5 Things You Should Know about the Emancipation Proclamation
In time for the anniversay of Lincoln’s birthday on February 12, we have released a new press release: 5 things you should know about the Emancipation Proclamation. While historians continue to debate whether the proclamation reflected a genuine sense of moral feeling by Lincoln or merely represented a cynical ploy by him to advance the North’s war efforts, the importance and impact of the proclamation are not in question. It’s true that the E.P. (read the full text here) lacks the jaw-dropping poetic notes Lincoln included in his Gettysburg Address or his Second Inaugural Address (both of which are covered, of course, in Milestone Documents in American History); then again, it was a very different document with very different aims.
This press release is one of several we’ll roll out this year that feature Lincoln prominently, a fact that is justified given that 2008 is the bicentennial of his birth. Numerous commemorative events are planned throughout the country; one site to check out is the Lincoln Bicentennial Web site, which contains a calendar of events.
And speaking of important events, February of course is Black History Month. To mark the occasion, we’ll be offering another press release (and corresponding poster) in the near future. Stay tuned!