Free Soil, Free Labor, Free Men

This classic book offers a unique perspective on the American Civil War, exploring the ideology of the growing Republican party before the war's start. Through a careful analysis of leading factions in the party's formation, the author reveals how northern ideas of human rights and the goals of American society contributed to Republican ideology. With a new introduction, the author reassesses the concept of free labor in the context of contemporary scholarship. This influential book remains a must-read for those interested in American history and the causes of the Civil War.