An Unofficial 'The Rest Is History' Reading List
200: American Civil War: The Causes (Part 1)
June 27, 2022
Description
Books Referenced
Author: Harriet Beecher Stowe
Context:
Discussed in the context of how Northerners were being radicalized against slavery. The hosts mention Lincoln supposedly meeting Stowe and saying 'you're the little lady who made such a big war.' The book is described as a 'publishing sensation' that confronted middle-class Northeastern Americans with the reality of slavery breaking up families and violating Christian principles.
Author: Hinton Rowan Helper
Context:
Referenced as a book written by a high-profile white Southerner in the late 1850s arguing that 'the real problem with slavery is what it does to poor white people.' The book was taken up by northern anti-slavery people and the author was 'hounded out of the South.' This refers to 'The Impending Crisis of the South' though the title is not explicitly stated.