Civil War: New York Tribune Almanac and Political Register (1856-1869)

Description

New York Tribune Almanac: Civil War Era Events

Timeline of Main Events

• 1856: The New York Tribune Almanac and Political Register is first published. It includes astronomical calculations, calendars, reference information on government and politics, major laws, and election returns. It also covers the political conflict in the United States, including the “Bloody Kansas” situation.
• Late 1850s – Early 1860s: The Whig Party, whose political leanings were reflected in the Tribune and the Almanac through its founder Horace Greeley, falls apart and is replaced by the Republican Party. The New York Tribune and, by extension, the Almanac, become Republican publications.
• 1860: The Almanac covers the Republican-backed Homestead Bill, which was vetoed by Democratic President James Buchanan.
• 1860: The Almanac provides detailed coverage of all political parties competing in the presidential campaign, including candidates, platforms, and election results.
• 1860 (Post-Election): Following the secession of Confederate states, the Almanac‘s coverage expands to include these “rebel states.”
• 1862: The Almanac begins a day-by-day summary of the Civil War, which it refers to as the “Slaveholders Rebellion.”
• Post-Civil War: The Almanac‘s coverage expands to include issues related to Reconstruction.
• 1864: The Almanac provides detailed coverage of the presidential election results.
• 1856-1869: The New York Tribune Almanac and Political Register is published annually, providing ongoing coverage of political events, including the lead-up to, the duration of, and the immediate aftermath of the Civil War.

Cast of Characters and Brief Bios

• Horace Greeley: Founder and editor of the New York Tribune. His political leanings initially reflected the Whig Party and later the Republican Party. He significantly influenced the content and perspective of the New York Tribune and its associated Almanac.
• James Buchanan: Democratic President of the United States prior to the Civil War. He is mentioned in the context of vetoing the Republican-backed Homestead Bill in 1860, highlighting the political divisions of the time.

Civil War: New York Tribune Almanac and Political Register (1856-1869)

First published in 1856 the Tribune Almanac and Political Register published the traditional astronomical calculations and calendars found in almanacs. It also included reference information on government and politics. It covered major laws and election returns for state and national offices, and political conflict in the United States before the Civil War. After Fort Sumter coverage of the Civil War was added. After the war issues involving reconstruction was added.

Published by the New York Tribune and edited by the Tribune’s founder Horace Greely, it reflected Greely’s Whig Party political leanings, then later the Republican Party.

When the Whig Party fell apart in the early 1860’s and was replaced by the Republican Party, The New York Tribune, and The Almanac by extension, became

Republican publications. The Almanac covered Republican backed Homestead Bill of 1860. The free-soilers’s bill was vetoed by Democratic president James Buchannan. Coverage was given to all political parties competing in the 1860 presidential campaign, detailing the candidates and platforms, and election results. One of the most valuable uses for The Almanac is for studying the details of the results of the 1860 and 1864 presidential elections.

The first edition covered the  “Bloody Kansas” political climate in Kansas. With succession of the Confederate states, coverage was extended to the rebel states. The 1862 edition began the day by day summary covering of the civil war, referred to by the Almanac as the “Slaveholders Rebellion.”