The cataclysm of states (1861-1865)

 A brief history of conservatism, Part 6

By : Fred Hutchison



Conservatism passed through a series of fiery trials during the nineteenth century. I will tell the tale in two parts. This essay will view conservatism and Christianity in the crucible of war, namely the American Civil War. In my next installment (part 7), I shall consider seven dark waves that passed over the land during the nineteenth century – namely (1) German "higher criticism" of the Bible, (2) Hegel's Historicism, (3) Marx, (4) Darwin, (5) Freud, (6) James' Pragmatism, and (7) Dewey's Instrumentalism. Each of these ideologies is hostile to conservatism, to Christianity, and to Western culture.


The American Civil War (1861-1865) is illustrative of several important epic conflicts of the century. In order to distill these elements of conflict, this essay shall treat the Civil War almost as though it were two wars: (1) the war to preserve the union vs. the secession movement, and (2) the war to free the slaves vs. the ostensible rights of slave owners.

The drama of the cataclysm of states comprehends a number of historical movements. Among these are evangelical revivalism, abolitionism, states' rights, the blood and soil romantic movement, romantic transcendentalism, conservative traditionalism, natural law conservatism, and the struggle to define the nation-state. Some of the conflicts between these movements were decisively resolved by the Civil War, other conflicts endured through the century, and some are with us yet.

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Parts 1 -5

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/hutchison/130718

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/hutchison/070513

http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/hutchison/070731



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