Lincoln’s Proclamation: Emancipation Reconsidered
The title of most history books gives the prospective reader a hint as to its content. In this title the word is “reconsidered.” Included in this relatively short volume are nine essays by nine historians on varying aspects of Abraham Lincoln’s viewpoint on the Emancipation Proclamation and its effect on 1860s America. Several opinions on how these viewpoints are perceived today are also included. All are well written and references are included at the end of each essay for easy verification. There are a few photos and illustrations to emphasize the subject matter. Each essay covers a different aspect. The topics include Lincoln’s method and thought process of when to release the Proclamation; his views over time on colonization; the Chicago Conference with African American leaders; how slaves viewed Lincoln; the effect emancipation and war had on gender; emancipation in the border states; public commemoration and how it is celebrated today. Keep in mind the keyword “reconsidered,” for most of these essays are not of a mainstream content. Several present dissenting opinions about modern views of Lincoln’s ideals. For example, one challenges a popular Lincoln dissenter’s opinion as to why the Proclamation was delayed. Another presents a dissenting opinion on Lincoln and colonization and a third gives a harsh image of the Emancipation Proclamation’s effect on women. Overall, I found this book to be a welcome addition to the Lincoln library. It is necessary for us to read all sides of an issue in order to form an “educated opinion.” Abraham Lincoln was a complex man and his actions had far-reaching results. In the attempt to understand him we are well-served by this collection of opinions. If you are a student of Lincoln and Emancipation, and wish to further your knowledge, this volume should be in your library. Reviewer: Joseph A. Truglio Joseph A. Truglio is president and business agent for a motion picture film technicians local union and a lifelong student of the Civil War. His memberships include the Lincoln Group of New York and New Jersey Civil War Heritage Assn. He is president of the Phil Kearny Civil War Round Table in Wayne, N.J.
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Illustrated, annotated, index, 233 pgs., 2009. University of North Carolina Press, 116 S. Boundary St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514-3809, $30 plus shipping.