Freedom National: The Destruction of Slavery in the United States, 1861-1865

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Exploring the intertwined aims of liberty and union, this history of emancipation highlights the political efforts of Lincoln and Congress alongside the bravery of Union soldiers and runaway slaves. It challenges the common belief that the Civil War primarily sought to restore the Union before addressing slavery, arguing instead that the fight for emancipation was a fundamental goal from the war's onset. This narrative reveals how these dual objectives shaped Republican policy throughout the conflict.