The nearing possibility of civil war causes senators not only to break with their friends and colleagues, but also to challenge their most deeply-held convictions, in order to preserve the Union. In addition to this, Part 2 serves to illustrate what Kennedy believes is the toxic effect of regionalism and partisanship on American politics, and with it, the added necessity of political courage. This highlights a claim made by Kennedy in the Introduction, which argues that compromise is an unavoidable part of politics-particularly American politics-while at the same time providing the caveat that the value and rightness of compromise cannot be easily or safely predicted. For each of these senators, Kennedy makes clear the immense sacrifice in their political careers and ambitions and challenging their own deeply-held convictions in the name of national interest. Kennedy details and applauds these senators-abolitionists and slaveowners alike-in their attempt to preserve the Union by reaching compromise. Kennedy focuses on three Senators: Daniel Webster of Massachusetts, Thomas Benton of Missouri, and Samuel Houston of Texas. Kennedy next investigates the Compromise of 1850, and the intensifying conflict between North and South.
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