"Old Slow Town"

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Set against the backdrop of the American Civil War, Detroit experienced significant unrest fueled by deep political and ethnic divisions. The city's large German and Irish immigrant populations largely supported anti-war Democrats, contrasting sharply with the pro-Lincoln sentiment in the rest of Michigan. The Detroit Free Press exacerbated tensions with its inflammatory reporting. Award-winning author Paul Taylor explores how the city's diverse communities grappled with conflicting views on the war, nearly leading to its fragmentation.