In the decades preceding the American Civil War, a war of words was passionately waged over the key issue of slavery. Among the most powerful arguments both for and against emancipation are found in speeches delivered from political podiums, auditorium daises, at anti-slavery conventions and in the halls of Congress. This anthology offers a broad selection of such speeches, ranging from well-known orations by Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass to the less familiar addresses of early abolitionists, Southern statesmen, and former slaves.
"This collection brings together speeches by some of the most distinguished political leaders of the twentieth century together with political analysis. Each speech is introduced by a brief historical and political discussion, and a general introduction gives a helpful overview and precise historical context. The combination of the original speeches and the present day analysis provides a fine starting point for reports and class discussion."
-- Booklist (May 2003)