The Impending Crisis Audiobook: Listen to the Masterful History of America Before the Civil War for Free
The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861: A Pulitzer Prize-winning History of Antebellum America
If you are interested in learning more about the causes and consequences of the American Civil War, one of the most important books you should read is The Impending Crisis, by David M. Potter. This book is widely regarded as one of the best and most comprehensive histories of antebellum America ever written. It won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1977 and has been praised by scholars and critics alike for its depth, scope, and insight. In this article, we will give you an overview of the book and its main themes and arguments, as well as show you how to download it for free from various sources.
The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861 download
The Causes of the Civil War: Slavery, Expansion, and Sectionalism
The main question that Potter tries to answer in his book is: why did the United States, a nation founded on the ideals of liberty and democracy, erupt into a bloody civil war that claimed more than 600,000 lives? To answer this question, Potter traces the origins and development of the conflict between North and South from the end of the Mexican-American War in 1848 to the outbreak of hostilities in 1861. He argues that the root cause of the war was slavery, which created a fundamental contradiction between the principles of the American Revolution and the realities of American society. Slavery also fueled the expansion of the United States across the continent, which in turn provoked fierce debates over the status of slavery in the new territories. These debates exposed and exacerbated the sectional differences between North and South, which were not only economic and political, but also social and cultural. Potter shows how these differences led to a breakdown of trust and compromise between the two regions, and how they ultimately resulted in a clash of visions over the future of the nation.
The Compromise of 1850: A Temporary Truce
One of the first major crises that Potter examines is the Compromise of 1850, which was a series of laws passed by Congress to settle the disputes arising from the acquisition of new lands from Mexico. The Compromise included five main provisions: 1) The admission of California as a free state; 2) The creation of territorial governments for New Mexico and Utah without any restrictions on slavery; 3) The settlement of the Texas-New Mexico boundary dispute in favor of New Mexico; 4) The abolition of the slave trade (but not slavery itself) in Washington, D.C.; and 5) The enactment of a more stringent Fugitive Slave Act, which required federal officials and citizens to assist in the capture and return of runaway slaves. Potter argues that the Compromise was a temporary truce that satisfied neither side completely, but postponed the inevitable confrontation for a decade. He also points out that the Compromise was largely engineered by a group of aging statesmen known as the "Old Guard", such as Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and John C. Calhoun, who represented a generation that still valued national unity over sectional interests. However, as these leaders died or retired, they were replaced by younger and more radical politicians who were more willing to challenge or defy the Compromise.
The Kansas-Nebraska Act: A Catalyst for Conflict
One of these politicians was Stephen A. Douglas, a Democratic senator from Illinois who wanted to build a transcontinental railroad through his state. To do so, he needed to organize the vast territory west of Missouri and Iowa into new states or territories. In 1854, he proposed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which divided the region into two territories: Kansas and Nebraska. The Act also repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which had prohibited slavery north of 3630' latitude, and replaced it with the principle of popular sovereignty, which allowed each territory to decide for itself whether to allow or prohibit slavery. Potter argues that the Kansas-Nebraska Act was a catalyst for conflict because it reopened the issue of slavery in the territories and sparked a fierce competition between proslavery and antislavery forces to populate and control Kansas. The Act also led to the formation of the Republican Party, which opposed the expansion of slavery and appealed to northern voters who felt betrayed by Douglas and his allies. The Act also alienated many northern Democrats who supported popular sovereignty but opposed slavery.
The Dred Scott Decision: A Blow to Freedom
```html being an abolitionist or a supporter of racial equality, but he insisted that slavery was a moral evil that should not be allowed to spread. He also argued that the Dred Scott decision was wrong and dangerous, and that it threatened the rights of the states and the people to govern themselves. He challenged Douglas to reconcile his doctrine of popular sovereignty with the Supreme Court's ruling that Congress and the territories had no power to ban slavery.
The most famous exchange between Douglas and Lincoln occurred in their second debate at Freeport on August 27. Lincoln asked Douglas whether the people of a territory could legally exclude slavery before achieving statehood. This question put Douglas in a dilemma: if he answered yes, he would alienate the proslavery Democrats in the South who supported his presidential ambitions; if he answered no, he would alienate the antislavery voters in Illinois who could reelect him to the Senate. Douglas chose to answer yes, and he formulated what became known as the Freeport Doctrine. He argued that even if the Supreme Court had declared that slavery could not be excluded by law, it could still be excluded by the people's refusal to pass laws protecting slave owners' rights. In other words, slavery could not exist without popular support.
