Mark A. Lause Libri

Focusing on the final campaign of former Missouri governor Sterling Price, the book delves into the intricate political and social dynamics of "Price's Raid" during the Civil War's concluding days. It explores Price's desperate attempt to reclaim Missouri for the Confederacy, aiming to influence the 1864 Union elections against Lincoln and the Republicans. Mark A. Lause provides a detailed analysis of this pivotal Southern operation, highlighting its significance in the broader context of the war and its implications for the region's future.

William A. A. Carsey's life as a confidence man and political operative reveals the gritty realities of Gilded Age politics. Mark A. Lause's biography delves into Carsey's role in undermining working-class organizations for the Democratic Party, showcasing his astroturfing skills and mastery of manipulation. Against a backdrop of significant political shifts, Carsey crafted a public persona that allowed him to infiltrate and disrupt rival factions, contributing to a political landscape that transformed voters into passive consumers and solidified the two-party system in America.

Exploring the influence of secret societies on the Civil War, this history delves into their origins from European traditions to American movements like George Lippard's Brotherhood of the Union. It highlights how these clandestine groups, including the Knights of the Golden Circle, intensified sectional tensions and shaped significant events such as the Freesoil movement and Lincoln's election. Key figures like Lippard, Hugh Forbes, and George Washington Lafayette Bickley are profiled, revealing the complex interplay between political agendas and secret organizations in antebellum America.

Louse argues that the printers, who organized to combat their immediate concerns, were also part of a larger network connecting other skilled workers into associations that not only supported their societies but also helped to shape their ideology.