope they have more luck than the folks in Kansas, which is discussed next. A Convention is also forming in Oregon. “The confusion still continues in the municipal affairs of the city of New York.” A crime wave in that city “led to suggestions that a Vigilance Committee, after the model of that in San Francisco, should be organized, on the ground that the present police organization is altogether inadequate to secure the public safety.” Update on the rioting in the 17th Ward that George Strong last wrote about on July 16 (reply #37). Still more on the Burdell murder case.

In Great Britain, the “Oaths Bill, so modified as to allow Jews to sit in Parliament, which passed the Commons, has been rejected by the Peers.” There have been problems with the laying of a trans-Atlantic telegraph cable. First word here of the Sepoy Mutiny, now considered a great emergency.

News from France, Italy, Spain and The East is also covered.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from May 18 (reply #46).

William J. Cooper, Jr., Jefferson Davis, American

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from August 30 (reply #29) .

The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas

[WKUHilltopper]

When Miss Varina was writing “...my dear old ban...”, was that a common expression in those days? First I’ve heard of it. Maybe was just a personal ‘pet name’ that has some significance?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

I need some input, class.

I would really like to post the Harper's Weekly on a regular basis. Archived copies from 1858 on are availiable for free in pdf. I saved the first year and found that the font is so small I can barely read it. I printed out a page at 175% of the original size and it is a little better, but how much better? I will post a sample page of text below. It looks like there are about 16 pages per week. Would it be worthwhile to print them all?

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from August 20 (reply #18).

Nicole Etcheson, Bleeding Kansas: Contested Liberty in the Civil War Era

John Calhoun Kansapedia page

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Sherman’s August 24 letter placed his bank branch – Lucas, Turner and Company – at 12 Wall Street. I did some searching to find out if he was then a neighbor of George Strong’s firm (Strong, Bidwell and Strong). Unsuccessful. Yesterday I send an email to the current iteration of the Strong firm, now known as Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, and asked if anyone there knows their historical Wall Street address. I imagine the information exists but not hopeful anyone will be interested in spending unbillable time getting back to me.

This letter is also to Sherman’s wife, Ellen.

Continued from August 24 (reply #24).

Home Letters of General Sherman, edited by M.A. DeWolfe Howe, 1909

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Continued from August 21 (reply #22).

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Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher