In The Struggle for Equality; the renowned Civil War historian James McPherson offered an important and timely analysis of the abolitionist movement and the legal basis it provided to the civil rights movement of the 1960s. This work remains an incisive demonstration of the successful role played by rights activists during and after the Civil War; when they evolved from despised fanatics into influential spokespersons for the radical wing of the Republican party. The vivid narrative stresses the intensely individual efforts that characterized the movement; drawing on letters and anti-slavery periodicals to let the voices of the abolitionists express for themselves their triumphs and anxieties. Asserting that it was not the abolitionists who failed in their efforts to instill the principles of equality on the state level but rather the American people who refused to follow their leadership; McPherson raises broad questions about the obstacles that have long hindered American reform movements in general. This new paperback edition contains a preface in which the author explains some of the changing perspectives that would lead him to write several aspects of this story differently today. The original hardcover was a winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Award in Race Relations.
#815547 in Books Princeton University Press 1992 1993-01-31Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .98 x 6.10l; 1.19 #File Name: 0691006261376 pages
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Comprehensive; with a heck of a bibliographyBy Art History ProfessorIn no way is this an attempt to augment Geoffrey's excellent review of this text; for I believe that he hit upon the major strenghts of Frey's book. However; it is worth mentioning; for the sake of those scholars that take particular notice of the bibliograhys; that Frey's research seems particularly solid; having used sources that generally are not considered on this side of the Atlantic when considering the American Revolutionary War. Most notable of these are public war records from Great Britain; which help give a more full understanding of the role of African "Americans" within the Revolutionary War.In all; Frey's text is a solid and comprehensive study with some minor; yet somewhat forgivable flaws. For example; despite the presence of slaves in areas such as Pennsylvania and New York; Frey ignores everying in America north of Maryland (with the exception of some slave relocations in Novia Scotia). Furthermore; her presumptions of a present republican ideology seems somewhat misplaced at times; but generally; these are minors flaws in an otherwise compelling argument.A certain recomendation!0 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Three StarsBy IceefoeThey all die in the end;27 of 28 people found the following review helpful. The black liberation movement during and after the Amer Rev.By ggconFrey argues that the black liberation movement had a major impact on how the Revolution played out in the South and that although the movement failed during the Revolution it successfully continued in the postwar period as a struggle for cultural power.The South represented the best opportunity the British had for success because of the large Loyalist population. However; accomplishing what the Rebels could not; the British caused the white population of the South to stand against a common enemy by badly misplaying the slavery issue. The Pre-Revolution Southern economy was based on labor intensive staple crops (tobacco; rice; and indigo) which required slave labor to be successful. So much labor was required that in many areas of the South the slave population outnumbered the white population. Consequently; Southerners greatly feared slave revolt. Although the British did not make it official policy; they gave the appearance of being sympathetic to slaves (particularly Clinton's policy of limited emancipation). This tactic frightened the white Southerners and encouraged thousands of slaves to flee their plantations creating economic hardship for the plantation owners. Some slaves fled into the wilderness; while others fled to the British Army and were either incorporated into the army; or at least traveled with the army. This British policy; or non-policy; pushed the white Southerners to independence. Ironically; American independence resulted in continued slavery for blacks and an increase in racial tensions. The Southerners; still outnumbered by slaves which they were feverishly importing to rebuild their plantations; and with the fear of slave revolts fresh in their minds; passed laws that divided the races; dealt harshly with any slave that stepped out of line; and specifically disenfranchised free blacks.The black liberation movement continued as a struggle for cultural power within the context of religion. Evangelical religion did not become accepted in the South until its pr! eachers dropped the anti-slavery rhetoric. But; these Southern Baptist and Southern Methodist preachers didn't just ignore slavery; they preached that Christianity condoned slavery. They were allowed to preach to slaves because their message was that the slave's religious duty was to obey his master. While a great many slaves converted to Christianity; their interpretation of Christian theology and morality differed from that of white Southerners. Afro-Christianity; the black church movement; began before the Revolution and was the center of cultural; ethnic; and community identity. In the church; they were something other than "someone's property." Although whites attempted to squash the movement after the great Vesey Plot of 1822; Afro-Christianity had already spread as far away as Kentucky. Afro-Christianity incorporated African cultural elements into Christianity and unified and organized the black community. The white Southerners had hoped that Christianity would incorporate blacks into a white-dominated society; instead it was the vehicle by which blacks were able to extricate themselves from white society and create a different value system and community.
