Extremist Rhetoric: the Political Cartoon That Touched Off The Civil War

Heated rhetoric indeed -- and certain to incite violence.

In this political cartoon, a Union officer (unidentified) swings a club labeled "Union" in defense against a many-headed serpent labeled "Secession"...

The serpent's heads are: Floyd, Pickens, Beauregard, Twiggs, Davis, Stephens, and Toombs, all leaders of the Southern secession movement and the resulting Confederacy. "

-- Civil War Treasures, New York Historical Society [Digital ID nhnycw/aj aj08074]

If only we had implemented the Left's plans -- and restricted political speech -- the entire Civil War could have been averted.