This book is a comprehensive survey of political conflicts in America from the beginning of the anti-slavery movement to the end of the Reconstruction era after the Civil War. It also provides an overview of the career of Thaddeus Stevens, an influential politician in that period. The book covers the struggle between political parties that ultimately led to the breakdown of the republic and the virtual takeover of its government by one party. It is a valuable source of knowledge for anyone interested in American political history. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.