American Mobbing; 1828-1861: Toward Civil War is a comprehensive history of mob violence related to sectional issues in antebellum America. David Grimsted argues that; though the issue of slavery provoked riots in both the North and the South; the riots produced two different reactions from authorities. In the South; riots against suspected abolitionists and slave insurrectionists were widely tolerated as a means of quelling anti-slavery sentiment. In the North; both pro-slavery riots attacking abolitionists and anti-slavery riots in support of fugitive slaves provoked reluctant but often effective riot suppression. Hundreds died in riots in both regions; but in the North; most deaths were caused by authorities; while in the South more than 90 percent of deaths were caused by the mobs themselves. These two divergent systems of violence led to two distinct public responses. In the South; widespread rioting quelled public and private questioning of slavery; in the North; the milder; more controlled riots generally encouraged sympathy for the anti-slavery movement. Grimsted demonstrates that in these two distinct reactions to mob violence; we can see major origins of the social split that infiltrated politics and political rioting and that ultimately led to the Civil War.
#2026467 in Books Merrill D Peterson 1995-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.13 x 1.32 x 9.25l; 1.61 #File Name: 0195096452496 pagesLincoln in American Memory
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Filled a big gap in my Lincoln studies.By Glenn D. RobinsonVery interesting book; not so much a bio of Lincoln; but a history of the myth and image of Lincoln. Starting from the bio's directly after his death to current times. Over 16;000 books and articles have been written about Lincoln. Every aspect of his life has been combed over and still; the business of Lincoln is booming. There were different periods of the Lincoln studies. The first due to the sadness of his death and what it meant. The Blacks worshipped him for freeing them from slavery. The Southerners hated him. In the 1890's there was a shift to the man; the war effort and who was this Ann Rutledge? In the 1920's there was a movement to show he was the bastard son--but who was the father? John C. Calhoun was rumored as was the son of John Marshall. After the 20's to the 60's there was a movement to psycho analyze him. Starting with Malcolm X; there was a major shift among the Blacks to either hate Lincoln or discredit him (why did he wait until January 1; 1863 to emancipate?). Then in the 70's; the novelists got involved. From Gore Vidal to Lincoln the Vampire Slayer. 16;000 books compared to 4 for Millard Fillmore.11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. An interesting book on the Lincoln imageBy Scott E. RosenauMerrill D. Peterson; a renowned Jefferson scholar; enters the field of Lincoln studies with this book on how Lincoln has been remembered; memorialized and celebrated in the years since his death. Peterson examines an interesting variety of sources; including statues and prints made of Lincoln over the years in addition to the numerous biographies written. Among the images examined are the Emancipator; the martyr; and Savior of the Union. Peterson examines the origins of these images and how they have carried through the generations by historians and others.10 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Exceptional!By SchmergulsThis fascinating volume considers how Lincoln has been viewed from the time of his death to the time this work came out. The account of the historical research related to Lincoln's genealogy and his early life is particularly intriguing. It discusses some of the Lincoln literature and indicates what is worth reading. For instance; he downgrades Otto Eisenschiml's sensational Why Was Lincoln Murdered?; which made such a splash when it came out in 1937; and recommends The Lincoln Murder Conspiracies; by William Hanchett as the best book on the assassination and its historiography. This was the best book I read in the year when I read it; a year in which I read 126 books.
