Overview

In this succinct study, Edna Greene Medford examines the ideas and events that shaped President Lincoln's responses to slavery, following the arc of his ideological development from the beginning of the Civil War, when he aimed to pursue a course of noninterference, to his championing of slavery's destruction before the conflict ended. Throughout, Medford juxtaposes the president's motivations for advocating freedom with the aspirations of African Americans themselves, restoring African Americans to the center of the story about the struggle for their own liberation. Lincoln and African Americans, Medford argues, approached emancipation differently, with the president moving slowly and cautiously in order to save the Union while the enslaved and their supporters pressed more urgently for an end to slavery. Despite the differences, an undeclared partnership existed between the president and slaves that led to both preservation of the Union and freedom for those in bondage. Medford chronicles Lincoln's transition from advocating gradual abolition to campaigning for immediate emancipation for the majority of the enslaved, a change effected by the military and by the efforts of African Americans. The author argues that many players--including the abolitionists and Radical Republicans, War Democrats, and black men and women--participated in the drama through agitation, military support of the Union, and destruction of the institution from within. Medford also addresses differences in the interpretation of freedom: Lincoln and most Americans defined it as the destruction of slavery, but African Americans understood the term to involve equality and full inclusion into American society. An epilogue considers Lincoln's death, African American efforts to honor him, and the president's legacy at home and abroad. Both enslaved and free black people, Medford demonstrates, were fervent participants in the emancipation effort, showing an eagerness to get on with the business of freedom long before the president or the North did. By including African American voices in the emancipation narrative, this insightful volume offers a fresh and welcome perspective on Lincoln's America.

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9780809337965

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Reviews

To revisit the proclamation after reading Edna Greene Medford's Lincoln and Emancipation is also a remarkable experience--a revelation of how deliberate, even strategic, its lawyerly ineloquence really was. . . . To understand it better you might want to read Medford's little dynamite stick of a book. --Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed Edna Green Medford brings to the task a balanced and well-informed perspective...She thus resolves the longstanding and flawed question of whether Lincoln freed the slaves or the slaves freed themselves; the correct answer is both. --Brian R. Dirck, The Annals of Iowa Medford marshals an impressive array of voices and vignettes to succinctly demonstrate the codependence of Lincoln and African Americans in the emancipation process. --Glenn David Brasher, Civil War Monitor Medford provides a nuanced view that both demonstrates Lincoln's evolution from gradual, compensated emancipation to immediate, universal abolition and incorporates the active role played by African Americans in winning their own freedom. --Mark A. Smith, Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association Part of the succinct yet illuminating Concise Lincoln Library series, Lincoln and Emancipation is a scholarly examination of the evolution of President Lincoln's perspective on slavery, from the beginning of the Civil War (when he was open to a noninterference compromise if it would save the Union) to championing the cause of abolition before the conflict ended. Lincoln and Emancipation explores not only President Lincoln's words and ideology as they evolved over time, but also the voices of those who clamored for slavery's end: abolitionists and Radical Republicans, War Democrats, and both enslaved and free black people. Thought-provoking and expertly researched, Lincoln and Emancipation is a welcome addition to American History collections. --Midwest Book Review Edna Greene Medford's new volume achieves a nearly impossible feat: a graceful and elegant synthesis of some of the best new scholarship on Lincoln's road to emancipation, a compact chronological outline of the political and policy shift highlights during the Civil War, and a narrative enriched with contemporary black voices and African American agency. Her solid and engaging study will prove invaluable to scholars and students alike, as this accessible and authoritative volume fills an important gap. --Catherine Clinton, Denman Chair of American History, University of Texas at San Antonio Medford presents in this brief volume an understanding of the complexity of emancipation during the Civil War by approaching it from the bottom up rather than the top down, giving African Americans their proper place in the struggle. Neither strident nor patronizing but with judiciousness, Medford brings all the players and factors into this controversial, yet essential, act in an illuminating way. This is a must read for all who are interested in freedom. --Frank J. Williams, founding chair of the Lincoln Forum Medford's riveting account of emancipation does justice to the role of President Abraham Lincoln in the freeing of the slaves and to the role of African Americans in their self-emancipation. Her research is thorough, her prose flowing, and her insights cogent. Medford has created a masterpiece in brief that students of Civil War and African American history must read. --John F. Marszalek, executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University Today's reassessment of 'the central act' of Lincoln's administration requires sound, thoughtful analysis, and Medford delivers. Prudently she separates myth from reality. Medford broadens emancipation history to embrace many active participants, including the impatient and fervent African Americans who agitated for freedom even before the United States of America was born. Comprehensively researched and wonderfully readable, this book strikes a fine balance between the traditional narrative of Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation and the essential role of others. Just as emancipation ushered in an expectation of equality and fairness, today's general and diverse audience will appreciate that this work has something important to say about the construction of America's new birth of freedom. --Orville Vernon Burton, author of The Age of Lincoln

