Marx, Tocqueville, and race in America : the "absolute democracy" or "defiled republic"

Author(s)

Bibliographic Information

Marx, Tocqueville, and race in America : the "absolute democracy" or "defiled republic"

August H. Nimtz, Jr

Lexington Books, c2003

  • : pbk

Available at  / 8 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 275-283) and index

Contents of Works

  • Democracy in America : two perspectives
  • The lessons of the "most progressive nation"
  • Tocqueville's America
  • The judgement of recent scholarship : a balance sheet
  • Toward the "general conflagration" : theory and practice
  • The "new world view"
  • Slavery, free soil and the workers' movement
  • Preparing for a new revolution
  • "A last card up its sleeve" : the overthrow of slavery
  • Explaining the Civil War
  • The new "struggle in the press"
  • From a "constitutional" to a "revolutionary" war
  • A comradely disagreement
  • The judgement of modern scholarship
  • Revolutionary practice
  • Marx and Engels's contribution
  • A dream deferred : the failed "attempt to reconstruct democracy in America"
  • Reconstruction
  • Birth of a new labor movement
  • Marx on race
  • Overthrow of reconstruction
  • Were Marx and Engels derelict?
  • When "conditions" become "ripe"
  • Conclusions
  • Appendix
  • Thomas Messer-Kruse's, the Yankee international : recent Adventures in gratuitous Marx-bashing
  • Marx, the suspect democrat
  • The Irish turn
  • "Narrow trade unionism"
  • "False emancipation of women"[?]
  • Marx's "machinations"
  • About Sorge
  • Whither Yankee internationalism?

Description and Table of Contents

Description

While Alexis de Tocqueville described America as the 'absolute democracy,' Karl Marx saw the nation as a 'defiled republic' so long as it permitted the enslavement of blacks. In this insightful political history, Nimtz argues that Marx and his partner, Frederick Engels, had a far more acute and insightful reading of American democracy than Tocqueville because they recognized that the overthrow of slavery and the cessation of racial oppression were central to its realization. Nimtz's account contrasts both the writings and the civil action of Tocqueville, Marx and Engels, noting that Marx and Engels actively mobilized the German-American community in opposition to the slavocracy prior to the Civil War, and that Marx heavily supported the Union cause. This potent and insightful investigation into the approaches of two major thinkers provides fresh insight into past and present debates about race and democracy in America.

Table of Contents

Part 1 Democracy in American: Two Perspectives Chapter 2 The Lessons of the "Most Progressive Nation" Chapter 3 Tocqueville's America Chapter 4 The Judgement of Recent Scholarship: A Balance Sheet Part 5 Toward the "General Conflagration": Theory and Practice Chapter 6 The "New World View" Chapter 7 Slavery, Free Soil, and the Workers' Movement Chapter 8 Preparing for a New Revolution Part 9 "A Last Card Up Its Sleeve": The Overthrow of Slavery Chapter 10 Explaining the Civil War Chapter 11 The New "Struggle in the Press" Chapter 12 From a "Constitutional" to a "Revolutionary" War Chapter 13 A Comradely Disagreement Chapter 14 The Judgement of Modern Scholarship Chapter 15 Revolutionary Practice Chapter 16 Marx and Engels's Contribution Part 17 A Dream Deferred: The Failed "Attempt to Reconstruct Democracy in America" Chapter 18 Reconstruction Chapter 19 Birth of a New Labor Movement Chapter 20 Marx on Race Chapter 21 Overthrow of Reconstruction Chapter 22 Were Marx and Engels Derelict? Chapter 23 When "Conditions" Become "Ripe"

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