Disunion and Restoration in Tennessee Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the Faculty of Political Science, Columbia University

"Disunion and Restoration in Tennessee" by John Randolph Neal is a historical account written in the late 19th century. The work examines the political and social dynamics surrounding Tennessee's secession from the Union during the Civil War and its subsequent reintegration into the United States. It examines the motivations behind secession, focusing on figures like Governor Isham G. Harris and the division of sentiments in different regions of the state, particularly addressing the complex attitudes toward slavery and unionism. At the start of the work, Neal introduces the political climate in Tennessee on the eve of the Civil War, noting that the state initially displayed a majority against disunion sentiments during the 1860 presidential election. He elaborates on Governor Harris’s role in urging secession, citing his historical context of party struggles and responses to increasing tensions with Northern states. The opening progresses through a discussion of the failed initial attempts at secession, public votes, and the eventual pull of war that reframed loyalties and sentiments within the state, setting the stage for the broader discussions of conflict and reconstruction that follow throughout the text. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

John Randolph Neal Jr. was an American attorney, law professor, politician, and activist, best known for his role as chief counsel during the 1925 Scopes Trial, and as an advocate for the establishment of the Tennessee Valley Authority in the 1920s and 1930s. He also taught law at the University of Denver and the University of Tennessee, and served in the Tennessee state legislature. He was a candidate for governor or senator numerous times between 1912 and 1954.