Posted on 12/11/2018 5:04:19 AM PST by 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.
Abraham Lincoln: Speeches and Writings 1832-1858, edited by Don E. Fehrenbacher
Interesting item on page 29. It seems to be saying that when you buy candy, it’s full of toxic ingredients such as arsenic and non-food products like plaster of Paris.
I think candy is of the devil, anyway.
We think of the very long Presidential campaign as a modern invention. However, we see Stephen Douglas already campaigning for the 1860 nomination in December 1858, and Lincoln planning against him.
What’s with the ladies as prizes at a fair?
They’re being compared to prize-winning cows.
I don't think #MeToo would be very happy with that joke!
No, it’s a little disrespectful, but kind of amusing, too.
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
After the Mexican War the Santa Anna dictatorship was overthrown, which began a period known as La Reforma. Liberals were convinced that Mexico had to modernize after the humiliating defeat at the hands of the Americans.
By 1858, La Reforma had devolved into the War of Reform. We can look to our crystal ball to see that the liberals, under Benito Juarez, would win. That, however, would only end with a French invasion and attempt to set up Maximilian, a Hapsburg, as Emperor of Mexico. By that time, however, America would be preoccupied with other problems.
Very recently, a man named Walker, with his Filibuster Army, had been defeated and thrown out of Nicaragua. Walker had seized the country during a time of turmoil, allegedly as one faction's ally, but tried to convert it into an English speaking slave state. Only with great effort did the Central Americans expel Walker and his Filibusterers. Almost as prone to making bad decisions as Buchanan, President Pierce had recognized Walker's regime as the legitimate government.
England still exercised great influence in the region and especially in what is now Belize and the Mosquito Coast of Nicaragua.
So, our Diarist's sour view of American influence in the region vis a vis the Europeans has some grounding in recent events.
I examined the volume of his diary that covers the war. He followed events and wrote about the battles, rumors, news coverage, and a few acquaintances who fought, but I didn't see where he gave his position as pro- or anti-war. He seems not to have considered it from that perspective.
Poor old General Lee. His relatives’ financial shenanigans were an immense burden to him all his life.
Lee thought he had problems in 1858-59. A few years later, he would consider those the good old days.
Continued from September 1 (reply #10) .
Nicole Etcheson, Bleeding Kansas: Contested Liberty in the Civil War Era
The Diary of George Templeton Strong, Edited by Allan Nevins and Milton Halsey Thomas
Tell us how you really feel about Buchanan, Mr. Strong!
Cool.
I was out on the Butterfield trail quite a bit in the 80’s and 90’s. This stretch was between Maricopa and Gila Bend.
There is a very large earthen tank that was used by the stage about 20mi from the Gila River back in the day.
I’m sure it’s probably closed off by now.
The area was wide open and probably isn’t anymore. Very beautiful but desolate.
Thanks for posting.
I wondered how your Gila River stop would be on the route of a stage from St. Louis to San Francisco. But the article explains they took a long curving route through Texas and the southwest. The trail even fords the Rio Grande at one point. Good stuff, if I do say so myself.
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