Commager, Henry Steele

The background of Abraham Lincoln's writing of the Emancipation Proclamation: his boyhood feelings about slavery, the Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the great dilemmas facing the President in the midst of Civil War. Told partly in Lincoln's own words or in the words of contemporary documents.

Quoting numerous contemporary sources, this description of the Constitution tells of the work and ideals of George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and the others who were a part of its creation. It describes the many difficulties of preparing a document that would provide a better government than the Articles of Confederation had, and indicates the attitudes of the states toward the new Constitution.

"A detailed account of the origin, framing, and adoption of the Declaration of Independence. Much of the text is composed of excerpts from letters, diaries and official documents. The inclusion of these sources contributes to the book's authenticity"--Library Journal.

Describes events both before and after Abraham Lincoln's historic freeing of American slaves, Jan. 1, 1863.