Abraham Lincoln and the Road to Emancipation

By William K. Klingaman

Book Overview

In this comprehensive account of Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation, William K. Klingaman takes a fresh look at what is arguably the most controversial reform in American history. Taking the reader from Lincoln's inauguration through the Civil War to his tragic assassination, it uncovers the complex political and psychological pressures facing Lincoln in his consideration of the slavery question, including his decision to issue the proclamation without consulting any member of his cabinet, and his meticulous attention to every word of the document. The book concludes with a discussion of what the Emancipation Proclamation really meant to four million newly freed blacks and its subsequent impact on race relations in America.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670867543
• ISBN13: 9780670867547
• Release Date: March 2001
• Publisher: Viking Adult
• Length: 400 Pages
• Weight: 1.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 1.1" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

The Author is My Highschool English Teacher

As my title says, Dr. William K. Klingaman was my 11th grade AP American History teacher, and is currently my AP English 12 teacher. The book itself I had used as a source to write a huge paper on Lincoln in 10th grade, which took the whole year. Well, it was endlessly useful. Im fact, the paper earned me a 93- no small feat considering how difficult a class it was. Then 11th grade came, and I realised that I had quoted my future Social Studies teacher. A fabulous teacher, I might add. Witty, great sense of humor, interesting lecturer. He gives THE hardest multiple choice tests a person could ever take, though. ;-)

An excellent source about traveling a hard road.

Author William Klingman has written an excellent book about Lincoln's development and issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation. Klingman brings forward the birth of the concept and how Lincoln faced so much aversion to its release. The book clearly illustrates how difficult such a task was to complete it and also how well it was received. Besides the opposition in the South, Northern opposition towards the war and constant defeats were making many question Lincoln's ability to be the President. Faced with horrible Union defeats and lackluster leadership Lincoln understands that in order to defeat the Confederacy there has to be considered the issue of freeing the slaves for political and moral reasons. Through out the book, the opposition from both Republican, Democratic and various groups are clearly defined while Lincoln debates within himself as to what is the proper procedure is to handling the freeing of slaves. It was very interesting to read about the many variables and choices Lincoln had to make while fighting multiple political battles and growing unrest in the northern states. Eventually Lincoln does get the proclamation passed and part of the book describes in detail just how this new era unfolds and how blacks become soldiers and deal with being free. To understand Lincoln, the political unrest of the time and also the birth and issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation, I highly recommend this book. Klingman writes and chronologically carries the book very well.

A Long, Deserving Road

William Klingaman's book, "Abraham Lincoln and the Road to Emancipation" traces the personal and social development of emancipation in the the 1860s in a refreshing and enlightening way.By blending both historical events, with the inner turmoil of Lincoln, Klingaman sheds new light on the processes that lead to the historical proclaimation. The Lincoln in this book is torn between his desire to do what is right vs. what he perceives his Constitutional duties. Klingaman doesn't shy away from the reality that Lincoln initially didn't favor emancipation over saving the union, but embraces his struggle and his eventual turn around. This allows for a more dynamic, interesting Lincoln to shine through. Lincoln would finally do the right thing, which we come to understand the depth and complexity of his decision.For Lincoln fans, for people with a casual interest, I highly recommend this book for a new view on an incredible man during incredible times.

The History of the Emancipation Proclamation

Klingaman's book concentrates on President Lincoln's issuance of the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation of September 22, 1862, and the Final Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863. On a closely-related subject, the book also discusses the Union Army's gradual use of African-American soldiers as a means to winning the Civil War.Klingaman focuse on the changes in Lincoln's attitude towards emancipation and his gradual assumption of a strong leadership role. He also points out that many of Lincoln's decisions were forced upon him by the political and military circumstances of the War. Thus, Klingaman describes how Lincoln's original goal in the War was the preservation of the Union. He resisted pressure from the Abolitionists and from the Radical Republicans to emancipate the slaves in order to avoid antagonizing the border states and those in the North who would not have fought a war to free the slaves. As political pressures changed, and as the North suffered setbacks in the Virginia theatre of the war, the pressures on Lincoln changed. Although the seeds of the Emancipation had been planted earlier, as Klingaman shows, Lincoln used the end Lee's invasion of the North at Antietam as the fulcrum to issue the preliminary Emancipation Proclamation and followed it up with the Proclamation of January 1, 1863. Klingaman explains well how the issuance of the Proclamation helped change the momentum of the War, militarily, politically, and internationally.This book is not a work of new scholarship but it is valuable and worth reading nonetheless. Klingaman does a good job of emphasizing both the military and political aspects of the War, while many books concentrate on one or the other. I thought the book had particularly good insights to offer on Lincoln's relationship with Union General George McClellan. Klingaman's Lincoln is primarily a politician and a pragmatist more than a political theorist. Lincoln's backwoods humor comes through well in the book as does his depression and sadness resulting from the heavy weight of his public and private trials. There are effective descriptions of pre-war Washington, D.C. which are followed by further descriptions of the way the city and our nation changed with the industrialization wrought by the War.There are good textual discussions of both the Prelimary and Final Emancipation Proclamations which emphasize the compromises Lincoln had to make to politics rather than the role of ideas.Finally, the book briefly discusses Emancipation following the conclusion of the War and points out eloquently how much remained and still remains to be done to bring about racial equality.This book is a balanced and thoughtful history of the Emancipation for the reader interested in a seminal moment of our Nation's history.

The Growth of Lincoln

This book is a good examination of Lincoln's policy regarding Emancipation. The author points out the growth of Lincoln from a disoragnized beginning to a master politician/statesman as President of the United States. The author fairly contrasts the differing political pressures of the Radical Repbulicans and the loyal Border State politicians in regared to the policy of Emancipation. Lincoln's consistent theme that slavery was a sin of the entire nation North and South. The policy of Emancipation was interrelated and effected by the military triumphs and tradegies. I disagree with the author on the point that Lincoln's policy to Emancipation showed his "passive nature". I believe his policy on Emancipation showed his consistency and greatness. The consistency of his belief in the Constitution and his belief that if slavery were properly limted under the Constitution it would die a natural death. His ultimate goal, never ending despite the tradegy of the war, was that the Union must be preserved. His greatness was to adapt to the changing opportunities caused by the war in a way which ennobled and redeemed the Nation and its people.