The Fate of Their Country: Politicians, Slavery Extension, and the Coming of the Civil War

Michael F. Holt argues that partisan politics, rather than irreconcilable economic systems or moral opposition to slavery, led to the Civil War. According to Holt, short-sighted politicians in both dominant parties prioritized reelection and political advantage over national stability. They weaponized the emotionally charged issue of slavery's westward extension—despite widespread belief in both North and South that slavery could not succeed in the contested territories of the Mexican Cession, Oregon, and Kansas—to pursue their immediate political goals. Members of Congress, in particular, made calculations based on short-term partisan benefit with little regard for sectional harmony, ultimately driving the nation toward disunion and war. The book includes select speeches by Lincoln and others, and challenges readers to reconsider this pivotal period in American history.