The Plundering Generation: Corruption and the Crisis of the Union, 1849-1861

An engaging, often lurid account of political corruption in pre-Civil War America, this book illustrates how corruption irritated sectional jealousies, discredited compromise, and ultimately aided in the death of the Union. Acknowledgments Contents Introduction Prologue: The Republic Degenerate Part I: Pathology — The Corruption of Democracy's Rewards 1 Spoilsmanship 2 The Hireling Press 3 "My God, We Have Voted Like Hell!" 4 Offices of Profit and Broken Trust Part II: Pathology — The Corruption of Government Favors 5 Suckers, Strikers, Borers, and Bribes 6 Public Self-Improvements, Steam Beggars, and Railroad Robbers 7 How Public Works Worked the Public 8 The Nine-Million-Dollar Steal 9 "Frauds Astounding Even for New York" 10 Forbidden Fruits of Manifest Destiny Part III: Prognosis—The Corruption of the Parties 11 Waiting for Caesar 12 The Politics of Party Decay, 1849-1853 13 Nebraskals 14 "Black Chattels Sell and White Ones Vote Aright" Part IV: Corruption and the Death of the Union 15 The Buchaneers 16 "We Won't Pay It in Hard Cash to Thurlow Weed" 17 "This Accursed Union, Reeking with Corruption" Epilogue: The Plundering Generation Notes Sources Index