Moderate Men and Conservative Influences: Illinois and the Politics of Union, 1854-1861

“Moderate Men and ConservativeInfluences: Illinois and the Politics of Union, 1854-1861” reveals the significance of political moderation in an era of partisan extremes. Nearly all politicians throughout this period claimed to be “conservative” and opposed to radical “ultras” such as Southern “Fire Eaters” and
Garrisonian abolitionists. By interpreting this “conservatism” as a disposition rather than an
ideology, this dissertation explores how mainstream politicians in the Democratic, Know Nothing, and
Republican Parties employed a shared interpretation of American liberty, history, and institutions
to court voters whose political affiliations remained fluid throughout the sectional crisis.