Description
"This book presents the 1860 presidential election as the most decisive turning point in American history, capturing a nation deeply divided over slavery and poised for war. It traces how Murat Halstead's pioneering campaign journalism and newly uncovered documents from Abraham Lincoln's campaign manager illuminate the fierce political battles that shaped the contest. The book shows how Lincoln, a one-time congressman with limited national prominence compared to Stephen Douglas and William Henry Seward, secures essential public support during a long and contentious campaign marked by unprecedented political maneuvering. It describes how political bosses, candidates, and militant partisans push campaigning toward near-paramilitary action, while Lincoln's team skillfully channels Northern anger, antislavery sentiment, and Democratic Party fractures into electoral advantage. Finally, the book reveals how Lincoln's commanding speeches and modern political machinery combine to produce a masterful strategy that defines the most consequential election in the nation's history"-- Provided by publisher.
