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The book discusses the tumultuous period in the United States during the Union war effort, with a primary focus on the debate over emancipation and the abolition of slavery. The narrative spans several chapters, detailing the progress of the war, the opposition faced by President Lincoln from Northern Democrats known as Copperheads, and the challenges in passing the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which aimed to abolish slavery. Despite initial setbacks, including the defeat of the 13th Amendment in the House of Representatives, the book notes the significant role of the 1864 presidential election, where President Lincoln's reelection and the increased presence of Republican-Union representatives in Congress set the stage for the eventual adoption of the amendment. The book highlights the tensions between those who supported the war effort and those who opposed it, as well as the issue of treason in the North, where some Democrats openly sympathized with the Confederacy. Ultimately, the book concludes that the election marked a significant turning point, with slavery doomed to be abolished and the Union likely to be preserved, symbolizing a crucial step towards freedom and unity in the United States.
The chapter discusses the progress of the Union war effort and the ongoing debate over emancipation. Despite recent victories, President Lincoln faces opposition from Northern Democrats, known as Copperheads, who sympathize with the Confederacy and oppose the war. The president's Emancipation Proclamation has been met with resistance, and he must navigate the complexities of ending slavery while maintaining the unity of the country. In Congress, the proposed 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which aims to abolish slavery, is debated and eventually passes in the Senate but faces challenges in the House of Representatives. The chapter highlights the tensions between those who support the war effort and those who oppose it, as well as the difficulties of achieving emancipation in a country divided by the issue of slavery.
The chapter discusses the debate in the Senate on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which aimed to abolish slavery in the United States. The amendment was proposed by the Judiciary Committee and was met with opposition from Democratic senators, who offered several amendments to delay or defeat the measure. Despite the opposition, the amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, with a vote of 38 to 6. The chapter also discusses the role of President Lincoln in supporting the amendment and his efforts to persuade border-state senators to vote in favor of it. Additionally, the chapter touches on the issue of treason in the North, with some Democrats openly sympathizing with the Confederacy and others secretly working to undermine the Union war effort. The chapter ends with the defeat of the 13th Amendment in the House of Representatives, with a vote of 93 to 65, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage.
The chapter discusses the progress of the Union war effort and the debate over emancipation. President Lincoln faces opposition from Northern Democrats, who sympathize with the Confederacy and oppose the war. The proposed 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which aims to abolish slavery, is debated and eventually passes in the Senate but faces challenges in the House of Representatives. The chapter highlights the tensions between those who support the war effort and those who oppose it, as well as the difficulties of achieving emancipation in a country divided by the issue of slavery. Meanwhile, the Copperheads, a group of Northern Democrats who oppose the war and sympathize with the Confederacy, continue to cause trouble and undermine the war effort. The chapter also touches on the issue of treason in the North, with some Democrats openly sympathizing with the Confederacy and others secretly working to undermine the Union war effort.
The chapter discusses the continued debate over the abolition of slavery in the United States. The Senate passes the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which prohibits slavery, with a vote of 38 to 6. However, the Amendment faces challenges in the House of Representatives, where it is met with opposition from Democrats who argue that the time is not right for such a measure. Despite this opposition, the Amendment is eventually passed by the Senate and sent to the states for ratification. The chapter also touches on the issue of treason in the North, with some Democrats openly sympathizing with the Confederacy and others secretly working to undermine the Union war effort. The "Knights of the Golden Circle," a secret society with over 500,000 members, is mentioned as a group that is working to split the North and West on tariff issues and undermine the Union. The chapter concludes with the defeat of the 13th Amendment in the House of Representatives, with a vote of 93 to 65, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage.
The chapter discusses the debate over the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, which aimed to abolish slavery in the United States. The amendment was proposed by the Senate Judiciary Committee and was met with opposition from Democratic senators, who offered several amendments to delay or defeat the measure. Despite the opposition, the amendment was passed by the Senate on April 8, 1864, with a vote of 38 to 6. The chapter also discusses the role of President Lincoln in supporting the amendment and his efforts to persuade border-state senators to vote in favor of it. Additionally, the chapter touches on the issue of treason in the North, with some Democrats openly sympathizing with the Confederacy and others secretly working to undermine the Union war effort. The chapter ends with the defeat of the 13th Amendment in the House of Representatives, with a vote of 93 to 65, falling short of the two-thirds majority needed for passage.
The chapter discusses the 1864 presidential election, in which President Lincoln and his running mate, Andrew Johnson, were reelected. The Republican National Convention had previously endorsed Lincoln and adopted a platform that declared slavery to be the cause of the rebellion and demanded its "utter and complete extirpation" from the United States. The Democratic National Convention, on the other hand, nominated General McClellan and adopted a platform that declared the war a failure and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities. Despite the Democratic party's efforts, Lincoln and Johnson won the election by a significant margin, carrying 22 out of 25 states and receiving over 2.2 million votes. The election was seen as a victory for the Union and a rejection of the Copperhead Democrats' anti-war platform. The chapter also notes that the congressional elections held at the same time resulted in a significant increase in Republican-Union representatives, making it likely that the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution, which aimed to abolish slavery, would be adopted in the next Congress. Overall, the chapter suggests that the election marked a significant turning point in the war and the future of the United States, with slavery doomed to be abolished and the Union likely to be preserved.