And he argues that president lincoln was against slavery, but was willing to accept it in order to preserve the union. This is an hour and a half, hosted by the New York Historical society and the bryant park reading room. Thank you alex castle and paul room arrow. And thanks to the Bryant Park Corporation and the bryant park reading room, and the hsbc corporation and all those who have made it possible for me to appear here tonight. Its a particular privilege to speak here in new york city. Already, in 1860, as it remains today, new york was the nerve center of the nation. The herald, the tribune, the times, the three most influential and widely read newspapers in the United States, were publish right here. Each provides the historian with a wealth of insights, and each informs my presentation tonight. Here is what i am going to talk about. I focus on the fateful series of events in late 1860, and early 1861, when a president ial election triggered a grave crisis, and before long, a c
Test captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2008 lilienth. Lincoln won the 1860 president ial election because he carried every free state except for a divided electoral vote in new jersey. So he compiled a clear majority in the Electoral College and as we all know, of course, it is electoral votes that count. He also amassed far more popular votes than any of the other three candidates. But his plurality victory gained only 40 of the nationwide popular vote. He got no electoral votes and hardly any popular votes in the south. He was not on the ball loballotn Southern States. As we have seen an articulate ideological minority of republicans did consider slavery a moral problem, but mainstream republican moderates always said slavery was beyond their reach. Lincolns victory shocked the south. Throughout the summer and fall political orators warned of catastrophe. A symbolic humiliation added to southern distress. The south contended for a supposed constitutional right the rig
Dwight pitcaithley. [applause] ms. Drake dr. Pitcaithley nick promised he was not going to include the rockstar part. Thanks to nick for that wonderful introduction. Thank you that we can have a conversation that goes on for another 30 or 45 minutes. Robert and moran, who, many of you know, was a Pulitzer Prize civil war is our only felt history. History lived in the national imagination. I think thats true whether your ancestry goes back that far or not. My mostly does not. But the civil war affects ken burns, maybe its part of the dna. We think about it a lot. Every year when i teach the civil war course, the first day i give my students an exam and i ask them, in a word or phrase tell me what caused the civil war, what caused secession . Without secession there is no civil war. Everybody has an answer. Its not the same answer. But they all have an answer. Its states rights no, no, no. Its labored. No, its the tariff. General economic issues. I think its cultural differences to train
Nick so since he retired, he teaches at new mexico state university, teaches about history and Civil War History and he had a book that came out this week, the u. S. Constitution and secession. It is my distinct pleasure and honor to introduce you to dr. Dwight pitcaithley. Dr. Pitcaithley he promised he was not going to include the rockstar part. Best laid plans. Thank you for coming tonight. Thanks to nick that wonderful introduction and thanks to the grant site for hosting this event. Im going to talk about 25 or 30 minutes, and then alternative over to you, so you can talk about whatever you want to talk about, and we hope that during my time, i have been provocative enough that we can have a conversation that goes on for another 35 or 40 minutes. Robert jim moran, who many of you know, threetime loser prizewinner, wrote that the civil war is our only felt history, history lived in the national imagination, and i think that is true, whether your ancestry goes back that far on not.
Pitcaithley promised he was going to include it is my distinct pleasure and honor to introduce you to doctor dwight pitcaithley. applause nic promised he was not going to include the rock star part. But the best laid plans. Thank you for coming tonight. Thank you to nick for that wonderful introduction. Thank you for the site for posting this event. Im going to talk for about 25 or 30 minutes and then ill turn it over to you so you can talk about whatever you want and talk about whatever you want and hope that during my time i will have been provocative enough that we can have a conversation that goes on for another 30 or 45 minutes robert warren, many of you know, threetime pulitzer prize, who wrote that the civil war is our only felt history. History lived in the national imagination. I think that is true whether youre ancestry goes back that far or not, my mostly does not. We sort of the civil war thanks to ken burns maybe is a part of us. It is a part of our dna. We think about it