Title
Break It Up: Secession, Division, and the Secret History of America's Imperfect Union,New
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From journalist and historian Richard Kreitner, a 'powerful revisionist account'of the most persistent idea in American history: these supposedly United States should be broken up (Eric Foner).The novel and fiery thesis of Break It Up is simple: The United States has never lived up to its nameand never will. The disunionist impulse may have found its greatest expression in the Civil War, but as Break It Up shows, the seduction of secession wasnt limited to the South or the nineteenth century. It was there at our founding and has never gone away.With a scholars command and a journalists curiosity, Richard Kreitner takes readers on a revolutionary journey through American history, revealing the power and persistence of disunion movements in every era and region. Each New England town after Plymouth was a secession from another; the thirteen colonies viewed their Union as a means to the end of securing independence, not an end in itself; George Washington feared separatism west of the Alleghenies; Aaron Burr schemed to set up a new empire; John Quincy Adams brought a Massachusetts towns petition for dissolving the United States to the floor of Congress; and abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison denounced the Constitution as a proslavery pact with the devil.From the cold civil war that pits partisans against one another to the modern secession movements in California and Texas, the divisions that threaten to tear America apart today have centuriesold roots in the earliest days of our Republic. Richly researched and persuasively argued, Break It Up will help readers make fresh sense of our fractured age.
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This product may contain chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
For more information, please visit www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
- Q: What is the main thesis of 'Break It Up'? A: 'Break It Up' argues that the United States has never truly lived up to its name and explores the historical notion that these states should be divided due to persistent disunionist impulses throughout American history.
- Q: Who is the author of 'Break It Up'? A: The author of 'Break It Up' is Richard Kreitner, a journalist and historian known for his insights into American history.
- Q: When was 'Break It Up' published? A: 'Break It Up' was published on August 18, 2020.
- Q: What type of binding does 'Break It Up' have? A: 'Break It Up' is available in hardcover binding.
- Q: How many pages are in 'Break It Up'? A: 'Break It Up' contains a total of 496 pages.
- Q: Is 'Break It Up' illustrated? A: 'Break It Up' is categorized as an illustrated edition, featuring relevant visuals to enhance the reader's experience.
- Q: What historical events does 'Break It Up' explore? A: 'Break It Up' delves into significant events such as the Civil War, secession movements in the South, and attempts at disunion throughout American history, including notable figures like George Washington and John Quincy Adams.
- Q: Who would benefit from reading 'Break It Up'? A: 'Break It Up' is ideal for readers interested in American history, political movements, and the complexities of national unity and disunity.
- Q: What is the writing style of 'Break It Up'? A: 'Break It Up' combines scholarly research with journalistic curiosity, making it accessible yet informative for a broad audience.
- Q: Does 'Break It Up' address contemporary issues? A: 'Break It Up' connects historical disunion movements to modern-day divides in American society, making it relevant to current discussions on national unity.