Secession Debated: Georgia's Showdown in 1860

by William W. Freehling and Craig M. Simpson

Book Overview

The critical northern antebellum debate matched the rhetorical skills of Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas in an historic argument over the future of slavery in a westward-expanding America. Two years later, an equally historic oratorical showdown between secessionists and Unionists in Georgia generated as much popular interest south of the Mason-Dixon line, and perhaps had an even more profound immediate effect on the future of the United States...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195079450
• ISBN13: 9780195079456
• Release Date: October 1992
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Secession Explained

Anyone who has read antebellum American history needs only to notice the editors of this book to see the necessity of having it and reading it. Prof. Freehling and Professor Simpson are the brightest of the stars in the history galaxy. The book brings together the unioonists and Secessionists in one short volume. The speeches are not abreviated by the editors, and are for sure a good reason for having this book. It will introduce the casual reader to the great thinkers of the separation movement in the South. We owe these two scholars a great deal for this work.

An Excellent Source to Understand Georgia's History

With Georgia attempting to determine what type of flag reflects the state's soul, Freehling and Simpson's "Secession Debated: Georgia's Showdown in 1860" would be a valuable resource to every Georgian citizen. The book contains speeches and letters from individuals on both sides of the secessionist battle, after the Lincoln election. Each speech or letter is given in its entirety, with useful footnotes to explain now obscure terms or allusions. The editors also provide short biographies of the protagonists (which in some cases could have been longer). Pictures of the various authors would also have been appreciated. The book is highly recommended. Indeed, it should be read by all Georgians prior to selecting a new flag design, lest they find themselves with symbols that reflect the worst of the state's history, instead of its best.

The other great antebellum debate

Prior to the War for Southern Independence, the South had its own great debate. The secession debate in Georgia was probably more important than the Lincoln-Douglas debates of a few years before; without Georgia, it is likely that the Confederate States of America would never have been formed and the War for Southern Independence would never have happened.Collected here are the speeches of the particulars, both secessionist and Unionist Georgians. All the speeches are fascinating and enlightening, particularly the Unionist speech of Alexander Stephens, as cogent and impressive a declaration of conservative principles as has ever been written or uttered by anyone. This book is worth buying for that speech alone.

First-rate scholarship

Messrs. Freehling and Simpson are to be commended for taking time out from their productive academic writing careers to produce this edition of valuable primary sources. I've had good luck assigning this text to undergraduate students at an elite university, and I think that laymen with general knowledge of the period will find that this book disproves some of the common notions about secession's causes. If you care about the War of Northern Aggression, this one's for you!

Speeches at Georgia convention on secession

Freehling is a scholar with a track record on the history of secession, having written a history of South Carolina's Nullification Controversy. His thesis then was that nullification was the start of the secessionist movement. However this book does NOT repeat that thesis, but is a re-printing of speeches given by Unionist and secessionist Georgians at a convention called to debate secession (before Lincoln's inauguration). The historical background and biographies of the speakers are provided. This may well change your viewpoint on what motivated secession. At least it will add to your knowledge of politics of the period. Valuable stuff: primary sources!