1000 Pages
by
Routledge
This text offers a glimpse of a tumultuous time in US history. A primary source reference, it includes 400 biographies of prominent figures living during the American Civil War period, written by their contemporaries. The authors' observations of the time in which they lived, interwoven with biographical portraits of their subjects, add an extra dimension of interest to this illustrated A-Z reference. In addition to military and political leaders, the book covers major business leaders, scientists, inventors, artists, entertainers, publishers, abolitionists, and other notable persons such as the chief of the Wampanog Indians Elisha Converse, Barbara Fritchie and Tom Thumb.
Political campaigns in the United States have been . favorite targets of critics since our nation's origin. "Too long", "too expensive", "too negative", "too personal", "unbecoming to our democracy" -- these criticisms were made in the nineteenth century just as they are made today; but are they compelling?This short book takes a fresh look at the American style of campaign politics, past and present, warts and all, to argue that campaigns reflect both our popular culture and the place of politics in our national life. In the end, the purpose of campaigns is to draw voters' attention to a candidate or issue, even though politics is not of immediate interest to many or most citizens. That is what campaigns do and always have done in America -- and there is little reason to think that a more cerebral approach to politics would be more effective.Reflective, analytical, and firmly committed to democratic values, this book challenges citizens to trade cynicism for realism -- to take a clear-eyed look at our politics and ourselves, and appreciate both for what they are.
Biography
James M. McPherson
