Politics
Cartwright jumped into politics as a Democrat. Twice a member of the Illinois legislature, he ran for the United States Congress in 1846, but was defeated by the Springfield Whig, Abraham Lincoln.
Politically, Cartwright was a Jacksonian Democrat who trusted in the ability of the common man. He opposed slavery and advocated use of moral suasion rather than political action to end it, fearing that political action would threaten the federal union, another core element of national identity. Cartwright also supported expansionism both to spread American values and to increase economic opportunity. To him, manhood was demonstrated by singleness of purpose despite all obstacles and by economic independence.
Read more about this topic: Peter Cartwright (revivalist)
Famous quotes containing the word politics:
“All you can be sure about in a political-minded writer is that if his work should last you will have to skip the politics when you read it. Many of the so-called politically enlisted writers change their politics frequently.... Perhaps it can be respected as a form of the pursuit of happiness.”
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