"The indignation of freedom-loving people": the caning of Charles Sumner and emotion in antebellum politics.(Essay): An article from: Journal of Social History
Book Details
Author(s)Michael E. Woods
PublisherJournal of Social History
ISBN / ASINB00509DI8W
ISBN-13978B00509DI84
MarketplaceUnited Kingdom 🇬🇧
Description
This digital document is an article from Journal of Social History, published by Journal of Social History on March 22, 2011. The length of the article is 9234 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
From the author: This essay illuminates the role of emotion in antebellum American politics and political culture through an analysis of the indignant northern response to the May 1856 caning of Charles Sumner. It begins by situating indignation in its antebellum cultural context, showing that popular beliefs about indignation's sympathetic and moral nature made it a uniquely respectable and highly valued type of anger. Indignation enjoyed additional political power when expressed collectively in a so-called "indignation meeting," a staple of antebellum American politics. This political ritual brought like-minded citizens together to respond to public problems and to influence elected officials. Scores of the meetings convened throughout the free states following the Sumner assault. As they met to express their shared indignation against Sumner's assailant and to demand retaliation against the southern slave power, many northerners experienced an intense feeling of sectional unity which appeared to bridge partisan and ideological divisions. This perceived unity, coupled with widespread belief in the need for northern unity against southern aggression, decisively aided the rise of he Republican Party. By appealing rhetorically to northern indignation, and by holding their own partisan indignation meetings, the Republicans harnessed northern indignation to their cause, an opportunity missed by their political rivals.
Citation Details
Title: "The indignation of freedom-loving people": the caning of Charles Sumner and emotion in antebellum politics.(Essay)
Author: Michael E. Woods
Publication:Journal of Social History (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Journal of Social History
Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Page: 689(18)
Article Type: Essay
Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning
From the author: This essay illuminates the role of emotion in antebellum American politics and political culture through an analysis of the indignant northern response to the May 1856 caning of Charles Sumner. It begins by situating indignation in its antebellum cultural context, showing that popular beliefs about indignation's sympathetic and moral nature made it a uniquely respectable and highly valued type of anger. Indignation enjoyed additional political power when expressed collectively in a so-called "indignation meeting," a staple of antebellum American politics. This political ritual brought like-minded citizens together to respond to public problems and to influence elected officials. Scores of the meetings convened throughout the free states following the Sumner assault. As they met to express their shared indignation against Sumner's assailant and to demand retaliation against the southern slave power, many northerners experienced an intense feeling of sectional unity which appeared to bridge partisan and ideological divisions. This perceived unity, coupled with widespread belief in the need for northern unity against southern aggression, decisively aided the rise of he Republican Party. By appealing rhetorically to northern indignation, and by holding their own partisan indignation meetings, the Republicans harnessed northern indignation to their cause, an opportunity missed by their political rivals.
Citation Details
Title: "The indignation of freedom-loving people": the caning of Charles Sumner and emotion in antebellum politics.(Essay)
Author: Michael E. Woods
Publication:Journal of Social History (Magazine/Journal)
Date: March 22, 2011
Publisher: Journal of Social History
Volume: 44 Issue: 3 Page: 689(18)
Article Type: Essay
Distributed by Gale, a part of Cengage Learning
