A candidate shot dead by his opponent during a debate; others attacked and almost killed by hostile mobs. Competing election observers determine results in a gunfight. A Senate debate becomes a fistfight; then a riot. Lawmakers dare not enter the Capitol unless fully armed. Visions of a dystopian American future? Far from it: these were actual events of the 1840s and ‘50s as our republican experiment spun out of control.

The U.S. has experienced dangerous decades - the 1790s, the 1890s, the 1930s, the 1960s, right now, but, so far, only the 1850s ended in political collapse and civil war. Using a variety of primary and secondary sources, we’ll examine the salient personalities and events of that tumultuous time, seeking to understand the central causes of America’s failure to preserve the federal union. Was it simply that when compromise broke down, the Union broke up – or was there more to it?

Participants should expect up to 50 pages of reading per session. Occasional short lectures to establish context, but we’ll focus on discussion. There will be a required reading packet for this course.

This course will combine lecture with class discussions.