Bibliograph

Freedom national, the destruction of slavery in the United States, 1861-1865, James Oakes

Type

Label

Freedom national, the destruction of slavery in the United States, 1861-1865, James Oakes

Language

eng

resource.accompanyingMatter

technical information on music

Form of composition

not applicable

Format of music

not applicable

Literary text for sound recordings

history

Main title

Freedom national

Music parts

not applicable

Oclc number

829388243

Responsibility statement

James Oakes

Sub title

the destruction of slavery in the United States, 1861-1865

Summary

The consensus view of the Civil War--that it was first and foremost a war to restore the Union, and an antislavery war only later when it became necessary for Union victory--dies here. James Oakes's groundbreaking history shows how deftly Lincoln and congressional Republicans pursued antislavery throughout the war, pragmatic in policy but steadfast on principle. In the disloyal South the federal government quickly began freeing slaves, immediately and without slaveholder compensation, as they fled to Union lines. In the loyal Border States the Republicans tried coaxing officials into abolishing slavery gradually with promises of compensation. As the devastating war continued with slavery still entrenched, Republicans embraced a more aggressive military emancipation, triggered by the Emancipation Proclamation. Finally it took a constitutional amendment on abolition to achieve the Union's primary goal in the war. Here, in a magisterial history, are the intertwined stories of emancipation and the Civil War

Transposition and arrangement

not applicable

Classification