To revisit the proclamation after reading Edna Greene Medford's Lincoln and Emancipation is also a remarkable experience--a revelation of how deliberate, even strategic, its lawyerly ineloquence really was. . . . To understand it better you might want to read Medford's little dynamite stick of a book. --Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed Edna Green Medford brings to the task a balanced and well-informed perspective...She thus resolves the longstanding and flawed question of whether Lincoln freed the slaves or the slaves freed themselves; the correct answer is both. --Brian R. Dirck, The Annals of Iowa Medford marshals an impressive array of voices and vignettes to succinctly demonstrate the codependence of Lincoln and African Americans in the emancipation process. --Glenn David Brasher, Civil War Monitor Medford provides a nuanced view that both demonstrates Lincoln's evolution from gradual, compensated emancipation to immediate, universal abolition and incorporates the active role played by African Americans in winning their own freedom. --Mark A. Smith, Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association Part of the succinct yet illuminating Concise Lincoln Library series, Lincoln and Emancipation is a scholarly examination of the evolution of President Lincoln's perspective on slavery, from the beginning of the Civil War (when he was open to a noninterference compromise if it would save the Union) to championing the cause of abolition before the conflict ended. Lincoln and Emancipation explores not only President Lincoln's words and ideology as they evolved over time, but also the voices of those who clamored for slavery's end: abolitionists and Radical Republicans, War Democrats, and both enslaved and free black people. Thought-provoking and expertly researched, Lincoln and Emancipation is a welcome addition to American History collections. --Midwest Book Review Edna Greene Medford's new volume achieves a nearly impossible feat: a graceful and elegant synthesis of some of the best new scholarship on Lincoln's road to emancipation, a compact chronological outline of the political and policy shift highlights during the Civil War, and a narrative enriched with contemporary black voices and African American agency. Her solid and engaging study will prove invaluable to scholars and students alike, as this accessible and authoritative volume fills an important gap. --Catherine Clinton, Denman Chair of American History, University of Texas at San Antonio Medford presents in this brief volume an understanding of the complexity of emancipation during the Civil War by approaching it from the bottom up rather than the top down, giving African Americans their proper place in the struggle. Neither strident nor patronizing but with judiciousness, Medford brings all the players and factors into this controversial, yet essential, act in an illuminating way. This is a must read for all who are interested in freedom. --Frank J. Williams, founding chair of the Lincoln Forum Medford's riveting account of emancipation does justice to the role of President Abraham Lincoln in the freeing of the slaves and to the role of African Americans in their self-emancipation. Her research is thorough, her prose flowing, and her insights cogent. Medford has created a masterpiece in brief that students of Civil War and African American history must read. --John F. Marszalek, executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University Today's reassessment of 'the central act' of Lincoln's administration requires sound, thoughtful analysis, and Medford delivers. Prudently she separates myth from reality. Medford broadens emancipation history to embrace many active participants, including the impatient and fervent African Americans who agitated for freedom even before the United States of America was born. Comprehensively researched and wonderfully readable, this book strikes a fine balance between the traditional narrative of Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation and the essential role of others. Just as emancipation ushered in an expectation of equality and fairness, today's general and diverse audience will appreciate that this work has something important to say about the construction of America's new birth of freedom. --Orville Vernon Burton, author of The Age of Lincoln

To revisit the proclamation after reading Edna Greene Medford's Lincoln and Emancipation is also a remarkable experience-a revelation of how deliberate, even strategic, its lawyerly ineloquence really was. . . . To understand it better you might want to read Medford's little dynamite stick of a book. -Scott McLemee Inside Higher Ed Edna Green Medford brings to the task a balanced and well-informed perspective...She thus resolves the longstanding and flawed question of whether Lincoln freed the slaves or the slaves freed themselves; the correct answer is both. -Brian R. Dirck, The Annals of Iowa Medford marshals an impressive array of voices and vignettes to succinctly demonstrate the codependence of Lincoln and African Americans in the emancipation process. -Glenn David Brasher, Civil War Monitor Medford provides a nuanced view that both demonstrates Lincoln's evolution from gradual, compensated emancipation to immediate, universal abolition and incorporates the active role played by African Americans in winning their own freedom. -Mark A. Smith, Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association Part of the succinct yet illuminating Concise Lincoln Library series, Lincoln and Emancipation is a scholarly examination of the evolution of President Lincoln's perspective on slavery, from the beginning of the Civil War (when he was open to a noninterference compromise if it would save the Union) to championing the cause of abolition before the conflict ended. Lincoln and Emancipation explores not only President Lincoln's words and ideology as they evolved over time, but also the voices of those who clamored for slavery's end: abolitionists and Radical Republicans, War Democrats, and both enslaved and free black people. Thought-provoking and expertly researched, Lincoln and Emancipation is a welcome addition to American History collections. -Midwest Book Review Edna Greene Medford's new volume achieves a nearly impossible feat: a graceful and elegant synthesis of some of the best new scholarship on Lincoln's road to emancipation, a compact chronological outline of the political and policy shift highlights during the Civil War, and a narrative enriched with contemporary black voices and African American agency. Her solid and engaging study will prove invaluable to scholars and students alike, as this accessible and authoritative volume fills an important gap. -Catherine Clinton, Denman Chair of American History, University of Texas at San Antonio Medford presents in this brief volume an understanding of the complexity of emancipation during the Civil War by approaching it from the bottom up rather than the top down, giving African Americans their proper place in the struggle. Neither strident nor patronizing but with judiciousness, Medford brings all the players and factors into this controversial, yet essential, act in an illuminating way. This is a must read for all who are interested in freedom. -Frank J. Williams, founding chair of the Lincoln Forum Medford's riveting account of emancipation does justice to the role of President Abraham Lincoln in the freeing of the slaves and to the role of African Americans in their self-emancipation. Her research is thorough, her prose flowing, and her insights cogent. Medford has created a masterpiece in brief that students of Civil War and African American history must read. -John F. Marszalek, executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University Today's reassessment of 'the central act' of Lincoln's administration requires sound, thoughtful analysis, and Medford delivers. Prudently she separates myth from reality. Medford broadens emancipation history to embrace many active participants, including the impatient and fervent African Americans who agitated for freedom even before the United States of America was born. Comprehensively researched and wonderfully readable, this book strikes a fine balance between the traditional narrative of Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation and the essential role of others. Just as emancipation ushered in an expectation of equality and fairness, today's general and diverse audience will appreciate that this work has something important to say about the construction of America's new birth of freedom. -Orville Vernon Burton, author of The Age of Lincoln

