Absolutely essential for students of the Civil War, the late historian Nevins's National Book Award-winning masterwork, published over the years 1947-1971, is here presented complete and unabridged, both volumes combined for easy searching and research.In volume 1, Nevins describes the tumultuous events of the from the end of the Mexican War to the election of 1852, and the state of American culture which made the eventual collision inevitable. He describes extensively the various reform movements, women's rights, social reform and, of course, abolitionism, which spread throughout the country. His treatment of the slavery issue is very fair, and must be read to understand the point of view of those Southerners who did not feel they could end the institution immediately, but deplored the institution itself.In volume 2, Nevins continues his narrative, describing the election of President Buchanan and the turmoil that results, Bloody Kansas, Missouri, John Brown's Raid and, in the final chapter, the contrast between the cultures of the North and the SouthExtensively footnoted, and annotated, there is no better source for understanding the entire country in the 1850's.Chapter 1: Hour of VictoryChapter 2: Lineaments of a New RepublicChapter 3: Culture of the MassesChapter 4: The Pulse of reformChapter 5: For Those Just EndsChapter 6: Election of a War HeroChapter 7: The gathering QuarrelChapter 8: Clay to the RescueChapter 9: The Great DebateChapter 10: The Union Stands FirmChapter 11: Southern Acquiescence, With ConditionsChapter 12: Northern Acquiescence, With ReservationsChapter 13: The Lot of the BondsmanChapter 14: The Cash Account of SlaveryChapter 15: Slavery, Race Adjustment and the FutureChapter 16: Brother Jonathen Asserts HimselfTable of Contents Volume 2Chapter I…..Enter the Pleasant Mr. PierceChapter II… Weak President: Rending FactionsChapter III…Disaster: 1854Chapter IV…Fountains of the Great DeepChapter V…..Two Blades of GrassChapter VI...Web of TransportChapter VII...The Rising IndustrialismChapter VIII..Immigrants and ToilersChapter IX...Kansas and the Break-up of PartiesChapter X…..Cuba, Ostend, and the FilibustersChapter XI…The Year of Violence: 1855Chapter XII...Crisis in Kansas and WashingtonChapter XIII..Onset of '56Chapter XIV..The Election of BuchananChapter XV…Contrast of Cultures