vi p., 3 β., [3]-364 p. front., pl., ports. 25 cm.
Notes
"An Atlantic monthly press book."
"Published June, 1930."
"The chief purpose of the book is ... not at all genealogical, and only in a minor degree individually biographical."--Pref.
Contents
Preface.--Prologue.--The first generation: John Adams.--The second generation: John Quincy Adams.--The third generation: Charles Francis Adams.--The fourth generation John Quincy, Charles Francis, Henry, and Brooks Adams.--Epilogue.
Includes bibliographical references (p. [341]-376) and index.
Contents
A new year and a fresh start -- Politics and the social milieu -- James Buchanan : President-elect -- The President, the Chief Justice, and a slave named Scott -- The heart of the matter : slavery and sectionalism -- Popular sovereignty, Kansas style -- Dog days -- Flush times and an autumn panic -- Northern politics : the parties in equipoise -- Politics as farce : the Lecompton Constitution -- Politics as tragedy : Buchanan's decision -- 1858 : the fruits of Lecompton.
Summary
It was a year packed with unsettling events. The Panic of 1857 closed every bank in New York City, ruined thousands of businesses, and caused widespread unemployment among industrial workers. The Mormons in Utah Territory threatened rebellion when federal troops approached with a non-Morman governor to replace Brigham Young. The Supreme Court outraged northernRepublicans and abolitionists with the Dred Scott decision ("a breathtaking example of judicial activism"). etc.
An ironic examination of the founding years of our country. Historian Ellis guides us through the decisive issues of the nation's founding, and illuminates the emerging philosophies, shifting alliances, and personal and political foibles of our now iconic leaders. He explains how the idea of a strong federal government, championed by Washington, was eventually embraced by the American people, the majority of whom had to be won over. And he details the emergence of the two-party system--then a political novelty--which today stands as the founders' most enduring legacy. But Ellis is equally incisive about their failures, making clear how their inability to abolish slavery and to reach a just settlement with the Native Americans has played an equally important role in shaping our national character. Ellis strips the mythic veneer of the revolutionary generation to reveal men possessed of both brilliance and blindness.--From publisher description.
The American statesman: a political history, exhibiting the origin, nature and practical operation of constitutional government in the United States; the rise and progress of parties, the legislation relating to all matters of national importance, with views of distinguished statesmen on questions of foreign and domestic policy
An act to incorporate the city of Lancaster with the several subsequent acts relating thereto; and the ordinances for the regulation of the said city, passed by the Select and Common Councils
An Address of members of the House of Representatives of the Congress of the United States, to their constituents, on the subject of the war with Great-Britain
Signature: To Judge Yeates from his obet., James Milner [partially clipped]
Book number 461 as assigned by Yeates.
Bound with Proposals, by Farrand and Nichholas for publishing by subscription ...The American Review of history and politics. Place not identified: publisher not identified, 1810 -- Proposals for publishing by subscription, a translation from the French, of. LeSages's historical genealogial chronological and geographical atlas. Philadelphia: Jane Aiken, 1819 -- A description of the chain bridge; invented by Judge Finley, of Fayette County Pennsylvania...Uniontown, Pa: William Campbell, 1811 -- The pioneeer, vol. I, no. IV, May 5, 1812 -- The Port folio (new series) by Oliver Oldschool, Esq. Philadelphia, Saturday, March 12, 1808 -- Annual discourse, delivered before the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts on the 13th of November 1810 by Joseph Hopkinson. Philadelphia: published by Bradford and Inskeep; Inseeep and Bradford, New York: and William M'Ilhenry, Boston, Sweeny & M'Kenzie, printers, 1810 -- Reply to Mr. Burke's invective against Mr. Cooper, and Mr. Watt, in the House of Commons on the30th of April, 1792, by Thomas Cooper. London: printed for J. Johnson, in St. Paul's Church Yard; and M Falkner and Co., Manchester, M,DCC,XCII (1792) -- Narrative of the proceedings against Thomas Cooiper, exquire, president judge of the eighth judiciary district of Pennsylvania, on a charge of official misconduct. Lancaster: printed by William Hamilton, 1811; -- [Narrative on the title of West Florida]. Place not identified:published not identified. date not identified -- Observations on the conduct of our executive towards Spain. Place not identified:published not identified. date not identified -- Letters, addressed to the people of Pennsylvania respecting the internal improvement, of the commonwealth; by means of roads and canals by William J. Duane. Philadelphia: printed by Jane Aiken, No 71, North Third Street, 18ll --An address of the members of theHouse of Representatives, of the Congress of the United States, to their consitutents, on the subject of the war with Great Britain. Philadelphia: printed at the office of the United States' Gazette, date not identified; Documents and facts, relative to military events, during the late war by Jno. P. Boyd. Place not identified:published not identified. date not identified-- Darstellung des in Baltimore am 27 und 28sten Julii, 1812, gemachten Angriffs auf die presfreyheit, und das leben der Bertheidiger defelben. Philadelphia: gedruct bey Conrad Zentler, in der Zwenten Stresse, unterhalb der Regs Strasse, 1812 -- Plan of an improved system of the money-concerns of the Union by Erick Bollman, M.D. Philadelphia: printed for the auther. Wiliam Fry, printer, Walnut, near Fifth Street, 1816; Articles of the Farmer's Bank of Lancaster. Place not idenifiied: Printed by Hugh Hamilton, date not identified.
