Description: "The Emancipation Proclamation is often viewed as one of Abraham Lincoln's crowning achievements, a pivotal moment in American history and a turning point in the Civil War. But it remains a highly contested document. Scholars have put forward competing interpretations of the proclamation, some noting its distinct lack of rhetorical eloquence, others questioning how much credit we should really give to Lincoln. While Richard Hofstadter said it possessed "all the moral grandeur of a bill of lading," others have pointed out that it was intended to withstand legal challenge, rather than persuade or inspire"--
Brief description:
Richard J. Ellis is the Mark O. Hatfield Professor of Politics, Policy, Law and Ethics at Willamette University in Salem, Oregon. His previous books include Old Tip vs. the Sly Fox: The 1840 Election and the Making of a Partisan Nation, Presidential Travel: The Journey from George Washington to George W. Bush, and Presidential Lightning Rods: The Politics of Blame Avoidance.
Review Quotes:
"Ellis offers an important reassessment of Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation during his presidency. Highly recommended."--Choice
"A worthwhile read for those willing to have their assumptions challenged and reconsidered."--Emerging Civil War