Extremism Triumphant: The Politics of Slavery and AbortionGenerations of Americans have witnessed the political disputes over slavery and abortion, the two most contentious issues in the nation's history. This book surveys the origins and course of this unfortunate strife, arguing that leaders on both sides of the two issues have embraced political expediency or an illogical view of the Constitution, rather than viable solutions. Focusing on key events and a diverse range of individuals, Extremism Triumphant offers fresh perspectives while lamenting missed opportunities and bitter debate. Making extensive use of Congressional debates and Supreme Court opinions, the narrative takes us on a journey from before the nation's founding to the early part of the 21st Century. Critical of each pole of the slavery impasse that brought civil war, the book shows how the nation made numerous errors as it tried to tackle the equally passionate feud over reproductive freedom. Unsurprisingly, both camps of the modern abortion debate receive criticism. With a willingness to question conventional wisdom dear to conservatives and liberals, Extremism Triumphant challenges each side to ponder its own claim to the moral high ground. |
Contents
1 | |
6 | |
The Origins of Abortion Extremism | 29 |
Origins of Extremism to 1820 | 55 |
Extremism Between Compromises 18201850 90 | 90 |
The Follies of Judges Named Douglas | 133 |
Tool of Extremism | 152 |
Lincolns Missed Opportunities | 179 |
The Supreme Court Debates Abortion | 193 |
Politicians and Abortion Since Roe | 228 |
Why Roe Is Not Dred | 260 |
Bibliographic Essay | 270 |
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15th Congress 1st Sess 2nd Sess abolition abolitionists abortion laws abortion rights action Africans Amendment American anti-abortion anti-slavery argument believed bill Blackmun Casey Chief Justice citizens claimed Clay concluded condemned Cong Congress Congressional Globe Congressional Record consent constitutional right created Curtis debate decision declared defend discussed dissent Douglas Dred Scott extremism extremists failed federal Fehrenbacher Finkelman Founders free blacks freedom Freehling fugitive slave Griswold Hyde Amendment interest issue judicial Kansas-Nebraska Act legislation liberty Lincoln majority McLean Missouri Compromise Nonetheless Northern Northwest Ordinance noted opinion Pennsylvania physicians political President Prigg pro-choice pro-life pro-slavery procedure prohibit protect regulate Rehnquist Representative right to abortion Road to Disunion Roe's Scalia sectional Senator showed slave trade slaveholders slavery slavery's South Southern speech state’s statute Taney Taney's territory Texas Texas annexation U.S. Supreme Court Union vote Webster White Wilmot Proviso women wrote York
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Page 2 - By a faction, I understand a number of citizens, whether amounting to a majority or minority of the whole, who are united and actuated by some common impulse of passion or of interest, adverse to the rights of other citizens, or to the permanent and aggregate interests of the community.