The Impending Crisis

IN 1848 the United States concluded the treaty with mexico that ended the Mexican War, acquiring thereby California and the Southwest Territories. It was a triumph for nationalism: the country seemed more cohesive than ever before in its brief history. Yet less than fifteen years later, the Civil War broke out.

In this book, Mr. Potter examines, primarily through the eyes of those who had to deal with them, the complex problems of slavery, expansion, and sectionalism between 1848 and 1861. He concentrates on the ironic twists and turns of the political history of the era, analyzing the historical implications of actions and events and frequently challenging traditional interpretations. As the editors say in their Introduction: "He takes nothing for granted, but searches out all things thoroughly and patiently and allows what we now see as the most tragic decade of our history to unfold in its own way."