[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.

Posting history, in reverse order

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 New York Times thread

[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[SES1066]

I cannot conceive of a contemporary newspaper or even a magazine article that would cite 'Timon' (Timon of Athens)! What that says about our society of today I will leave to those who bother to read this!

Frankly, I had forgotten that Sam Houston was ever in the 1860 race for US President (Constitutional Union Party). I do remember that he remained anti-succession for his entire life (d.1863). When the initial formation of the Confederate States of America (CSA) happened after Lincoln's 1860 victory (February 1861), Texas held a convention that voted succession from the United States of America, also February 1861. Governor Houston went with the popular movement as far as declaring Texas as an independent Republic. When he refused to authorize the joining of the CSA and refused the CSA loyalty oath, the Texas Legislature declared his office vacant and Houston, just turning 68, chose not to fight and retired instead.

A month later, 19 April of 1861, 10 days after Fort Sumter, he gave the following public address;
"Let me tell you what is coming. After the sacrifice of countless millions of treasure and hundreds of thousands of lives, you may win Southern independence if God be not against you, but I doubt it. I tell you that, while I believe with you in the doctrine of states rights, the North is determined to preserve this Union. They are not a fiery, impulsive people as you are, for they live in colder climates. But when they begin to move in a given direction, they move with the steady momentum and perseverance of a mighty avalanche; and what I fear is, they will overwhelm the South."

4 years later, 9 April 1865, General Lee surrendered his CSA Army of Northern Virginia to General Grant at Appomattox, Virginia! The final battle of the US Civil War was fought in Texas, just east of Brownsville, 12-13 May 1865 and was a Union Defeat. Of Sam Houston's prediction? Of all white males (18-40) in the CSA, 30% died, CSA military casualties were 290k+ dead and a total of 864k total casualties out of a population of 9.1 million (3.5 million slaves).