The Radical And The Republican Essay

In the book, The Radical and the Republican, was a very interesting, informative read. It made me actually picture myself during that era, and feel how the main people in the book were so passionate about slavery. It focused on the attitudes and the political stand points of Abraham Lincoln, and Frederick Douglass, towards the issue on slavery and the emancipation of slaves. James Oake’s portrayal of both men was extremely positive. He went into detail about their politics and their reasons behind their public positions, regarding slavery. “Their minds worked differently. Though they both hated slavery, they both hated it in different ways and not always for the same reasons. Their

In sequence with these events, Abraham Lincoln returned to politics in 1854 because of the success of Douglas’ Kansas-Nebraska act, and he quickly became the voice of the newly formed Republican Party. Shortly after he accepted the nomination from his party he said, “A housed divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free.” This quote is very important because Americans became aware that they would soon have to choose either to favor or oppose slavery, there was no middle ground. In Abraham Lincoln’s eyes, freedom meant the opposition to slavery. Unfortunately for the Republican party, Lincoln lost the election of 1858 and Douglas was reelected, but Lincoln would soon be back.

After the Civil War granting African Americans their freedom, Frederick Douglass became a political activist against the institution of slavery. He combined his efforts with John Brown, an abolitionist, engaging in strong minded debates in figuring out whether the U.S Constitution was proslavery, antislavery, created for the well being of all men or only white men. Douglass gained the knowledge of political reform and how to go about movements, in his case, abolition movements, and later on assisting in women rights movements. He learned that being looked upon in politics, as an intelligent and well-respected individual without pursuing force would be the best way to gain his victory. His goal was to persuade the American public opinion against slavery, while praising democratic freedom and progression of American principles, reaching audiences of all sexes and races. He also pointed out

The Radical and the republican written by James Oakes, is the author’s deep political analyzation between two well-known figures, Abraham Lincoln and Fredrick Douglass. Oakes gives us the first context clue of what Lincoln and Douglass’s relationship will present to be, when they both had opposite approaches on how to abolish slavery permanently in 1850. Douglass sponsored the radical, Garrisonian reform, while Lincoln was an advocate for the overcautious political approach to problems and affairs. During the next 20 years, the 2 figure heads will shift into the same state of mind, with Douglass progressively identifying the necessity for political guiding rather than ideological purity and Lincoln shifting on issues of race and radical emancipation.

Radical Republicans believed that blacks were entitled to equal political opportunities and rights as whites. They also believed that Confederate leaders should be punished for what they did in the Civil War. People like representative Thaddeus Stevens and Senator Charles Sumner were extremely against Andrew Johnson's lenient policies and thought the federal government stuck its nose in state affairs too much. However, they grew tired of waiting for a change and took a direct intervention into state affairs. These Radicals believed that blacks must be given the chance to engage in a free-labor economy. In 1866, Congress created a bill to prolong the existence of the Freedmen's Bureau and then began to develop a Civil Rights bill. However, President Johnson was completely against it and vetoed the Freedmen's Bureau Bill. He said it would make the government too big. He also vetoed the Civil Rights Bill. Many Republicans were flabbergasted at how racist Johnson was.

Both Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln had goals for their country, the United States, both aimed for nearly the same idea for their nation. Where Frederick Douglass dedicated his life to achieving justice for all Americans, in particular African-Americans, women, and minority groups. He envisioned America as an inclusive nation strengthened by diversity and free of discrimination. On the other hand Abraham Lincoln wanted Uniting men from all parts of the country in pursuit of common goals, political parties formed powerful bonds of Union. Yet they could play this role only as long as the divisive issue of slavery remained outside the national political arena.

Abraham Lincoln is one of the most influential American Presidents known for his leadership in a revolutionary movement that officially outlawed slavery in the U.S. Eric Foner, the American historian examined the path of Lincoln that eventually led him to a historical achievement. The Fiery Trial by Eric Foner shows that Lincoln unlimited capacity for growth allowed him to adapt to the changing political environment as the issue of slavery progressed in the 19th century. The book is a biography of Lincoln that takes a look at how Lincoln’s upbringing and early political environment had shaped his opinions regarding slavery. By putting Lincoln’s actions into the background in which they have occurred, Foner not only makes sense of the inconsistency in Lincoln’s political behavior, but also shows how a radical idea that seemed ridiculous at the time could be gradually implemented by the changing public sentiment.

