Ebook: A Documentary History of the American Civil War Era : Volume 2, Political Arguments

"a a aA Documentary History of the American Civil War Era" is theafirst comprehensive collection of public policy actions, politicalaspeeches, and judicial decisions related to the American Civil War.aThis three-volume set gives scholars and students easy access toathe full texts of both the most important, fundamental documentsaas well as hard-to-find, rarely published primary sources on thisacritical period in U.S. history. a a aVolume 2 in the series, "Political Arguments," presents theawords of politicians, political party platforms, and administrativeaspeeches. It is divided into two sections. The first, Voices ofathe Politicians and Political Parties, comprises the platformsaof the major (and some minor) parties from1856 to 1876. Alsoaincluded are such pieces as Robert E. LeeOCOs letter of resignationafrom the U.S. Army, a few key speeches by that rising politicianafrom Illinois, Abraham Lincoln, and a letter on the OC AmericanaQuestionOCO written by a European observer, Karl Marx. Otheraitems include examples of the 1860OCo1861 state ordinances ofasecession and addresses on emancipation and Reconstruction byaJefferson Davis and by the Republican leader in the House ofaRepresentatives, Thaddeus Stevens. a a aSection two, Voices of the Administrations, containsarecords from the presidencies of James Buchanan, AbrahamaLincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, and Rutherford B.aHayes as well as a message from Confederate President JeffersonaDavis telling his congress that the Southern cause was OC just andaholy.OCO Classic documents such as LincolnOCOs announcement ofaforthcoming emancipation and the Emancipation Proclamationaare here, as are lesser-known but important documents such asaFrancis LieberOCOs 1863 revised law code for war, General Ordera100, and Attorney General James SpeedOCOs 1865 opinion supportingathe Johnson administrationOCOs decision to try the Lincoln murderaconspirators by special military commission and not in the civilianacourts. a a aEach of the selections in "Political Arguments" is precededaby editor Thomas MackeyOCOs introductory headnotes that explainathe documentOCOs historical significance and trace its lasting impact.aThese commentaries provide insight into not just law and publicapolicy but also the broad sweep of issues important to Civil WarOCoaera Americans. "a a aA Documentary History of the American Civil War Eraa"is an essential acquisition for academic and public libraries inaaddition to being a valuable resource for courses on the War andaReconstruction, legal history, political history, and nineteenth-acentury American history. Thomas C. Mackey is professor of history at the University ofaLouisville and adjunct professor of law at the Brandeis School of Law. He is the author of "Red Lights Out: A Legal History ofaProstitution, Disorderly Houses, and Vice Districts, 1870OCo1917 "and" Pornography on Trial: A Handbook with Cases, Laws, andaDocuments."