This distinguished edition captures a pivotal moment of justice in the United States with a document that paved the way for the abolition of slaveryThis handsome, pocket-sized Smithsonian edition printed in the United States contains Lincoln's groundbreaking executive order and the writings that helped form it, with features that make it the perfect keepsake:
Bound in faux leather Foil-stamped in goldSturdy, quality hardcoverThe edition stands out in the market with an illuminating new introduction from Paul Gardullo, curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History. His research on the impact of slavery in America's cultural memory contextualizes the historical document as part of a larger cultural narrative, connecting its legacy to modern day.
Abraham Lincoln considered the Emancipation Proclamation the crowning achievement of his presidency, and it is easy to see why. The imperative document freed African Americans enslaved in the Confederate states, transformed the purpose and stakes of the Civil War, and served as a precursor to the Thirteenth Amendment, which would end slavery across the nation. The Emancipation Proclamation was a major turning point in the struggle for African American freedom.
An important piece of American history and justice
Abraham Lincoln considered the Emancipation Proclamation the crowning achievement of his presidency and it is easy to see why. The executive order, which freed enslaved African Americans in the Confederate states, was a groundbreaking decision. While the Constitution limited the president's power to end slavery, Lincoln took advantage of wartime and issued the proclamation under his authority as Commander-in-Chief to claim it as a necessary war measure. This decorative Smithsonian edition includes Lincoln's executive order, as well as writings that lent to its foundation, and features an illuminating introduction from the Smithsonian Institution, providing an important perspective from a leading voice and authority of American history.
The Emancipation Proclamation was issued on January 1, 1863, but Texas was the last Confederate state to have the proclamation announced two years later on June 19. It became a joyous holiday called Juneteenth that is celebrated to this day by the African American community, showing the enduring power of the transformative document. This handsome book captures a revolutionary moment that changed the course of the Civil War and served as the precursor to the Thirteenth Amendment, which officially abolished slavery. The Emancipation Proclamation is an imperative document that symbolizes a turning point in the struggle for African American equality.
