eBook

Lincoln on race and slavery

Gates, Jr., Henry Louis

2009

Overview

Generations of Americans have debated the meaning of Abraham Lincoln's views on race and slavery. He issued the Emancipation Proclamation and supported a constitutional amendment to outlaw slavery, yet he also harbored grave doubts about the intellectual capacity of African Americans, publicly used the n-word until at least 1862, and favored permanent racial segregation. In this book--the first complete collection of Lincoln's important writings on both race and slavery--readers can explore these contradictions through Lincoln's own words. Acclaimed Harvard scholar and documentary filmmaker Henry Louis Gates, Jr., presents the full range of Lincoln's views, gathered from his private letters, speeches, official documents, and even race jokes, arranged chronologically from the late 1830s to the 1860s. Complete with definitive texts, rich historical notes, and an original introduction by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., this book charts the progress of a war within Lincoln himself. We witness his struggles with conflicting aims and ideas--a hatred of slavery and a belief in the political equality of all men, but also anti-black prejudices and a determination to preserve the Union even at the cost of preserving slavery. We also watch the evolution of his racial views, especially in reaction to the heroic fighting of black Union troops. At turns inspiring and disturbing,Lincoln on Race and Slaveryis indispensable for understanding what Lincoln's views meant for his generation--and what they mean for our own.

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Subject: 1809-1865 / 19th century / 1KBB / Abolitionism / Adoption / African Americans / Amendment / American Colonization Society / Americans / Anathema / Annexation / Antislavery movements / Apprenticeship / Blacks / Border states (American Civil War) / Career / Citizenship of the United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877) / Colonization / Compensated emancipation / Compromise of 1850 / Consideration / Constitutional history / Consummation / Democratic-Republican Party / Despotism / Direct election / Discrimination & Race Relations / Dred Scott / Emancipation / Emancipation Proclamation / Equality / Free negro / Free Soil Party / Fugitive Slave Clause / Fugitive slave laws / General Government / George Fitzhugh / Gideon Welles / HBJK / HBWJ / HISTORY / HISTORY / United States / Civil War Period (1850-1877) / Humour / Institution / Intellectual ability / JFSL1 / Jurisdiction / Know Nothing / Laborer / Law of war / Legislation / Legislature / Library of Congress / Lincoln, Abraham / Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Political and social views / Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Relations with African Americans / Lincoln, Abraham, 1809-1865 -- Views on slavery / Lincoln, Abraham, 1809–1865 / Miscegenation / Missouri Compromise / Mulatto / Murder / Nathaniel P. Banks / Natural and legal rights / Necessity / Owen Lovejoy / Peter Kunhardt / Political and social views / Political aspects / Political history / Politician / Popular sovereignty / Prejudice / President of the United States / Prisoner of war / Proclamation / Race relations / Racial segregation / Racism / Ratification / Relations with African Americans / Repeal / Salmon P. Chase / Segregation / Slave and free states / Slavery / Slavery -- United States -- History -- 19th century -- Sources / Slaves / Slaves -- Emancipation -- United States -- Sources / SOCIAL SCIENCE / SOCIAL SCIENCE / Discrimination & Race Relations / Sociology / Sources / State constitution (United States) / State government / Stephen A. Douglas / U.S.A / Union Army / United States / United States -- Race relations -- History -- 19th century -- Sources / United States Colored Troops / United States Constitution / United States Senate / Views on slavery / Voting / War Democrat / White people / Wilmot Proviso
• ISBN: 0691149984, 9780691149981, 9780691142340, 0691142343, 140083208X, 9781400832088