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Reconstructing America
The Doom of Reconstruction: The Liberal Republicans in the Civil War Era
In the Election of 1872 the conflict between President U. S. Grant and Horace Greeley has been typically understood as a battle for the soul of the ruling Republican Party. In this innovative study, Andrew Slap argues
forcefully that the campaign was more than a narrow struggle between Party elites and a class-based radical reform movement. The election, he demonstrates, had broad in their opposition to widespread Federal corruption, Greeley Republicans unintentionally doomed Reconstruction of any kind, even as they lost the election.
Based on close readings of newspapers, party documents, and other primary sources, Slap confronts one of the major questions in American political How, and why, did Reconstruction come to an end? His focus on the unintended consequences of Liberal Republican politics is a provocative contribution to this important debate.
forcefully that the campaign was more than a narrow struggle between Party elites and a class-based radical reform movement. The election, he demonstrates, had broad in their opposition to widespread Federal corruption, Greeley Republicans unintentionally doomed Reconstruction of any kind, even as they lost the election.
Based on close readings of newspapers, party documents, and other primary sources, Slap confronts one of the major questions in American political How, and why, did Reconstruction come to an end? His focus on the unintended consequences of Liberal Republican politics is a provocative contribution to this important debate.
- GenresHistory
306 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2006
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October 24, 2023
This book is very deep dive into the 1872 Liberal Republicans: what they believed, who they were, why they failed, and ultimately, what their lasting effects were. To do all of this, Andrew L. Slap's Doom of Reconstruction looks at not only the Liberal Republicans in 1872, but also, what they were doing as early as the late 1840s. While I was initially skeptical about the necessity to go that far back, it does become clear that the author did this to give a truly comprehensive picture of this party's ideology, which I appreciate.
The election of 1872 itself is also covered pretty extensively, though readers who want a deep look into the characters of Horace Greeley and Ulysses S. Grant should look elsewhere. The focus is always kept on the original Liberal Republicans and why they failed. The chapters on the long-term effects of the Liberal Republicans and their efforts in 1876 are very interesting, though I wish there was more on how local Liberal Republican Parties did between 1872 and 1876.
I found the writing style was quite straightforward; nothing that special. Overall, if someone has questions about the Liberal Republicans of 1872, Slap's Doom of Reconstruction is probably the best resource available.
The election of 1872 itself is also covered pretty extensively, though readers who want a deep look into the characters of Horace Greeley and Ulysses S. Grant should look elsewhere. The focus is always kept on the original Liberal Republicans and why they failed. The chapters on the long-term effects of the Liberal Republicans and their efforts in 1876 are very interesting, though I wish there was more on how local Liberal Republican Parties did between 1872 and 1876.
I found the writing style was quite straightforward; nothing that special. Overall, if someone has questions about the Liberal Republicans of 1872, Slap's Doom of Reconstruction is probably the best resource available.
Displaying 1 of 1 review