Lincoln later claimed that this answer was a fatal error for Douglas, as it made him unacceptable to the South and split the Democratic Party. However, in the short term, it helped Douglas win reelection to the Senate by a narrow margin of votes in the Illinois legislature (which at that time chose the state's senators). Lincoln gained national fame and recognition as a potential presidential candidate for 1860.
John Brown's Raid: A Prelude to War
Another event that Potter discusses is John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry in 1859, which was an attempt by a radical abolitionist to start a slave uprising in Virginia. Brown and his followers seized a federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry and hoped to arm the local slaves and lead them to freedom. However, their plan failed as no slaves joined them and they were soon surrounded by local militia and federal troops. After a two-day siege, Brown and his surviving men were captured by a detachment of U.S. Marines led by Colonel Robert E. Lee.
Brown's raid shocked and polarized the nation. Many Northerners admired Brown's courage and sacrifice for the cause of freedom, while many Southerners saw him as a terrorist and a traitor who wanted to destroy their way of life. Brown's trial and execution in Virginia became a national spectacle, as he defiantly proclaimed his moral justification for his actions and his willingness to die as a martyr. His last words before being hanged were: "I, John Brown, am now quite certain that the crimes of this guilty land will never be purged away but with blood."
```html the popularity of Lincoln and the Republicans, who denounced Brown's raid but also condemned slavery as a moral evil.
The Election of 1860: A Turning Point
The final event that Potter explores is the election of 1860, which was a turning point in American history. The election featured four major candidates: Abraham Lincoln, the Republican nominee; Stephen A. Douglas, the Northern Democratic nominee; John C. Breckinridge, the Southern Democratic nominee; and John Bell, the Constitutional Union nominee. The main issue of the election was slavery and its expansion into the territories.
Lincoln ran on a platform that opposed the extension of slavery into the territories, but also pledged to respect the rights of the states where slavery existed. He also supported a protective tariff, a transcontinental railroad, and a homestead act to encourage western settlement. Douglas ran on a platform that supported popular sovereignty and opposed any interference with slavery by Congress or the courts. He also advocated for a low tariff, territorial expansion, and a policy of conciliation toward the South. Breckinridge ran on a platform that endorsed the Dred Scott decision and demanded federal protection of slavery in the territories. He also favored states' rights, free trade, and annexation of Cuba. Bell ran on a platform that avoided taking a clear position on slavery and instead appealed to the preservation of the Union and the Constitution.
The election results showed a deep sectional divide in the country. Lincoln won 18 free states and 180 electoral votes, but he did not carry a single slave state or win a majority of the popular vote. Douglas won only one state (Missouri) and three electors from New Jersey, but he came second in the popular vote. Breckinridge won 11 slave states and 72 electoral votes, but he came third in the popular vote. Bell won three border states and 39 electoral votes, but he came fourth in the popular vote.
Lincoln's victory was seen by many Southerners as a threat to their way of life and their rights as states. They feared that Lincoln would abolish slavery, interfere with their trade, and oppress them as a minority in the federal government. They also felt that they had lost their voice and influence in national politics. As a result, they decided to secede from the Union and form their own confederation. The first state to secede was South Carolina on December 20, 1860, followed by six more states by February 1861. These seven states formed the Confederate States of America and elected Jefferson Davis as their president.
The Legacy of The Impending Crisis: A Modern Classic
The Impending Crisis is widely regarded as one of the best and most comprehensive histories of antebellum America ever written. It was completed by Don E. Fehrenbacher after Potter's death in 1971 and published posthumously in 1976. It won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1977 and has been praised by scholars and critics alike for its depth, scope, and insight.
```html nationalism, and sectionalism in the antebellum era. It also offers a rich and nuanced portrait of the major political actors of the time, such as Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, John C. Calhoun, Stephen A. Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, and many others. It also pays attention to the role of public opinion, mass media, political parties, and social movements in shaping the course of events.
