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 previous thread
Monthly Record of Current Events – 2-5*
Editor’s Drawer – 6-15
Ingredients of a Modern Novel. – 16-17
Fashions for May – 18-19
* Votes in U.S. House and Senate on the Kansas bill, in March and April.
“An Army Bill has passed both Houses, authorizing the President to accept the services of volunteers, not to exceed the number of three regiments, for the defense of the frontier, quelling disturbances in Utah, protecting supply and emigrant trains, and suppressing Indian hostilities.”
The situation in Utah is described.
Thomas Harte Benton is memorialized.
Also, reports from Southern America, Great Britain, France, and The East.
Some big news items:
The Lecompton Constitution was the 2nd constitution for Kansas written by the pro-slavery side. Send Stephen Douglas (D -IL) who created Bloody Kansas with his Kansas-Nebraska joined the Republicans and other northern Democrats in voting nay. This would lead to the rift of the Democratic party in the 1860 elections. Kansas would not become a state until the Civil War started.
Lord Palmerston (Pam) gov’t fell over what is called the Orsini Affair. Orsini was a Pro-Unification of Italy terrorist who tried to assassinate French Emperor Napoleon III. As was the custom of the British during that time, Mr. Orsini was a political refugee in the UK who joined other conspiracies in the UK to plot to terrorist act. Pam tried to introduce a bill that would make it a crime to plot an overseas murder in the UK but the bill was defeated and Pam and his gov’t resigned. Lord Derby would form one of his short lived Conservative gov’t until the coalition that would make up the Liberal party got itself organized and forced a new election.
