author
Jesse Macy
1842–1919
A pioneering political scientist and historian, he wrote clearly about American parties, the Civil War era, and the forces that shaped public life. His work grew out of a long career at Grinnell College and a deep interest in democracy in practice.
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About the author
Born in Indiana in 1842 and raised in a Quaker family, Jesse Macy later moved with his family to Iowa. He studied at Iowa College, now Grinnell College, and remained closely tied to the school for most of his life.
Macy became known as a political scientist and historian who focused on American political parties, party systems, and the Civil War era. He taught at Grinnell College for many years and helped build the study of politics as an academic field in the United States.
He wrote a number of works on public affairs and American history, including books on party organization and antislavery. He died in Grinnell, Iowa, in 1919.