To revisit the proclamation after reading Edna Greene Medford's Lincoln and Emancipation is also a remarkable experience--a revelation of how deliberate, even strategic, its lawyerly ineloquence really was. --Scott McLemee, Inside Higher Ed Edna Green Medford brings to the task a balanced and well-informed perspective...She thus resolves the longstanding and flawed question of whether Lincoln freed the slaves or the slaves freed themselves; the correct answer is both. --Brian R. Dirck, The Annals of Iowa Medford marshals an impressive array of voices and vignettes to succinctly demonstrate the codependence of Lincoln and African Americans in the emancipation process. --Glenn David Brasher, Civil War Monitor Medford provides a nuanced view that both demonstrates Lincoln's evolution from gradual, compensated emancipation to immediate, universal abolition and incorporates the active role played by African Americans in winning their own freedom. --Mark A. Smith, Journal of the Abraham Lincoln Association Part of the succinct yet illuminating Concise Lincoln Library series, Lincoln and Emancipation is a scholarly examination of the evolution of President Lincoln's perspective on slavery, from the beginning of the Civil War (when he was open to a noninterference compromise if it would save the Union) to championing the cause of abolition before the conflict ended. Lincoln and Emancipation explores not only President Lincoln's words and ideology as they evolved over time, but also the voices of those who clamored for slavery's end: abolitionists and Radical Republicans, War Democrats, and both enslaved and free black people. Thought-provoking and expertly researched, Lincoln and Emancipation is a welcome addition to American History collections. --Midwest Book Review Edna Greene Medford's new volume achieves a nearly impossible feat: a graceful and elegant synthesis of some of the best new scholarship on Lincoln's road to emancipation, a compact chronological outline of the political and policy shift highlights during the Civil War, and a narrative enriched with contemporary black voices and African American agency. Her solid and engaging study will prove invaluable to scholars and students alike, as this accessible and authoritative volume fills an important gap. --Catherine Clinton, Denman Chair of American History, University of Texas at San Antonio Medford presents in this brief volume an understanding of the complexity of emancipation during the Civil War by approaching it from the bottom up rather than the top down, giving African Americans their proper place in the struggle. Neither strident nor patronizing but with judiciousness, Medford brings all the players and factors into this controversial, yet essential, act in an illuminating way. This is a must read for all who are interested in freedom. --Frank J. Williams, founding chair of the Lincoln Forum Medford's riveting account of emancipation does justice to the role of President Abraham Lincoln in the freeing of the slaves and to the role of African Americans in their self-emancipation. Her research is thorough, her prose flowing, and her insights cogent. Medford has created a masterpiece in brief that students of Civil War and African American history must read. --John F. Marszalek, executive director of the Ulysses S. Grant Presidential Library at Mississippi State University Today's reassessment of 'the central act' of Lincoln's administration requires sound, thoughtful analysis, and Medford delivers. Prudently she separates myth from reality. Medford broadens emancipation history to embrace many active participants, including the impatient and fervent African Americans who agitated for freedom even before the United States of America was born. Comprehensively researched and wonderfully readable, this book strikes a fine balance between the traditional narrative of Abraham Lincoln's emancipation proclamation and the essential role of others. Just as emancipation ushered in an expectation of equality and fairness, today's general and diverse audience will appreciate that this work has something important to say about the construction of America's new birth of freedom. --Orville Vernon Burton, author of The Age of Lincoln

Author Information

Edna Greene Medford is a professor of history and the associate provost for faculty affairs at Howard University. She is a coauthor, with Frank J. Williams and Harold Holzer, of The Emancipation Proclamation: Three Views.

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