"Even though the study of antebellum politics has generated a sizeable historiography, Hettle brings a new approach to the subject by using the work of social historians to explain political culture and extending the critique of southern democracy into the Civil War period . . . Recommended for anyone studying the antebellum South and its social and political structure."--"North Carolina Historical Review"
"By connecting wartime politics with prewar politics, by illuminating the distinctive features of each state, and most importantly by focusing on the political stress created by slavery, Hettle adds to our understanding of southern politics and to the debate over why the South lost the war."--"Austin American-Statesman"
"Hettle has delivered a well-researched and well-argued analysis of the southern Democracy. Furthermore, he has admirably demonstrated that institutional political analysis can be a powerful tool for understanding broader social issues."--Craig Brashear, "Alabama Review"
"Hettle distinguishes his study from other fine analyses of mid-nineteenth-century Southern politics by extending his exploration. Hettle believes it is a mistake to conclude such a discussion with the secession crisis, a high-water mark of white solidarity. Instead, he pursues the answer to the question of how democratic the region's Democratic Party was into the war years . . . ""The Peculiar Democracy" was written for specialists. But, the clarity of Hettle's argument and the quality of his prose make his book more than accessible for the interested general reader."--"History: Reviews of New Books"
Even though the study of antebellum politics has generated a sizeable historiography, Hettle brings a new approach to the subject by using the work of social historians to explain political culture and extending the critique of southern democracy into the Civil War period . . . Recommended for anyone studying the antebellum South and its social and political structure.--"North Carolina Historical Review"
Hettle distinguishes his study from other fine analyses of mid-nineteenth-century Southern politics by extending his exploration. Hettle believes it is a mistake to conclude such a discussion with the secession crisis, a high-water mark of white solidarity. Instead, he pursues the answer to the question of how democratic the region's Democratic Party was into the war years . . . "The Peculiar Democracy" was written for specialists. But, the clarity of Hettle's argument and the quality of his prose make his book more than accessible for the interested general reader.--"History: Reviews of New Books"
Hettle has delivered a well-researched and well-argued analysis of the southern Democracy. Furthermore, he has admirably demonstrated that institutional political analysis can be a powerful tool for understanding broader social issues.--Craig Brashear ""Alabama Review" "
By connecting wartime politics with prewar politics, by illuminating the distinctive features of each state, and most importantly by focusing on the political stress created by slavery, Hettle adds to our understanding of southern politics and to the debate over why the South lost the war.--"Austin American-Statesman"
Even though the study of antebellum politics has generated a sizeable historiography, Hettle brings a new approach to the subject by using the work of social historians to explain political culture and extending the critique of southern democracy into the Civil War period . . . Recommended for anyone studying the antebellum South and its social and political structure.
--North Carolina Historical Review
Hettle distinguishes his study from other fine analyses of mid-nineteenth-century Southern politics by extending his exploration. Hettle believes it is a mistake to conclude such a discussion with the secession crisis, a high-water mark of white solidarity. Instead, he pursues the answer to the question of how democratic the region's Democratic Party was into the war years . . . The Peculiar Democracy was written for specialists. But, the clarity of Hettle's argument and the quality of his prose make his book more than accessible for the interested general reader.
--History: Reviews of New Books
Hettle has delivered a well-researched and well-argued analysis of the southern Democracy. Furthermore, he has admirably demonstrated that institutional political analysis can be a powerful tool for understanding broader social issues.
--Craig Brashear "Alabama Review "
By connecting wartime politics with prewar politics, by illuminating the distinctive features of each state, and most importantly by focusing on the political stress created by slavery, Hettle adds to our understanding of southern politics and to the debate over why the South lost the war.
--Austin American-Statesman 
