Political Culture and Secession in Mississippi

"This study of the politics of secession combines traditional political history with current work in anthropology and gender and ritual studies. Christopher J. Olsen has drawn on local election returns, rural newspapers, manuscripts, and numerous county records to sketch a new picture of the intricate and colorful world of local politics. In particular, he demonstrates how the move toward secession in Mississippi was deeply influenced by the demands of masculinity within the state's antiparty political culture." "Political Culture and Secession in Mississippi provides a new perspective on the events leading up to the Civil War and will prove an invaluable tool for understanding the central crisis in American politics."--Jacket.