GDG- New museum

[Alan D. Brunelle]

An important part of pre-Civil War history that helps support the direct 
correlation between slavery and the American Civil War is the critical 
"Gag Rule" fight put up by John Quincy Adams.

Adams believed that it would require bloodshed before slavery could be 
overcome, and he was certainly proven right. His battle with congressmen 
from the South (and some from the North) brought out some of the key 
points which directly ties in with secession.

A couple of great books on this topic I'd highly suggest:

"Arguing about Slavery: John Quincy Adams and the Great Battle in the 
United States Congress" by William Lee Miller

and:

"Mr. Adams's Last Crusade: John Quincy Adams's Extraordinary 
Post-Presidential Life in Congress" by Joseph Wheelan

(And to at least bring it close to Gettysburg: Abraham Lincoln happened 
to be in Congress when JQA passed away - he was present when Adams fell 
- at his post, still fighting... Later, Lincoln would say a few words at 
Gettysburg. There, that connects...)

Regards,
Alan