Here are some ways to visualize the statistics of slave escapes and the impact of the Underground Railroad: Enslaved population in 1840: roughly 2 million Enslaved population in 1860: roughly 4 million Estimated number of antebellum slave sale transactions: 2 … Continue reading
UPDATE: The Jenkins monument was removed during the summer of 2020. Read about the details from the Harrisburg Patriot-News coverage (July 3, 2020): “Another Confederate Monument Falls, This Time on the West Shore.” Original post from 2015: There is a … Continue reading
Below is a musical interpretation of Abraham Lincoln’s letter to William Seward, April 1, 1861, written and performed by Patrick Horan (Dickinson ’15) with Isabel Burlingame (Dickinson ’15). Lyrics can be found below the video. For more information on the exchange … Continue reading
By Colin Martin Throughout history, few pieces of writing have been able to echo through time in such a way as Abraham Lincoln’s 1864 letter to the Widow Bixby. Since 1776, almost every American generation can claim a number of surviving relatives who are able to … Continue reading
By Moyra Schauffler No Secretary of State, or cabinet member, had ever or has ever submitted a document quite like William Henry Seward’s April Fool’s Day Memorandum entitled “Some thoughts for the President’s consideration”. [1] The document was both critical and … Continue reading
By Riley Dickson (History 288: Civil War and Reconstruction, Spring 2015) General Winfield Scott, the Commander of the Armies, assured the president on April 14th, 1861 that ““the capital can’t be taken, sir; it can’t be taken.” [1] Scott seemed … Continue reading
Close Reading – Proclamation of Thanksgiving (October 3, 1863) By: Ellen Tuttle (History 288: Civil War & Reconstruction) One morning early in October, Seward entered the President’s room “… I have come to-day to advise you, that there is … Continue reading
By Katri Thiele, Civil War to Reconstruction (HIST 288), Spring 2015 Profound political, social, and moral divisions crippled the integrity of the United States leading up to Abraham Lincoln’s first election to presidency on November 6, 1860. In his efforts … Continue reading
By Brendan Birth By September 1863, the Union was gradually regaining control of Tennessee. This was good news for President Abraham Lincoln, who was facing the prospect of a re-election campaign in 1864. In spite of this development, however, there were three … Continue reading
by Jacob Heybey, HIST 288, Spring 2015 On July 13, 1858, the New York Times commented, “Illinois is from this time forward, until the Senatorial question shall be decided, the most interesting political battle-ground in the Union.”[1] Democratic Senator Stephen … Continue reading