Description
The story of the presidential election of 1880, fully explored for the first time in The Last Lincoln Republican, is a political drama of lasting consequence and dashed possibilities. A fierce opponent of slavery before the war, Garfield had fought for civil rights for African Americans for years in Congress. Holding true to the original values of the Republican Party, Garfield wanted to promote equal opportunity for all; meanwhile, Democrats, led by Winfield Scott Hancock, sought to return the South to white supremacy and an inferior status for African Americans. With its in-depth account of the personalities and issues at play in 1880, Arrington's book provides a unique perspective on how this critical election continues to resonate through our national politics and culture to this day.
A close look at the contest of 1880 reveals that Garfield's victory could have been the start of a period of greater civil rights legislation, a continuation of Lincoln's vision. This was the choice made by the American people - and, as The Last Lincoln Republican makes poignantly clear, the great opportunity forever lost when Garfield was assassinated just a few months into his term.
About the Author
Benjamin T. Arrington is site manager, James A. Garfield National Historic Site, Mentor, Ohio. He is the author of The Medal of Honor at Gettysburg as well as essays on the Civil War and Reconstruction.
Reviews
At last a stylish, succinct, and up-to-date biography of James Garfield and a coherent argument about what Garfield's election might have meant for the Republican Party and the United States had he lived. As Arrington argues, Garfield was a bold and strategic defender of the principles that the Republican Party had been founded upon, particularly its vision of equality. Garfield's death shortly after his inauguration was a lost opportunity and a turning point in the history of Reconstruction. With a careful eye to detail and a deep knowledge of the political system, Arrington tells this tragic story clearly and well."" - Gregory P. Downs, author of The Second American Revolution: The Civil War-Era Struggle over Cuba and the Rebirth of the American Republic
Book Information
ISBN 9780700629824
Author Benjamin T. Arrington
Format Hardback
Page Count 256
Imprint University Press of Kansas
Publisher University Press of Kansas
Weight(grams) 490g