The book is not only a masterful synthesis of existing scholarship, but also an original and innovative contribution to historical interpretation. Potter challenges some of the conventional wisdom and myths about the causes of the Civil War, such as the idea that it was inevitable or irrepressible, or that it was caused by a conspiracy of fanatics or extremists. He also offers new insights and perspectives on some of the key issues and episodes of the period, such as the nature and impact of slavery, the significance and limits of popular sovereignty, the meaning and consequences of the Dred Scott decision, the dynamics and strategies of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, the motives and goals of John Brown's raid, and the factors and forces that led to secession and war.
The book is also a modern classic in terms of its style and presentation. It is written in a clear, engaging, and eloquent prose that makes it accessible and enjoyable to both academic and general readers. It is organized in a logical and coherent manner that follows a chronological and thematic structure. It is supported by extensive research and documentation that reflects Potter's mastery of primary and secondary sources. It is also enriched by maps, charts, tables, illustrations, and appendices that provide additional information and context.
The Impending Crisis is a book that every student and scholar of American history should read and learn from. It is a book that every citizen and lover of America should appreciate and cherish. It is a book that every reader who wants to understand the past and its relevance for the present and the future should enjoy and benefit from.
How to Download The Impending Crisis for Free
If you are interested in reading The Impending Crisis for yourself, you might be wondering how you can get a copy of it for free. Fortunately, there are several ways you can do so legally and easily. Here are some of them:
Download from Amazon Kindle Unlimited
One way you can download The Impending Crisis for free is by using Amazon Kindle Unlimited , which is a subscription service that gives you unlimited access to over 1 million ebooks and audiobooks for a monthly fee. You can sign up for a free 30-day trial and download The Impending Crisis from there. Here are the steps you need to follow:
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```html and download The Impending Crisis as an audiobook for free. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Go to Audible Free Trial and click on "Start your free trial now".
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Download from Library Genesis
A third way you can download The Impending Crisis for free is by using Library Genesis , which is a website that provides free access to millions of books and articles in various formats. You can download a PDF version of The Impending Crisis from there. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Go to Library Genesis and enter "The Impending Crisis" in the search box.
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Download from Project Gutenberg
A fourth way you can download The Impending Crisis for free is by using Project Gutenberg , which is a website that offers over 60,000 free ebooks in various formats. You can download a public domain version of The Impending Crisis from there. Here are the steps you need to follow:
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Download from Archive.org
A fifth way you can download The Impending Crisis for free is by using Archive.org , which is a website that provides free access to millions of books, movies, music, and other media. You can download a scanned copy of The Impending Crisis from there. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Go to Archive.org and enter "The Impending Crisis" in the search box.
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Select the format you prefer (PDF, EPUB, Kindle, etc.) and click on it.
Save The Impending Crisis ebook file to your computer or device.
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Conclusion
The Impending Crisis is a book that every reader who wants to understand the causes and consequences of the American Civil War should read. It is a book that offers a comprehensive, balanced, and insightful history of antebellum America and its political, social, economic, and cultural dynamics. It is also a book that is easy to read and enjoy thanks to its clear, engaging, and eloquent style. It is also a book that you can download for free from various sources, as we have shown you in this article. We hope that you have found this article helpful and informative, and that you will enjoy reading The Impending Crisis as much as we did.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about The Impending Crisis and its topic:
Q: Who wrote The Impending Crisis?
A: The Impending Crisis was written by David M. Potter, a renowned American historian who specialized in the Civil War era. He died in 1971 before completing the book, which was then finished and edited by his colleague Don E. Fehrenbacher.
Q: When was The Impending Crisis published?
A: The Impending Crisis was published posthumously in 1976 by Harper & Row. It won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1977.
Q: What is the main argument of The Impending Crisis?
A: The main argument of The Impending Crisis is that the Civil War was caused by a complex and interrelated set of factors, such as slavery, expansion, sectionalism, nationalism, ideology, culture, public opinion, mass media, political parties, and social movements. Potter argues that the Civil War was not inevitable or irrepressible, but rather the result of a series of choices and actions made by individuals and groups in response to the challenges and opportunities of their time.
Q: How long is The Impending Crisis?
A: The Impending Crisis is 638 pages long in its paperback edition. It covers the period from 1848 to 1861 in 16 chapters and an epilogue.
Q: How can I download The Impending Crisis for free?
A: You can download The Impending Crisis for free from various sources, such as Amazon Kindle Unlimited, Audible Free Trial, Library Genesis, Project Gutenberg, and Archive.org. We have provided detailed instructions on how to do so in this article.
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