The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861 [Illustrated] [Paperback]

David M. Potter (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0061319295 | ISBN-13: 978-0061319297 | Publication Date: March 15, 1977 | Edition: New edition

David M. Potter's Pulitzer Prize-winning The Impending Crisis is the definitive history of antebellum America. Potter's sweeping epic masterfully charts the chaotic forces that climaxed with the outbreak of the Civil War: westward expansion, the divisive issue of slavery, the Dred Scott decision, John Brown's uprising, the ascension of Abraham Lincoln, and the drama of Southern secession. Now available in a new edition, The Impending Crisis remains one of the most celebrated works of American historical writing.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"It is magnificent." -- --Walter Clemons, Newsweek

"The finest work of a fine historian." -- --C. Vann Woodward

About the Author

David M. Potter (1910-1971) was a professor of history at Yale and Stanford universities. He was posthumously awarded the 1977 Pulitzer Prize for History for The Impending Crisis, which his Stanford colleague Don Fehrenbacher completed and edited.

Don E. Fehrenbacher (1920-1997) was awarded the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for History for The Dred Scott Case, and edited the Library of America's two-volume collection of Abraham Lincoln's speeches and writings.

Product Details

• Paperback: 672 pages
• Publisher: Harper Perennial; New edition edition (March 15, 1977)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061319295
• ISBN-13: 978-0061319297
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,469 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #37 in Books > History > Americas > United States > Civil War
  • #62 in Books > History > Americas > United States > 19th Century

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must have, a must read, November 15, 2006

By 

Thomas W. Robinson (Dayton, VA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861 (Paperback)

If you are a Civil War buff or a student of American history, this book is a must have. It is a must read. Potter has written the definitive look at the years leading up to the Civil War, especially the 1850s. The book starts out dealing with the Wilmot Proviso in 1848 and goes right up to the firing on Fort Sumter in 1861. In between, Potter tells us of all the economic, social, and, especially, political causes of the sectional tensions.

The most brilliant thing about Potter's book seems rather simple--he tells the story as the people who lived it saw it. Too often, as Potter himself points out, historians have dealt with the 1850s as simply a precursor to the war or dealt with the issues and somewhat glossed over them because hindsight allowed them to know what was going to happen. Potter tries to leave hindsight out of it and just present the facts as they occurred in the years 1848-1861. What the reader gets is a great view of the people and events of the time as they happened and what their direct causes were.

The many other reviewers will probably do better than I can, but simply put, if you are interested in the antebellum history, the Civil War, American politics, or just looking for a good read, pick up this book. You won't be disappointed.

59 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I learned so much from this book, March 27, 2001

By 

Huckster (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861 (Paperback)

This is a simply wonderful book. Every statement is footnoted, with references so copious it is mind-boggling. If he says Jefferson Davis had doubts secession, he will provide a footnote referencing a letter or document to back it up. Considering a topic as controversial and prone to apologia and ideological argument, it is a comfort to have the facts so well documented. I love his approach to history. Basically, he says " Here is one interpretation, and here are the facts to support it", then "Here is another, and here are the facts to support it", and if necessary, he points out his own argument, with facts to support it. The result is that even when he is making his own argument, he clearly leaves it to the reader to decide. I learned so much from this book. I have 30 pages to go, and it's one week overdue at the library, which is why I came to amazon.com: to see about buying it. I simply must own this book. Five enthusiastic stars!

24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MAGNIFICENT WORK!!!!!!, May 2, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Impending Crisis, 1848-1861 (Paperback)

David M Potter's book "The Impending Crisis" is magnificent in its vivid portrail of the sectional conflict in the 1850's. If you ever thought the 1850's was merely a prelude to the Civil War, this book will make you think twice. It's vivid descriptions make the 1850's come alive with unique characters and personalities, that make this book a true pleasure to read. The author's dramatic use of words makes for one of the book's greatest impact on the reader. The book is a bit long, but well worth the time and patience it takes to read it. Once you read this book, you'll never look at the 1850's in the same way again.