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass both were very influential advocates in favor of the rights of people of color. Both fought for what they believed in and had many ways of getting their point such as talking about topics that can relate to the reader which makes them feel more attached to the story. Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass’s use of pathos in their speeches work to make their argument stronger because they want to appeal to the reader’s emotions to rally support for their cause. In his speech “Second Inaugural Address” Abraham Lincoln reminds them that they all read the same bible and all pray to the same God. They have the same religious beliefs and that is one major factor that shows that slaves were not different from

With Douglass’s personal relationships with the president he wouldn’t have had the idea of making the emancipation; if Lincoln did not pass the emancipation the hopes of all African Americans in America would have all been crushed. Even though he loved to help his own color, he was a stronger character and wanted to help not only his race but the women who wanted suffrage as

Spring 1860, Frederick Douglass supported an abolitionist, Gerrit Smith, in his campaign for president. Later, he campaigned for President Abraham Lincoln. Right after this point in Douglass’ life, the Civil War started, opening up a brand new chapter of his life. Although proud of Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, he was disheartened that it didn’t free all slaves. He also earnestly encouraged the Union Army to use black troops, which happened. In 1863, there were two black regiments formed, but they weren’t given equal treatment or pay and had less chances of promotion than a white soldier. Douglass continued to urge President Lincoln to give everyone equal rights, no matter their color. These are just a few examples of what Frederick Douglass accomplished in his lifetime. He held many more conventions for not only black rights but also women’s suffrage, and even giving voting rights to African

When he becomes free, his views and ways of dealing with slavery start forming, he starts understanding the importance of participation in the political struggle, social organizations and political parties. By the beginning of the Civil War Douglass has developed integral and coherent system of views on slavery and ways to eliminate it, nature and even the outcome of the impending war, which he foresaw. During the war, he elaborated his views, complemented them with military strategy and demand on political and civil rights for black Americans. These views he advocated in his journalism, relied on them in his social and political

Darren Khan History 17A Online Class Abraham Lincoln, the republican and Frederick Douglass, the radical both came from different backgrounds and when it came to slavery, they had the same mindset as the both despised it, they went about it differently, yet despise this, they soon came to respect each other and became friends. Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey, soon to become Fredrick Douglass was born into slavery. At a very young age Douglass took an interest of politics and as a slave taught himself how to read and soon had full political ambition, combine that with the fact that was also filled with hatred for slavery, Douglass would soon find himself naturally fused into antislavery politics.1 Throughout his life in politics Douglass had various mentors from William Lloyd Garrison to Gerrit Smith, as Douglass seemed to have a change in opinion. On the other side of the spectrum was Abraham Lincoln, born in the South in the “scrubs” an area where nobody owns land.2 Lincoln’s parents belonged to Little Mount Baptist Church who’s reverend, Reverend Jesse Head, talked about the notions of slavery and how it was wrong.3 Though in his youth Lincoln indeed have a hatred for slavery, it had little to do with his politics, he believed

Fighting through slavery, and challenging the norms was their mission. They didn’t have the formal education that we have in our modern days. Abraham Lincoln for instance he was born in the “Slaveholding” state of Kentucky (1809). His father “Thomas Lincoln” was not very literate, but on the contrast he was a talented carpenter and Farmer. His mother had died when he was at the age of nine. He didn’t had formal education, his education and very limited. He had enjoyed reading novels that served him very well in his political career. On the contrast Frederick Douglass was born into slavery, had also went through hardship trying to break the chains of slavery and rising up into a new era, Douglass got separated from his mother when he was just an infant, He had ran to Maryland where he also met other infants. He lived with his maternal grandmother “Betty Baily”, and again the slavery hit and he was separated form his grandmother at the age of seven. When Douglass was at a very young age when he was fighting to obtain and education under the shadow of

Douglass stayed in Abraham Lincoln’s ear in the effort to have all slaves freed. He eventually did when Lincoln proposed the Emancipation Proclamation which freed Confederate slaves and allowed them

Though the Republican Party was founded on pro-minority ideals and continued to have the support of minorities its reputation quickly began to change. Wagner (2007) states that during the early late 1800s and the early 1900s, Republican support weakened among the working class. In addition, many Americans, including a sizable number of Republicans, believed that American society had lost its moral fiber. As a result of these factors, many Republicans became affiliated with the Progressive Movement, a reform movement designed to assist the working class attain better working conditions in the form of religious fundamentalism. During the Progressive Era, the Republican Party split into two groups: those Republicans interested primarily in