1857, Kenneth Stampp

[evandood]

I am reading a very informative book on the crucial year of 1857. Kenneth Stampp lays out in a very detailed fashion the challenges the Buchanan administration faced. It doesn't absolve the 15th president, but I have new perspective.

 

[John Winn]

I am reading a very informative book on the crucial year of 1857. Kenneth Stampp lays out in a very detailed fashion the challenges the Buchanan administration faced. It doesn't absolve the 15th president, but I have new perspective.

I have that one (America In 1857, A Nation On The Brink). I like Stampp. He was one of the early great historians of the era along with guys like David Potter and Bruce Catton.

 

[AndyHall]

Stampp is probably best known for his first major book, The Peculiar Institution: Slavery in the Ante-Bellum South (1956).

 

[evandood]

Stampp is probably best known for his first major book, The Peculiar Institution: Slavery in the Ante-Bellum South (1956).

We used excerpts of that book in my Civil War class at St. Joe's. I like his writing, some may find it dry, but it works for me.

 

[Bob171]

I recently picked up a copy - hopefully this will be the motivation I need to start reading it.

 

[18thVirginia]

Kenneth Stampp was a friend of my college American History professor and came to visit our class of about 10 kids. I remember him as a very soft-spoken, nice guy. We all ran over to the bookstore and purchased his book that afternoon.

 

[Bob171]

Finally started the book - good introduction. 1857 here I come!

 

[Bob171]

My Humble Book Review

The country is drowning in political turmoil. Political parties and institution are being ripped apart by demagogues and fear mongers. Conservative and liberal moderates are being pulled (or replaced) by extremists over issues of immigration, voter fraud and interpretations of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. The president and congress don't trust each other and the Supreme Count continues to exasperate the electorate with controversial rulings.

Welcome to 1857 – sound familiar?

Kenneth Stampp's book: 1857 – A Nation on the Brink is a well researched analysis of one of the pivotal years the ushered in the American Civil War. He states at the beginning how difficult it is to pick a specific time frame and focus on only those events to explain the greater era. In my opinion he succeeds with his clear narrative and brief but important snapshots of key events outside of the book's scope.

In this political climate of shared animosity and distrust I find it fortifying to learn that this is how our republic and institutions have been operating since its inception. This is a very good book and I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in the political interplay that lead to a war that could have been prevented.

 

[W. Richardson]

I am reading a very informative book on the crucial year of 1857. Kenneth Stampp lays out in a very detailed fashion the challenges the Buchanan administration faced. It doesn't absolve the 15th president, but I have new perspective.

It is a very good read
Stampp authored several good books.

Respectfully,
William

 

[Bob171]

It is a very good read
Stampp authored several good books.

Good to know - I will check out his other works.

 

[Booner]

Welcome to 1857 – sound familiar?

I was thinking the same thing *** I read your review. I may need to get the book. After all, history does repeat its'self.