The Emancipation Proclamation, widely remembered as the heroic act
that ended slavery, in fact freed slaves only in states in the
rebellious South. True emancipation was accomplished over a longer
period and by several means. Essays by eight distinguished
contributors consider aspects of the president's decision making,
as well as events beyond Washington, offering new insights on the
consequences and legacies of freedom, the engagement of black
Americans in their liberation, and the issues of citizenship and
rights that were not decided by Lincoln's document. The essays
portray emancipation as a product of many hands, best understood by
considering all the actors, the place, and the time.
The contributors are William A. Blair, Richard Carwardine, Paul
Finkelman, Louis Gerteis, Steven Hahn, Stephanie McCurry, Mark E.
Neely Jr., Michael Vorenberg, and Karen Fisher Younger.