Marx, Tocqueville, and race in America
Subtitle: the "absolute democracy" or "defiled republic"
By: August H. Nimtz, Jr.
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 2003
Place of publication: Lanham, Md
Language: eng
Number of pages: 299
Subjects: Marx, Karl, 1818-1883 -- Political and social views.; Engels, Friedrich, 1820-1895 -- Political and social views.; Tocqueville, Alexis de, 1805-1859 -- Political and social views.; Slavery -- Political aspects -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877); Democracy -- United States -- History -- 19th century.; United States -- Race relations -- Political aspects.; United States -- Politics and government -- 1783-1865.; United States -- Politics and government -- 1861-1865.
Description: "August H. Nimtz, Jr. 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 heartily supported the Union cause.

"This trenchant investigation into the approaches of these major thinkers provides fresh insight into past and present debates about race and democracy in America."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 275-283) and index.
Table of contents: title: Democracy in America : two perspectives; title: The lessons of the 'most progressive nation'; title: Tocqueville's America; title: The judgement of recent scholarship : a balance sheet; title: Toward the 'general conflagration' : theory and practice; title: The 'new world view'; title: Slavery, free soil and the workers movement; title: Preparing for a new revolution; title: 'A last card up its sleeve' : the overthrow of slavery; title: Explaining the Civil War; title: The new 'struggle in the press'; title: From a 'constitutional' to a 'revolutionary' war; title: A comradely disagreement; title: The judgement of modern scholarship; title: Revolutionary practice; title: Marx and Engels's contribution; title: A dream deferred : the failed 'attempt to reconstruct; title: Democracy in America'; title: Reconstruction; title: Birth of a new labor movement; title: Marx on race; title: Overthrow of reconstruction; title: Were Marx and Engels derelict; title: When 'conditions' become 'ripe'; title: Conclusions; title: Appendix; title: Thomas Messer-Kruse's, the Yankee international : recent; title: Adventures in gratuitous Marx-bashing; title: Marx, the suspect democrat; title: The Irish turn; title: 'Narrow trade unionism'; title: 'False emancipation of women'[?]; title: Marx's 'machinations'; title: About Sorge; title: Whither Yankee internationalism?