FANTASTIC ARTICLE. As I see it, there are a lot of troubling things that occurred in the 1850 that are repeating themselves today. Talk of secession, media agitation toward politics. Inept leaders winning the presidency . James Buchanan in the 1850s, Donald Trump in the late 2010's. Afterward, we went into Civil War which I where I believe we are headed. Not a war between the states, but a cultural war (which we are already as I see it) public schools being demonized, sniper attacks , bombings etc... goodness knows , I hope I a wrong but democracy as we have known it, is on very shaky ground for the moment!