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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 December 1857 thread

Monthly Record of Current Events * – 2-5
Editor’s Drawer – 6-13
Frangipanni’s Sleigh-Ride, and what came of it. – 13-14
Fashions for January – 15-16

* “The Mormons in Utah have broken out into open rebellion”

“In Kansas the Free State majority has been still further increased by the rejection of the returns from M’Gee County, which gave a “Democratic” majority of 1200, although there are not one hundred voters in the county.”

“The President has recognized the new Government of Nicaragua . . .”

“The severity of the financial pressure has relaxed during the month; but business remains in a state of great depression, and there is much distress, especially in the large cities, among those who have been thrown out of employment. . . . The month has been signalized by a series of brutal crimes, committed chiefly by foreigners, many of them almost boys.”

“An emigrant train from Missouri, proceeding to California, was attacked by Indians, about the middle of September, in the Santa Clara Canyon, some three hundred miles south of Salt Lake City, and of 133 persons all except fifteen were killed.”

“EUROPE: The tidings of financial panic in America were followed by a severe pressure in Great Britain. Numerous failures of houses engaged in the American trade were announced.”

“THE EAST: In India the British have met with decided success. Early in September all the reinforcements that could for some time be expected having arrived before Delhi preparations were made for a vigorous assault. General Wilson, in the order of the day said that he ‘need hardly remind the troops of the cruel murders committed on their officers and comrades, as well as their wives and children, to move them in the deadly struggle. No quarter should be given to the mutineers; at the same time, for the sake of humanity and the honor of the country they belong to, he calls upon them to spare all women and children that may come in their way.’”

“A number of American whalers have recently touched at the port of Hakodadi in Japan, and have been received favorably. They say that this port will take the place of the Sandwich Islands as a port of supply for whaling vessels, the advantages for shipping and storing oil being equal, and the climate cooler.”